The Melbourne Stars and Sydney Thunder squads have been confirmed, while there’s big breaking news with Josh Inglis and Beau Webster released from the Test squad.
SQUAD NEWS
The Melbourne Stars have added Tom Rogers to their 14-man squad to face the Sydney Thunder on Sunday night in Canberra. Fast bowler Tom Whitney has dropped out.
Rogers missed last game due to a knee injury, with the Stars opting to take a cautious approach with him. In his absence, Sam Harper opened and made a century, while Jono Merlo came into the side and batted 4.
Melbourne Stars
Ins: Rogers / Outs: Whitney
Stars squad: Stoinis (c), Cartwright, Clarke, Curran, Haris Rauf, Harper, Hatcher, Kellaway, McKenzie, Maxwell, Merlo, Rogers, Siddle, Swepson
The Thunder announced an unchanged 14-man squad to face the Stars.
Sydney Thunder coach Trevor Bayliss said: “It was an incredible effort last start here by both Gilkes and Konstas. They were both confident from the get-go and laid the platform for us to finish strong, which was our plan from the start.
“It’s important that we go out tomorrow night with that same attack, not just with the bat but also with the ball.”
Sydney Thunder
No changes
Warner (c), Bancroft, Billings, Gilkes, Green, Hadley, Shadab Khan, Konstas, McAndrew, Nikitaras, O’Connor, Sams, Sangha, Topley
UPDATES
Following the premature conclusion of the Boxing Day Test, Josh Inglis and Beau Webster have been released from the Australia squad to play BBL games in upcoming days.
However, both will only play one game each, with Webster to be available for the Canes’ clash with the Renegades on Monday, before returning to Australia camp.
Likewise, Inglis will play the Scorchers’ game against the Sydney Thunder on Tuesday, but not the second game of Perth’s double on Thursday.
The BBL update explained: “Both players will be available to play for their respective teams before returning to the Australian squad on New Year’s Eve to prepare for the NRMA Insurance Ashes Test at the SCG.”
The second game of Perth’s double is on New Year’s Day in Hobart against the Hurricanes.
The Heat provided an update on Shaheen Afridi who was unable to bowl the final over of Saturday’s win due to a “bruised knee”.
Brisbane said: “The Heat will do follow-up assessments on Afridi and English batter Tom Alsop (knee) who was also forced from the field during the game.”
