SuperCoach BBL Late Mail: Jack Edwards emerges as No.3 option for Sixers after Daniel Hughes injury

Josh Hazlewood’s injury is set to have fallout for at least two BBL clubs — and SuperCoaches. Plus, have we already found the must-have player of BBL14?

Sydney Sixers all-rounder Jack Edwards has emerged as one of the must-have players in SuperCoach after being thrust into the No.3 role due to Daniel Hughes’ injury setback.

Hughes hurt his elbow in the field during the Sixers’ opening game against Melbourne Renegades and was unable to bat during their chase.

That meant Edwards, who was named at No.6, moved up the order to Hughes’ spot.

The 24-year-old seized the opportunity with 37 from 28 balls, helping lay the platform for a Sixers win.

Importantly, coach Greg Shipperd was impressed.

“Hughesy’s misfortune with his injury led to an opportunity for Jack to go and bat three and up until that point he’d done brilliantly well. We might have found a No.3 replacement,” Shipperd told Fox Cricket.

Edwards also took 1-25 during the Renegades innings, scoring 75 SuperCoach points.

He is priced at $136k but will jump in price before round 2.

He is set to be hot property come the Sixers’ double in round 3.

In-form batter Kurtis Patterson is another candidate to slot into Hughes’ role.

Jack Edwards impressed at No.3 after Dan Hughes was injured.

MAXWELL TO MISS AGAIN, JOHNSON OUT

Glenn Maxwell will miss at least another match for Melbourne Stars.

The Stars’ biggest name was ruled out of the season opener against Perth Scorchers as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury.

Maxwell has lost his bid to return for the second game of the year against Brisbane Heat.

Local replacement player Blake Macdonald ($39k BAT) has been called into the Stars squad for the MCG clash.

Macdonald smashed 133 from 68 balls for his club side St Kilda on Saturday in a T20 fixture.

Meanwhile, Heat speedster Spencer Johnson will reportedly miss as he battles a toe issue.

Expect all-rounder Jack Wildermuth ($58k BAT-BWL) to come into the mix as a result.

Blake Macdonald has signed as a local replacement player. Welcome, Blake!

Details 👇https://t.co/ptFnGRPvy8pic.twitter.com/TnR2EG0OUv

— Melbourne Stars (@StarsBBL) December 16, 2024

WHAT WILL HAZLEWOOD INJURY MEAN FOR BBL TEAMS?

Spraking of Sixers — is Sean Abbott back in the frame for the Test squad?

If Josh Hazlewood’s calf issue keeps him out of the Boxing Day Test, Abbott and Brendan Doggett will be favoured to link up with the squad as back-ups to Scott Boland.

Abbott and Boland were called in for Adelaide when Hazlewood was ruled out.

Abbott missing the round 3 double would make first-round bolter Joel Davies (49 points) a more viable SuperCoach option.

Davies took 1-24 from four overs to help slow an early onslaught from the Renegades on Monday night.

His round 1 score puts him in the frame to be one of the best cash cows of the year.

Meanwhile, those using Brendan Doggett as a round 1 loophole in the hope he would return in round 2 will be on tenterhooks to see what the Aussie selectors do.

Another player on the fringes who is of significant interest to SuperCoach teams is Josh Inglis.

Adam Voges said Perth would “ask the question” about whether Inglis could be released from the Test squad for BBL duties.

👀 Josh Inglis ($140k BAT/WKP)@ScorchersBBL coach Adam Voges on availability: "We’ll ask the question again when we get the chance. Obviously the Aussie boys are over east & our next 2 games are in Hobart & Melbourne prior to Boxing Day so we’ll find out.” #SuperCoach

— Honeyball BBL 🏏 (@HoneyballBBL) December 16, 2024

Joel Davies during the Sixers’ chase.

DOGGETT RELEASED FROM TEST SQUAD — BUT FOR HOW LONG?

Paceman Brendan Doggett is the latest player to be released from the Australian Test squad, with the quick now likely to play for the Adelaide Strikers later in the week.

Doggett had been called up to the squad alongside Sean Abbott following Josh Hazlewood’s side strain.

Scott Boland played ahead of both of them in Adelaide, and with Hazlewood fit again for the Brisbane Test, Australia had three backup quicks in its squad.

Abbott headed to Sydney last week for the birth of his second child and will play for the Sydney Sixers on Monday night, while Beau Webster – who had been on standby for Mitch Marsh – played for the Melbourne Stars in Perth on Sunday night.

Doggett will not however play for the Strikers in their Big Bash League opener against Sydney Thunder on Canberra and is instead being primed to face the Stars on Friday night at Adelaide Oval.

Australia’s squad has been restored to the original 13 named for the start of the series, with Boland and Josh Inglis as the travelling reserves who would be called upon if a concussion substitute is needed for a bowler or batter respectively.

Originally published as SuperCoach BBL Late Mail: Jack Edwards emerges as No.3 option for Sixers after Daniel Hughes injury