Perth Scorchers quick Jhye Richardson and Sixers spinner Todd Murphy will both miss their respective sides’ Boxing Day games after being called into the Australia squad for the Boxing Day Test.
Richardson and Murphy’s inclusions come with Pat Cummins (management) and Nathan Lyon (hamstring injury) dropping out, necessitating the need for additions.
There are otherwise no changes to the squad, with BBL players Brendan Doggett, Josh Inglis, Michael Neser and Beau Webster still included.
For Richardson, Perth has a Round 4 double starting at the back-end of the Boxing Day Test, with games on December 30 and January 1.
The fifth Test in Sydney starts on January 4, so even if Richardson isn’t selected to play in Melbourne, there’s no guarantee he’ll be released to play BBL.
One player who is set to play BBL on Boxing Day is Sixers fast bowler Sean Abbott as he bids to return from a hamstring injury.
Speaking on Fox Cricket, Abbott said: “(I’ve) just got to tick off a couple more little bits and then hopefully put my hand up for selection next week (Boxing Day).
“(It’s been) very frustrating but these things happen, it’s the cost of doing business at the elite level. While it sucked at the time, I had the chance to go back and do some training for the past six weeks.
“Hopefully I can have a big Big Bash and get out there next week and play well.”
