Round 7 is almost here, with the Hobart Hurricanes and Adelaide Strikers on the double, thrusting them into relevance. We’ve taken a look at all the predicted Round 7 sides, listing unavailabilities.
Hobart Hurricanes vs Adelaide Strikers
Friday 9 January, 7:15pm AEDT / local time
Ninja Stadium, Hobart
Hobart Hurricanes
Not 100%: None
Unavailable: Beau Webster, Jake Weatherald (Test squad), Tim David (hamstring), Iain Carlisle (hamstring)
No changes
This game will come too soon for Test duo Beau Webster and Jake Weatherald. The Canes are coming off a win over the Sydney Thunder where their bowlers conceded 205 before their bats saved the day, led by young opener Tim Ward, meaning he’ll hold his spot. All-rounder Will Prestwidge also took 2 wickets with the first 2 balls, so probably holds his spot too.
Predicted line-up
- M.Owen
- T.Ward
- Rehan Ahmed
- B.McDermott
- N.Chaudhary
- M.Wade (wk)
- C.Jordan
- W.Prestwidge
- N.Ellis (c)
- Rishad Hossain
- R.Meredith
Adelaide Strikers
Not 100%: None
Unavailable: Travis Head, Alex Carey (Test squad)
Likely Ins: T.Shamsi / Likely Outs: Hassan Ali
The Strikers are coming off a tight win over the Sydney Thunder. They’ve confirmed Pakistani paceman Hassan Ali will miss this game, replaced in the gameday squad by South African wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi.
Test duo Travis Head and Alex Carey aren’t yet available either and Head has indicated he’s unlikely to play in BBL|15 already. Chris Lynn spent time off the field in their last game but has been named in the gameday 13.
Predicted line-up
- M.Short (c)
- C.Lynn
- M.Harvey (wk)
- J.Sangha
- L.Scott
- H.Manenti
- J.Overton
- J.Wadia
- L.Wood
- T.Shamsi
- L.Pope
Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Thunder
Saturday 10 January, 3pm local time / 4pm AEDT
Gabba, Brisbane
Brisbane Heat
Not 100%: Tom Alsop (knee), Usman Khawaja, Michael Neser, Marnus Labuschagne (post-Ashes break)
Unavailable: Callum Vidler (stress fracture), Spencer Johnson (back), Shaheen Shah Afridi (knee)
Likely Ins: C.Munro, Zaman Khan / Likely Outs: L.Hearne, O.Patterson
The big question mark is the availability of Test trio Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne and Michael Neser after the conclusion of the Ashes. This game comes barely 48 hours after the end of the SCG Test, so it’s a tight turnaround. As a result, it feels unlikely that retiring Test batsman Khawaja would play, as well as fast bowler Neser after playing 3 Tests in the series. Labuschagne loves to play cricket, so he’s a chance, but it’ll come down to personal choice.
Pakistani quick Zaman Khan has arrived and is available, meaning it’s likely one of Oli Patterson or Tom Balkin drop out. Both have shown good signs, but Patterson is likely the one who misses out. Colin Munro was dropped last game, replaced by Lachlan Hearne who only managed 1 at the top, so if Labuschagne is available, he takes his spot. They may consider reinstating Munro anyway. Tom Alsop could be a chance to return from a knee injury too.
- J.Wildermuth
- C.Munro
- N.McSweeney (c)
- M.Renshaw
- M.Bryant
- H.Weibgen
- J.Peirson (wk)
- X.Bartlett
- M.Kuhnemann
- T.Balkin
- Zaman Khan
Sydney Thunder
Not 100%: None
Unavailable: Lockie Ferguson (injury/ILT20), Ravi Ashwin (knee), Shadab Khan (Pakistan T20Is), Reece Topley (SA20)
Likely Ins: C.Bancroft / Likely Outs: N.Maddinson
The Thunder are languishing in last with a 1-6 record, effectively out of finals contention, so they may get inventive at the selection table. Their batting line-up is struggling, relying on David Warner for runs, so it might be time to mix it up and give Blake Nikitaras a try or get Cam Bancroft back in. They could elevate one of their all-rounders like David Willey up the order too.
Predicted line-up
- M.Gilkes
- D.Warner (c)
- S.Konstas
- S.Billings (wk)
- C.Bancroft
- D.Sams
- C.Green
- D.Willey
- N.McAndrew
- T.Sangha
- W.Agar
Melbourne Renegades vs Melbourne Stars
Saturday 10 January, 7:15pm AEDT / local time
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne
Melbourne Renegades
Not 100%: Adam Zampa (neck)
Unavailable: Nathan Lyon (hamstring), Will Salzmann (hamstring), Ollie Peake (U19 World Cup), Tom Rogers (shoulder)
Likely Ins: H.Dixon, B.Doggett / Likely Outs: O.Peake, S.Elliott
Last game hero Ollie Peake will miss due to flying out for Australia’s U19 World Cup, opening the door for either Harry Dixon or Caleb Jewell.
Brendan Doggett will be available following the conclusion of the Ashes, although it’s hard to see a spot for him after the Gades’ impressive bowling display in Perth, but Sam Elliott could be unlucky and lose his spot despite 0-12 from 3 overs. Tom Rogers is on the comeback trail but will play club cricket this weekend. Adam Zampa’s status isn’t clear, but he could come in for Callum Stow if available.
Predicted line-up
- J.Brown
- T.Seifert
- Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
- J.Fraser-McGurk
- H.Dixon
- Hassan Khan
- W.Sutherland (c)
- G.Sandhu
- B.Doggett
- C.Stow
- J.Behrendorff
Melbourne Stars
Not 100%: Joe Clarke (hip), Tom Curran (hip soreness)
Unavailable: Mark Steketee (hamstring), Scott Boland (post-Ashes break)
Likely Ins: T.Curran / Likely Outs: L.Hatcher
The Stars have lost 3 on the bounce, struggling to defend with the ball. Joe Clarke’s fitness is now “day to day”, so he’s a chance to replace Tom Rogers at the top, but this game might just be too soon for him. The Stars will be more confident on all-rounder Tom Curran who missed last game with hip soreness.
They also need to find a way to get Glenn Maxwell into form and batting him at 6 simply isn’t working. Blake Macdonald has made good impact since coming into the side, but may slide down the order.
Don’t expect Scott Boland to play BBL|15 after a big workload across all 5 Ashes Tests.
Predicted line-up
- T.Rogers
- S.Harper (wk)
- C.Kellaway
- B.Macdonald
- M.Stoinis (c)
- G.Maxwell
- H.Cartwright
- T.Curran
- M.Swepson
- Haris Rauf
- P.Siddle
Sydney Sixers vs Hobart Hurricanes
Sunday 11 January, 2:05pm AEDT / local time
SCG, Sydney
Sydney Sixers
Not 100%: Steve Smith (post-Ashes break)
Unavailable: Mitch Starc (post-Ashes break)
No changes
Steve Smith and Mitch Starc have both confirmed they’ll play in BBL|15 but we’re not yet clear on when they’ll actually first play. This game is 3 days after the SCG Test, so both may want a break after a five-Test summer. Spinner Todd Murphy is more likely available, having not played in the Test, but it’s hard to find a spot for him, with Ben Manenti impressing last game. Dan Hughes was a surprise omission last game but Lachlan Shaw did well in his absence.
If Smith is available, Shaw is likely the one who drops out. Smith would likely open and force a re-shuffle, with Moises Henriques probably dropping into the middle order again.
Predicted line-up
- Babar Azam
- M.Henriques (c)
- J.Philippe (wk)
- S.Curran
- J.Silk
- L.Shaw
- J.Edwards
- J.Davies
- B.Dwarshuis
- B.Manenti
- S.Abbott
Hobart Hurricanes
Not 100%: Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster (post-Ashes break)
Unavailable: Tim David (hamstring), Iain Carlisle (hamstring)
Likely Ins: B.Webster, J.Weatherald / Likely Outs: W.Prestwidge, T.Ward
Game 1 performance will dictate selection. But it’s likely 2 players will need to make way with Test duo Beau Webster and Jake Weatherald potentially returning. Webster, having played only 1 Test all Ashes series, is much more likely to play on a short turnaround than Weatherald.
Tim Ward looks vulnerable if Weatherald is available, while Will Prestwidge is likely surplus to requirements given Webster can offer some bowling and significantly bolsters the batting line-up. That’ll likely demote Rehan Ahmed down the order.
If Ward or Prestwidge plays a blinder on Friday, Hobart have shown in the past they’re willing to rest veteran Matthew Wade and with the short turn-around that could be a solution.
Predicted line-up
- M.Owen
- J.Weatherald
- B.Webster
- B.McDermott
- N.Chaudhary
- M.Wade (wk)
- Rehan Ahmed
- C.Jordan
- N.Ellis (c)
- Rishad Hossain
- R.Meredith
Adelaide Strikers vs Perth Scorchers
Sunday 11 January, 6:45pm local time / 7:15pm AEDT
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
Adelaide Strikers
Not 100%: Alex Carey (post-Ashes break)
Unavailable: Travis Head (post-Ashes break)
Likely Ins: A.Carey, Hassan Ali / Likely Outs: H.Manenti, T.Shamsi
Game 1 performance will dictate selection. The big talking point, however, will be if Alex Carey opts to play this game following the Ashes series. If so, he’ll likely bat top 3, bumping one of Mackenzie Harvey, Jason Sangha, Jerrssis Wadia or Harry Manenti out of the side. The latter looks most likely, with everyone shuffling down one spot. Travis Head seems set to be unavailable after his Ashes workload.
Adelaide have also been rotating 2 of their 4 imports, Hassan Ali and Tabraiz Shamsi, so there’s no guarantee they’ll play both in the double.
Predicted line-up
- M.Short (c)
- C.Lynn
- A.Carey (wk)
- M.Harvey
- J.Sangha
- L.Scott
- J.Overton
- J.Wadia
- L.Wood
- Hassan Ali
- L.Pope
Perth Scorchers
Not 100%: Mitch Marsh (finger)
Unavailable: Lance Morris (back), Ashton Agar (calf), Joel Paris (groin)
Likely Ins: J.Inglis, B.Couch / Likely Outs: N.Hobson, J.Paris
The Scorchers look set to welcome back Josh Inglis following the conclusion of the Ashes Test series – having not played in the SCG Test. He’ll take the gloves and slot into the middle order, shuffling Aaron Hardie down to 7, forcing Nick Hobson out.
Perth have some injury concerns with Mitch Marsh not certain to play due to a finger issue. If he’s out, Perth will play Hobson and look for an opener from within, potentially Inglis.
Joel Paris will miss due to a groin strain, with Brody Couch or spinner Corey Rocchiccioli most likely to replace him. Ashton Agar remains unavailable with a calf injury.
Predicted line-up
- M.Marsh
- F.Allen
- C.Connolly
- J.Inglis (wk)
- A.Turner (c)
- L.Evans
- A.Hardie
- J.Richardson
- B.Couch
- D.Payne
- M.Beardman
