James Faulkner to miss top of the table Big Bash clash but coach not concerned with knee complaint

The Hurricanes have downplayed the seriousness of an injury to star all-rounder James Faulkner just a week out from BBL finals

THE Hurricanes have downplayed the seriousness of an injury to star all-rounder James Faulkner just a week out from BBL finals.

Hobart’s leading wicket taker will miss Thursday night’s BBL clash with the Melbourne Renegades after experiencing soreness in his knee.

However coach Adam Griffith said the concern was not in Faulkner’s troublesome knee which has plagued him for several years, and his omission against the Renegades was more precautionary.

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James Faulkner bowls during the BBL match between the Hobart Hurricanes and the Adelaide Strikers at UTAS Stadium in Launceston on January 31. Picture: AAP

“He will see the docs and specialists as they always do and get the scans and once we get more information we will know more,” Griffith said.

“At this stage the plan is to rest him up, and have him ready for the business end of the season.

“We are playing it a little bit by ear as well … it is not the knee he has had trouble with in the past, it is the other one.”

The Hurricanes regain Riley Meredith after he missed the past two matches through illness, while new international signing Qais Ahmad will make his Big Bash debut.

Hobart sits on top of the ladder with 18 points, two ahead of tonight’s opponent and the Sydney Sixes, and can sew up the minor premiership with victory in one of its two remaining hit-outs.

The Renegades were the first team to hand Hobart a defeat in BBL|08, and a key to the result at Docklands was keeping D’Arcy Short to his only single figure score of the campaign.

However the tournament leading run scorer believes the hosts can reverse the result.

“The boys are confident, we are playing well at the moment,” Short said.

“We’ll just keep going through our plans and keep backing ourselves and hopefully we get another win.”

Hobart Hurricanes D'Arcy Short with a custom bat featuring artwork created by Indigenous artist Marcus McGregor Cassady. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

Short’s weapon of choice will look a little different to the one he has used to pulverise opponents this season, with the left-handed star to use an indigenous inspired designed bat in a tribute he is hoping may kick start more indigenous celebrations in the league.

Short is the sixth indigenous Australian to represent his country at the international level and hopes one day the BBL will include an indigenous round, similar to the AFL.

“The design is from one of my mates I used to play cricket with in Darwin, Marcus McGregor-Cassady,” he said.

“I kind of got it off seeing Dan Christian do it as well, it’s just showing a bit of proud from where we come from.

“I guess it’s just one step at a time, I don’t see why we can’t do it (have an indigenous round).”