The Brisbane Heat will be without Matt Kuhnemann and Michael Neser after confirming their squad for Monday’s BBL|15 clash against the Melbourne Renegades in Geelong.
SQUAD NEWS
The Brisbane Heat named their 13-player squad for the clash with the Renegades, with Matt Kuhnemann (side) and Tom Alsop (knee) the two surprise absentees, along with Michael Neser as expected on Test squad duty.
Ex-Hurricanes spinner Paddy Dooley has been added as a local replacement player for Kuhnemann. He’s taken 25 wickets in 19 BBL games. Tall left-armer Liam Haskett has also been added as an LRP.
Heat coach Johan Botha said: “We’re being a little cautious with Matty and Tom, so it is great to have an experienced player like Paddy to call into our group. He knows a lot of the boys and has played for the club previously.
“We’re pleased that Liam can join us. He’s had a taste of the BBL already and we think he has the skills and ability to play an important role.”
Heat squad: McSweeney (c), Afridi, Bartlett, Bryant, Dooley, Haskett, Hearne, Munro, Patterson, Peirson, Renshaw, Weibgen, Wildermuth
The Renegades confirmed their 14-player squad, with ex-Scorchers all-rounder Matthew Spoors added as an all-rounder. Adam Zampa (paternity leave) and Tom Rogers (shoulder) are both unavailable.
On Rogers, the Gades said: “Rogers continues to make steady progress in his recovery from a shoulder injury.”
Sutherland (c), Behrendorff, Brown, Dixon, Fraser-McGurk, Jewell, Hassan Khan, O’Neill, Peake, Muhammad Rizwan, Sandhu, Seifert, Spoors, Tye
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Sixers wicketkeeper-batsman Josh Philippe talked up Ben Dwarshuis’ form line. He said: “He’ll be ready to go and he’s coming off a pretty good run of form with a lot of Australian stuff, so hopefully lots of wickets and some big sixes for him this season.”
Philippe also pinpointed Lachlan Shaw and Jack Edwards as 2 potential breakouts this season.
“‘Shawy’ came on pretty nicely last season, and I think he’s going to have a big year,” Philippe said. “He’s an exciting young player; he’s got all the shots and he’s also a gun fielder.
“Big Jack Edwards is going to have a big year – his batting and bowling has gone to another level. No doubt that extra responsibility (of being NSW captain) is taking his game to the next level as well.
“His four-day bowling has been super consistent, but he’s also got a few tricks up his sleeve and can bowl in any period during the game … I’m looking forward to seeing him put some big performances together.”
Scorchers captain Ashton Turner hyped up Mahli Beardman’s potential impact. He said: “It’s pretty rare that you get a guy added into Australian squads without a weight of performances behind them in domestic cricket, and history would probably suggest that those guys tend to turn out to be pretty good players.
“He’s got really similar skills to Jhye Richardson, who’s just about been the best bowler in the competition for the last five years, so there’s some exciting upside there.”
Turner also talked up Mitch Marsh’s role and form. He said: “We’re trying to utilise Mitch’s skills as best as possible and clearly that’s going to be having him open the batting for us.
“At the moment, he’s just got clarity over his role, and we see value in not disrupting that and allowing him to continue the role that he’s been doing for Australia at the top of the order and also across the leagues that he’s been playing in.”
