Haris Rauf back in the nick of time for Melbourne Stars’ BBL Finals push
After losing three matches in his absence, Melbourne Stars welcome back Haris Rauf from international duty for the BBL finals, unconcerned his recent ascent in world cricket may have drained his reserves of energy.
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One days rest will have to be enough for returning Pakistani speed machine Haris Rauf, who looms as a major inclusion for the Melbourne Stars in their quest for a spot in a second-straight Big Bash final.
Rauf has enjoyed a stunning rise from Tasmanian grade cricket in to the Stars line-up and then national selection all in the space of five weeks.
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He made his T20 debut for Pakistan last Friday against Bangladesh in Lahore, played again on Saturday and was set to arrive back in Australia early Thursday morning.
Rauf missed the final three matches of the regular season for the Stars, all losses.
He’ll get just one chance to train with his teammates before Friday’s qualifying final against the Sydney Sixers, if he wants to.
But teammate Peter Handscomb said Rauf, the Stars leading wicket taker this season with 16 scalps, would be ready to go.
“I came back from India and played the next day,” said Handscomb, who toured India with the Australian one-day team.
“With T20 cricket it’s possible to do it. It’s not easy, it’s definitely not easy.
“But that’s the game now and it’s about being adaptable and making sure you are ready to go whenever. We know we have to able to play 12 months of the year, that’s the job.”
A win propels the winner straight in the final and in the Stars easily accounted for the Sixers in their last MCG meeting, with Marcus Stoinis smashing a BBL record 147 not out.
Under the revamped finals system a loss for either team sends them in to a do-or-die second finals.
But defeat for the Stars would also trigger horror memories of past finals failings, including a staggering batting collapse in last year’s decider.
The Stars have made the BBL finals in eight of nine seasons but have never won the title and lost 7-19 last season to hand the trophy to the Renegades.
Handscomb, who made a two-ball duck in that match, said the past would have no bearing on Friday’s game and there was “no concern” about losing three matches in a row before the finals.
“You’ve just got to look forward. All those games have happened. Last year has gone, the last eight years are gone,” he said.
“We booked a spot in the final with three games to go which gave up the opportunity to rest a few players, get them ready for the final. We’re ready to go.”
Rauf comes in for spinner Sandeep Lamicchane. The Stars are yet to settle on an opening partner for Marcus Stoinis after Hilton Cartwright was ruled out of the rest of the tournament with a broken finger.
Originally published as Haris Rauf back in the nick of time for Melbourne Stars’ BBL Finals push