The Brisbane Heat and Perth Scorchers squads for Friday’s BBL|15 clash were confirmed with Matt Kuhnemann and Jhye Richardson the two big inclusions.
SQUAD NEWS
The Heat selected their 14-man squad for the game at the Gabba, with Matt Kuhnemann named following a side issue.
Brisbane’s update said: “Kuhnemann was today cleared to make his return in the club’s opening night fixture presented by Plantation Homes after missing the Heat’s initial BBL game on Monday as he completed his recovery from a side strain.”
Toombul 21-year-old right-arm quick Tom Balkin was added as a local replacement player with spinner Paddy Dooley dropping out for Kuhnemann.
Michael Neser isn’t part of the Australia XI in the third Test in Adelaide but hasn’t been released.
Tom Alsop is also still out. Brisbane said: “Alsop continues to return from a knee injury, training with the team last night at the Gabba.”
Ins: Kuhnemann, Balkin / Outs: Dooley
Heat squad: McSweeney (c), Afridi, Balkin, Bartlett, Bryant, Haskett, Hearne, Kuhnemann, Munro, Patterson, Peirson, Renshaw, Weibgen, Wildermuth
The Scorchers have welcomed back speedster Jhye Richardson into their 14-man squad after missing their opener having linked up with the Test squad in Adelaide earlier this week.
Ins: Richardson / Outs: Curtis
Scorchers squad: Turner (c), Agar, Allen, Beardman, Connolly, Couch, Evans, Fanning, Hardie, Hobson, Jackson, Marsh, Paris, Richardson
THUNDER UPDATES
Thunder captain David Warner is confident he’ll be fit to play against the Sixers in Saturday’s Sydney Smash after missing their opening game with a side strain.
Warner said: “Today and tomorrow, I’m confident after having a jab that I’m going to be up and about. It’s the Sydney smash, we always look forward to them.”
If Warner returns, it’ll force a squeeze with Matthew Gilkes or Ollie Davies the likely ones to miss out. Warner, though, had praise for Gilkes: “Gilkesy is hitting the ball so well for New South Wales. To come out the way he did was awesome.
Sam Konstas is in some doubt with an elbow complaint after not fielding against the Hurricanes. Warner said: “I think it was just a precaution after being hit to just rest it up.
“Elbows are quite niggly. When you’ve got to go into the field and throw balls, it’s quite painful. I haven’t seen him yet but by all reports he’s going OK and heading in the right trajectory.”
