SuperCoach BBL late mail: Team news round 2, Test squad fallout, Daniel Hughes out, Glenn Maxwell return

SuperCoaches have been sent scrambling after Australian selectors pulled a Boxing Day stunner by naming popular pick Jhye Richardson in the Test squad.

SuperCoaches have been sent scrambling after top round 2 target Jhye Richardson was called into the Test squad.

Richardson has usurped Brendan Doggett to be named as one of two back-up quicks for the final two Tests against India, with Sean Abbott also in the squad.

Richardson played the last of his three Tests in 2021.

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Although unlikely, there remains an outside chance the Scorchers quick will be allowed to play BBL matches against Hobart Hurricanes (December 21) and Melbourne Renegades (December 23).

The more likely scenario, considering his injury history, is that Richardson will be put on ice until he joins the Australian squad.

Richardson was chosen in more than 16,000 SuperCoach teams to start BBL14 and returned 3-19 for 103 points against the Stars in round 1.

Jhye Richardson has been called into the Test squad for the fourth and fifth Tests against India.

He had also been traded in by more than 5000 teams before news broke of his Test inclusion.

The Test squad will have significant flow-on effects for SuperCoach teams with popular picks Sam Konstas and Sean Abbott also included.

Konstas’ Thunder take on Abbott’s Sixers on December 22.

It is feasible they could feature before being released for Test duties.

The silver lining for SuperCoaches was Brendan Doggett being released from the squad.

At $71,000, the Strikers paceman looms as a popular inclusion ahead of a round 2 double.

HUGHES OUT FOR REST OF BBL14 IN SIXERS BLOW

The Sydney Sixers have copped a huge blow for BBL14 with star top order batter Daniel Hughes ruled out for the entire tournament.

Hughes fell awkwardly while fielding in the Sixers’ BBL opener at the SCG on Monday and aggravated a recurrent elbow ligament injury.

“The batter fractured the same elbow during a grade cricket match in October, but had completed his return to play and was cleared by medical staff, performing well in practice matches last week,” said the Sixers.

Hughes has scored the 11th most runs in Big Bash history.

Daniel Hughes is out for the entire tournament. Picture: James Worsfold/Getty Images

MAXWELL RETURNS, STAR IMPORT JOINS

The winless Melbourne Stars will be bolstered by the inclusion of their two best bats, with Glenn Maxwell and Ben Duckett locked in to face Adelaide Strikers on Friday.

The 0-2 Stars will regain Maxwell from a hamstring injury and get a first look at their prized English import with Duckett due to fly from New Zealand to Adelaide on Thursday to meet his teammates.

The left-hander, who scored three half-centuries in his 12 games for Brisbane Heat in 2021-22, missed the first two games as he finished his Test duties with England against the Kiwis.

The Stars took the 30-year-old with the first pick in this year’s overseas player draft.

Duckett will take the place of countryman Joe Clarke, who injured his hamstring in Wednesday night’s loss to the Heat but was due to depart anyway after signing as a replacement player for the first two games.

Maxwell, who has been cleared to return from the hamstring strain he suffered while fielding in Australia’s final T20 against Pakistan, was poised to replace Campbell Kellaway, who was listed to bat at nine and bowled one over for 11 runs in the eight-wicket loss to the Heat.

It could cause a reshuffle of the Stars’ order with Tom Rogers (14 and 1) likely to slide down from an opening spot, where new captain Marcus Stoinis could return alongside Duckett.

Stars coach Peter Moores said he was pleased with the show of greater “intent” with the bat than in the tournament opener against the Scorchers, but wanted to see more consistency from his side.

Glenn Maxwell was injured during Australia’s T20 series against Pakistan.

“We’ve got to move our game on by the time we get to Adelaide,” he said.

“We get Ben Duckett coming over from England, so the side freshens up a little bit anyway.

“I want us to play with a smile on our face … I thought we were fully committed (on Wednesday), plenty of energy in the field. We’ve just got to play better.”

PERTH WARNS OF RICHARDSON RESTING

SuperCoaches have been brought back to earth after Jhye Richardson’s electric start to the BBL season with a warning the Scorchers quick could soon be rested.

Richardson has battled shoulder issues in recent months and recently popped his shoulder out celebrating a wicket during a Sheffield Shield match.

Jhye Richardson was player of the match in Perth Scorchers’ round 1 win over Melbourne Stars. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

He was one of the top scorers in round 1 of BBL14, taking 3-19 to score 103 points against Melbourne Stars.

Richardson is set to be one of the top trade targets for next round when Perth plays twice.

But, don’t bank on having him available every round.

“We have learned a lot about the injuries he’s been having over the last few years and we know … we do have to manage how many games he plays in a short space of time,” Perth bowling coach Tim Macdonald told 91.3 SportFM.

The first wicket of #BBL14 ☝️

It goes to Jhye Richardson! pic.twitter.com/B6TftNyyd8

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) December 15, 2024

“But we’re expecting him to play most of the games in this Big Bash. If he can get through that unscathed that’s a really good launching pad into what comes next for Jhye Richardson.

“At the same time, we know how good he is … if he plays two or three games and performs like that you know the Aussie selectors are watching pretty hard.”

Meanwhile, Macdonald said there were “ongoing conversations” about whether Cooper Connolly would stay at No. 3 when Aaron Hardie returns.

Hardie could be back on Boxing Day host Brisbane Heat, but is only considered an outside chance of returning from injury in round 2.

Wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis is also a chance to play in round 2, with the Scorchers in discussions with Cricket Australia about whether he could be released from the Test squad.

Originally published as SuperCoach BBL late mail: Team news round 2, Test squad fallout, Daniel Hughes out, Glenn Maxwell return