Round 4 is almost here starting on Tuesday, with the Perth Scorchers on the double, thrusting them into relevance. We’ve taken a look at all the predicted Round 4 sides, listing unavailabilities.
Sydney Thunder vs Perth Scorchers
Tuesday 30 December, 7:15pm AEDT
ENGIE Stadium, Sydney
Sydney Thunder
Not 100%: Nathan McAndrew (illness)
Unavailable: Lockie Ferguson (injury/ILT20), Ravi Ashwin (knee)
Likely Ins: N.McAndrew / Likely Outs: R.Hadley
Nathan McAndrew is in line to return from illness, replacing Ryan Hadley. This game marks Reece Topley’s last before he heads to SA20, while Shadab Khan plays this one and another before exiting for Pakistan T20I duty.
Predicted line-up
- S.Konstas
- M.Gilkes
- D.Warner
- C.Bancroft
- S.Billings (wk)
- Shadab Khan
- C.Green
- D.Sams
- N.McAndrew
- R.Topley
- T.Sangha
Perth Scorchers
Not 100%: None
Unavailable: David Payne (ILT20), Jhye Richardson (Test squad), Lance Morris (back), Matt Kelly (injury)
Likely Ins: J.Inglis, C.Rocchiccioli / Likely Outs: A.Hardie, J.Paris
Perth will welcome back wicketkeeper-bat Josh Inglis for one game only, having been temporarily released from the Test squad, before returning on New Year’s Eve. His return causes a squeeze on spots, with one of Nick Hobson, Aaron Hardie or Ashton Turner to miss out. It’s a big call but Hardie misses out on this one, given Hobson’s good form and Turner’s status as captain. Inglis’ return means Finn Allen gives up the gloves too.
Perth will make a second change with spinner Corey Rocchiccioli to get his debut at spin-friendly ENGIE Stadium. It’s a tough call on who misses out, but it might be an opportune time to manage injury-prone Joel Paris with 2 games in 3 days. Brody Couch and Mahli Beardman are vulnerable.
Predicted line-up
- F.Allen
- M.Marsh
- C.Connolly
- J.Inglis (wk)
- A.Turner (c)
- L.Evans
- N.Hobson
- A.Agar
- B.Couch
- C.Rocchiccioli
- M.Beardman
Adelaide Strikers vs Brisbane Heat
Wednesday 31 December, 6:45pm local time / 7:15pm AEDT
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
Adelaide Strikers
Not 100%: Jerrssis Wadia (knock)
Unavailable: Travis Head, Alex Carey (Test squad)
No changes
The Strikers were beaten by the Heat in Brisbane on Saturday. There’s a few options at their disposal, with Alex Ross and Jason Sangha potentially able to return to boost their batting line-up. Mackenzie Harvey is vulnerable. Jerrssis Wadia was a revelation with the bat and could be elevated – assuming he’s good to go after a blow last game – allowing Henry Thornton’s return to bolster their attack.
Predicted line-up
- M.Short (c)
- C.Lynn
- M.Harvey
- L.Scott
- H.Manenti
- J.Overton
- J.Wadia
- H.Nielsen (wk)
- L.Wood
- Hasan Ali
- L.Pope
Brisbane Heat
Not 100%: Shaheen Shah Afridi (knee), Tom Alsop (knee)
Unavailable: Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Michael Neser (Test squad), Callum Vidler (stress fracture), Spencer Johnson (back), Nathan McSweeney (ankle), Shaheen Shah Afridi (knee),
Likely Ins: L.Hearne, L.Haskett / Likely Outs: T.Alsop, Shaheen Shah Afridi
Shaheen Shah Afridi and Tom Alsop have been ruled out, forcing two changes. Liam Haskett will likely replace the Pakistani although they may want a look at teenage left-armer Oli Patterson. Lachlan Hearne is Alsop’s obvious replacement but local replacement Jack Wood will be considered too. Hearne is more suited to the middle-order role and should get the nod. Youngster Tom Balkin should hold his spot as a result.
Predicted line-up
- C.Munro
- J.Wildermuth
- M.Renshaw
- H.Weibgen
- L.Hearne
- M.Bryant
- J.Peirson (wk)
- X.Bartlett (c)
- L.Haskett
- T.Balkin
- M.Kuhnemann
Melbourne Renegades vs Sydney Sixers
Thursday 1 January, 4pm AEDT
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne
Melbourne Renegades
Not 100%: Tom Rogers (shoulder)
Unavailable: Nathan Lyon (hamstring), Brendan Doggett (Test squad), Will Salzmann (hamstring), Callum Stow (back)
No changes
The ‘Gades are last with a 1-2 record but they’re biggest issue is their batters being unable to convert starts into big scores, so personnel changes may not fix that. Still, Caleb Jewell is waiting in the wings. Likewise, Tom Rogers is getting closer to a return but not just yet.
Predicted line-up
- J.Brown
- T.Seifert
- Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
- J.Fraser-McGurk
- O.Peake
- Hassan Khan
- W.Sutherland (c)
- A.Tye
- G.Sandhu
- J.Behrendorff
- A.Zampa
Sydney Sixers
Not 100%: None
Unavailable: Sam Curran (ILT20), Steve Smith, Mitch Starc, Todd Murphy (Test squad)
Likely Ins: J.Chohan / Likely Outs: B.Manenti
The Sixers were handsomely beaten by the ladder leading Melbourne Stars. They’ll likely want to make some changes, with Kane Richardson belted for 41 runs across 2 overs and Ben Manenti sparingly used. Mitch Perry and Hayden Kerr are a chance to replace Richardson. Lachie Shaw remains unlucky.
Predicted line-up
- D.Hughes
- Babar Azam
- J.Philippe (wk)
- M.Henriques (c)
- J.Silk
- J.Edwards
- B.Dwarshuis
- J.Davies
- S.Abbott
- J.Chohan
- K.Richardson
Hobart Hurricanes vs Perth Scorchers
Thursday 1 January, 7:15pm AEDT
Ninja Stadium, Hobart
Hobart Hurricanes
Not 100%: Nikhil Chaudhary (shoulder)
Unavailable: Beau Webster, Jake Weatherald (Test squad), Tim David (hamstring), Iain Carlisle (hamstring)
Likely Ins: M.Wright / Likely Outs: B.Webster
Beau Webster returns to the Test squad on New Year’s Eve, so will miss this game. That opens the door for Mac Wright’s return. Nikhil Chaudhary will be monitored after a shoulder concern last game, but after exiting during the fielding innings in the hands of the medical team, he did manage to bat and seemed fine.
Predicted line-up
- M.Owen
- T.Ward
- N.Chaudhary
- B.McDermott
- M.Wright
- M.Wade (wk)
- Rehan Ahmed
- C.Jordan
- Rishad Hossain
- N.Ellis (c)
- R.Meredith
Perth Scorchers
Not 100%: Matt Kelly (injury)
Unavailable: David Payne (ILT20), Josh Inglis, Jhye Richardson (Test squad), Lance Morris (back)
Likely Ins: N.Hobson / Likely Outs: J.Inglis
Like Webster, Josh Inglis will miss this game, returning to the Test squad on New Year’s Eve, meaning Nick Hobson slots back in. After a good win in Sydney it’s hard to see any need for changes, beyond rotation with a flag over injury-prone Joel Paris, especially if they bring Matt Kelly or Bryce Jackson into their travelling squad.
Predicted line-up
- F.Allen (wk)
- M.Marsh
- C.Connolly
- A.Hardie
- A.Turner (c)
- L.Evans
- N.Hobson
- A.Agar
- J.Paris
- B.Couch
- M.Beardman
