Round 1 is almost here starting on Sunday, with the Hobart Hurricanes and Sydney Sixers both on doubles thrusting them into relevance. We’ve taken a look at all the predicted Round 1 sides, listing unavailabilities.
Perth Scorchers vs Sydney Sixers
Sunday 14 December 4:15pm WST/7:15pm AEDT
Optus Stadium, Perth
Perth Scorchers
Doubtful: Bryce Jackson (quad), Matt Kelly (finger)
Unavailable: David Payne (ILT20), Josh Inglis, Jhye Richardson (Test squad), Lance Morris (back)
The Scorchers will be without Jhye Richardson in a blow to their attack, so Brody Couch, Joel Paris and Mahli Beardman should be the quicks with economical spinner Ashton Agar, while Aaron Hardie and Cooper Connolly will share sixth bowling responsibilities.
There’s a question mark on whether Finn Allen or Laurie Evans keeps. Perth added wicketkeeper Joel Curtis as a local replacement but it’s unlikely he forces his way into the XI.
Predicted line-up
- F.Allen (wk)
- M.Marsh
- A.Hardie
- C.Connolly
- A.Turner (c)
- L.Evans
- N.Hobson
- A.Agar
- J.Paris
- B.Couch
- M.Beardman
Sydney Sixers
Doubtful: None
Unavailable: Sam Curran (ILT20), Steve Smith, Mitch Starc (Test squad), Jordan Silk (personal), Sean Abbott (hamstring), Jafer Chohan (illness)
Sean Abbott is set to miss the trip to Perth with a hamstring injury. Sam Curran is unavailable as well away at the ILT20, so that opens the door for Hayden Kerr and Mitch Perry to come into the line-up. Given the likely conditions in Perth, the Sixers will likely only play one spinner, so Jafer Chohan misses out. The Sixers have favoured Daniel Hughes in the top 3 in their warm-ups but there’s a whisper that he’s picked up an injury which opens the door for Lachie Shaw.
Jordan Silk is out for personal reasons, meaning Harjas Singh or Joel Davies finds a way into the team. Kane Richardson hasn’t made the trip, with local replacement Charlie Stobo likely to come into the XI following good state form for NSW.
Predicted line-up
- Babar Azam
- L.Shaw
- J.Philippe (wk)
- M.Henriques (c)
- J.Edwards
- J.Davies
- B.Dwarshuis
- H.Kerr
- C.Stobo
- M.Perry
- T.Murphy
Melbourne Renegades vs Brisbane Heat
Monday 15 December 7:15pm AEDT
GMHBA Stadium, Geelong
Melbourne Renegades
Not 100%: Tim Seifert (finger)
Unavailable: Nathan Lyon, Brendan Doggett (Test squad), Will Salzmann (hamstring), Adam Zampa (paternity leave), Callum Stow (back), Tom Rogers (shoulder)
The ‘Gades have a few selection issues, particularly in the spin department with Adam Zampa and Callum Stow unavailable, with local replacement Matthew Spoors likely the one to be added. Tom Rogers will miss with a shoulder injury, with Andrew Tye set to replace him after being added as a local replacement. It’s hard to pick the ‘Gades top 4, but Josh Brown gets the nod after a good warm-up game. Tim Seifert says he’s good to go after a fractured finger.
Predicted line-up
- J.Brown
- Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
- J.Fraser-McGurk
- C.Jewell
- T.Seifert
- Hassan Khan
- W.Sutherland (c)
- M.Spoors
- F.O’Neill
- A.Tye
- J.Behrendorff
Brisbane Heat
Not 100%: Matt Kuhnemann (side), Tom Alsop (knee)
Unavailable: Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Michael Neser (test squad), Callum Vidler (stress fracture), Spencer Johnson (back)
There’s a lot of unknowns with this Heat side who flirted with using Jack Wildermuth as an opening batsman in a warm-up game this week. This side is very hard to pick, with Michael Neser and Spencer Johnson both out, opening the door to youngster Oli Patterson but the addition of the more experienced left-armer Liam Haskett suggests he’ll be preferred.
Matt Kuhnemann will miss with his side strain, so Paddy Dooley comes into the side as their lead spinner. Tom Alsop’s absence, means Jimmy Peirson will play and potentially open.
Predicted line-up
- C.Munro
- J.Peirson (wk)
- N.McSweeney (c)
- M.Renshaw
- M.Bryant
- H.Weibgen
- X.Bartlett
- J.Wildermuth
- P.Dooley
- L.Haskett
- Shaheen Shah Afridi
Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Thunder
Tuesday 16 December 7:15pm AEDT
Ninja Stadium, Hobart
Hobart Hurricanes
Not 100%: Mitch Owen (hamstring), Matthew Wade (side), Rehan Ahmed (leg strain)
Unavailable: Beau Webster, Jake Weatherald (Test squad)
Another line-up that is hard to predict given a range of batting line-up permutations. With Jake Weatherald and Beau Webster out, there’s 2 spots open in their top 3 that we’re predicting youngster Tim Ward and Nikhil Chaudhary to occupy. Chaudhary played first drop in last season’s Final.
All the talk this week has been about Matthew Wade in the middle order, along with Ben McDermott. Tim David’s rise as a genuine 4 in franchise and international cricket is compelling, but we wait and see if Hobart adhere. Rehan Ahmed could also come up the order.
Chris Jordan, Riley Meredith and Nathan Ellis will be their preferred three quicks ahead of Jackson Bird and Billy Stanlake.
Predicted line-up
- M.Owen
- T.Ward
- N.Chaudhary
- B.McDermott
- T.David
- M.Wade (wk)
- Rehan Ahmed
- C.Jordan
- Rishad Hossain
- N.Ellis (c)
- R.Meredith
Sydney Thunder
Doubtful: Shadab Khan (shoulder)
Unavailable: Lockie Ferguson (ILT20), Ravi Ashwin (knee), David Warner (side)
David Warner is out with a side injury, opening the door for fellow left-hander Matthew Gilkes to come into the side. Shadab Khan’s role will be at no.6 and as their sixth bowling option. The biggest debate is whether they pick Wes Agar, Nathan McAndrew or Ryan Hadley as their third quick, or does Tom Andrews sneak in as another spinner.
Predicted line-up
- S.Konstas
- C.Bancroft
- O.Davies
- S.Billings (wk)
- M.Gilkes
- Shadab Khan
- C.Green
- D.Sams
- N.McAndrew
- R.Topley
- T.Sangha
Sydney Sixers vs Adelaide Strikers
Wednesday 17 December 7:15pm AEDT
SCG. Sydney
Sydney Sixers
Doubtful: Sean Abbott (hamstring)
Unavailable: Sam Curran (ILT20), Steve Smith, Mitch Starc (Test squad)
Ins: Jafer Chohan, Jordan Silk
Outs: Joel Davies, Lachie Shaw
Spinner Jafer Chohan should come into calculations having been named in the squad after overcoming illness, with Joel Davies likely making way. Jordan Silk missed their opener for personal reasons and looks set to return with the game in Sydney, with Lachy Shaw already omitted from the squad, opening up Silk’s spot. Charlie Stobo did enough to hold and the Sixers will want to persist with Mitch Perry, holding Hayden Kerr at bay, even with a long looking tail.
Predicted line-up
- Babar Azam
- D.Hughes
- J.Philippe (wk)
- M.Henriques (c)
- J.Silk
- J.Edwards
- B.Dwarshuis
- C.Stobo
- J.Chohan
- M.Perry
- T.Murphy
Adelaide Strikers
Doubtful: None
Unavailable: Travis Head, Alex Carey (Test squad)
The Strikers line-up looks straight-forward except for the omission of Liam Scott, who has a case to be in this side. Chris Lynn is good to go despite an injury scare in Nepal last week.
Predicted line-up
- M.Short (c)
- M.Harvey
- C.Lynn
- J.Sangha
- A.Ross
- J.Overton
- H.Nielsen (wk)
- H.Thornton
- Hasan Ali
- L.Wood
- L.Pope
Melbourne Stars vs Hobart Hurricanes
Wednesday 17 December 7:15pm AEDT
MCG, Melbourne
Melbourne Stars
Doubtful: None
Unavailable: Scott Boland (Test squad), Mark Steketee (hamstring)
The talking point for the Stars is their top 3 and if Campbell Kellaway, Sam Harper and/or Tom Rogers take 2 of the 3 spots alongside Joe Clarke. With Mark Steketee and Scott Boland unavailable, we’re expecting fast bowler Liam Hatcher to play, although there’s some good hype around Tom Whitney.
Predicted line-up
- J.Clarke
- C.Kellaway
- S.Harper (wk)
- G.Maxwell
- M.Stoinis (c)
- H.Cartwright
- T.Curran
- L.Hatcher
- M.Swepson
- Haris Rauf
- P.Siddle
Hobart Hurricanes
Doubtful: Mitch Owen (hamstring), Matthew Wade (side), Rehan Ahmed (leg strain)
Unavailable: Beau Webster, Jake Weatherald (Test squad)
Ins/Outs: No changes
There’s no real reason to change a winning formula.
Predicted line-up
- M.Owen
- N.Chaudhary
- Rehan Ahmed
- B.McDermott
- T.David
- M.Wade (wk)
- C.Jordan
- Rishad Hossain
- N.Ellis (c)
- R.Meredith
- B.Stanlake
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