Australia’s Test stars set be rushed into Big Bash sides
Aaron Finch and Marcus Harris could find themselves padding up for Melbourne Renegades when their Big Bash League season commences at Marvel Stadium on Thursday.
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Aaron Finch and Marcus Harris could be shock inclusions for Melbourne Renegades when their Big Bash League season commences at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night.
Cricket Australia did not rule out allowing the Test openers to pad up in what would be a huge boost to the start of the expanded BBL season.
Opponent Perth Scorchers could also be bolstered with Test batsman Shaun Marsh in the same selection boat.
The star trio would all be expected to open the batting for their clubs.
The Renegades are 0-8 against the Scorchers and the addition of Finch and Harris would help combat Perth’s world-class pace attack.
The Gades are quietly confident they have a strong case for captain Finch and Harris to play, given there is an eight-day break between Test matches and no extra travel is required.
The Renegades-Scorchers clash and the Boxing Day Test are both in Melbourne.
Finch would also require further medical clearance after he retired hurt with a finger injury on Sunday.
He was declared fit to continue his innings on Monday but was caught behind first ball.
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CA said a decision on the BBL availability of the playing eleven in Perth would be made after the Test match is completed.
Squad member Mitch Marsh was not selected in either of the first two Test matches and is set to captain the Scorchers on Thursday night, although quick Joel Paris (back) has been sidelined for 3-4 weeks.
Renegades coach Andrew McDonald has revealed why the club replaced superstar all-rounder Dwayne Bravo with two low-profile imports.
McDonald said the club specifically targeted left-arm quicks and zeroed in on Pakistani Usman Shinwari and Englishman Harry Gurney.
“That was a skill set we desperately wanted, we felt we got caught short for that last year,” McDonald said.
“The reason we were attracted to them is they’re left-armers and closing bowlers, so they do the death overs quite well.
“They can both bowl up well at the front and, in particular, Shinwari can shift the ball and swing it both ways.
“Kane Richardson lacked a partner last year and in those back-end overs we’ve got cover now.”
Shinwari will play the first seven BBL games before he is replaced by Gurney in the red team’s squad.
Bravo left the Renegades to sign with cross-town rival Melbourne Stars.
Right-arm quick Richardson said Finch had faced Shinwari and rated him highly.
“I saw him in this year’s Zimbabwe series, when he played a few games for Pakistan,” Richardson said.
“He’s not very big, that was one thing that surprised me. Being a fast bowler, he’s quite short and looks more like a spinner when you look at his stature.
“But he charges in — he runs in quicker than anyone I’ve almost ever seen.”
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Originally published as Australia’s Test stars set be rushed into Big Bash sides
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