The Sydney Thunder and Melbourne Renegades squads were both confirmed ahead of Monday’s Round 8 opener, with the Gades on the double and welcoming back a star player.
SQUAD NEWS
The Sydney Thunder named their 14-man squad to face the Melbourne Renegades at ENGIE Stadium on Monday night.
Young fast bowler Charlie Anderson comes into the squad with Nathan McAndrew dropped.
David Warner has been named after a blow to the knee meant he couldn’t field on Saturday. The Thunder’s update said: “He’ll work closely with Thunder’s medical team over the next 24 hours in a bid to be fit for the season’s final home game.”
Sydney Thunder
Ins: Anderson / Outs: McAndrew
Warner (c), Agar, Anderson, Andrews, Bancroft, Billings, Gilkes, Green, Hadley, Konstas, Maddinson, Sams, Sangha, Willey
The Renegades announced their 14-man squad for the game, with spinner Adam Zampa named to return from a neck strain. Matthew Spoors drops out.
Speaking on FoxCricket during Saturday’s derby BBL coverage, Zampa said: “I’d prefer to be out there for sure… little niggle in the neck. But hopefully be alright for the next game.” Zampa’s availability would likely force Callum Stow out of the side.
Melbourne Renegades
Ins: Zampa / Outs: Spoors
Squad: Sutherland (c), Behrendorff, Brown, Dixon, Doggett, Elliott, F-McGurk, Hassan Khan, Jewell, Muhammad Rizwan, Sandhu, Seifert, Stow, Zampa
ROGERS RETURN CLOSE
Renegades fast bowler Tom Rogers made a successful return from injury on Saturday, bowling 5 overs for Footscray in a 50-over Victorian Premier Cricket game.
Rogers hasn’t played for months since undergoing shoulder surgery but is on the comeback trail for the Gades.
The fast bowler only bowled 5 overs, finishing with 0-35 including a maiden in Footscray’s clash with Fitzroy-Doncaster.
Rogers’ availability will be a major boost for the Gades as they try to keep their finals hopes alive, but it’s unclear when he’ll be ready to resume in the BBL.
The Gades have a Round 8 double, starting with Monday’s game away to the Sydney Thunder followed by Thursday’s home clash with the Perth Scorchers.
Last month when the Rogers injury news first came out, the Gades said they were hopeful he’d return in early January and captain Will Sutherland said he was progressing well.
GADES IN CLUB ACTION
Rogers wasn’t the only Renegades player in action in Victorian club cricket on Saturday, with Andrew Tye pushing his case for re-selection with 3-40 and 24 from 22 balls for Prahran.
All-rounder Matthew Spoors came up against Rogers’ Footscray, scoring 64 from 55 balls as an opener, plus taking 1-61 from 10 overs.
Forgotten quick Fergus O’Neill took 1-32 from 8 overs and made 7* from 6 balls for Melbourne as well.
