15 predicted line-ups with SuperCoach explanations - Honeyball

Round 1 is almost here starting on Sunday, with the Hobart Hurricanes and Sydney Sixers both on doubles thrusting them into relevance. We’ve taken a look at all the predicted Round 1 sides, listing unavailabilities.
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Perth Scorchers vs Sydney Sixers
Sunday 14 December 4:15pm WST/7:15pm AEDT
Optus Stadium, Perth
Perth Scorchers
Doubtful: Bryce Jackson (quad)
Unavailable: David Payne (ILT20), Josh Inglis, Jhye Richardson (Test squad), Lance Morris (back)
The Scorchers will be without Jhye Richardson in a blow to their attack, so Matt Kelly, Joel Paris and Mahli Beardman should be the quicks with economical spinner Ashton Agar, while Aaron Hardie and Cooper Connolly will share sixth bowling responsibilities.
There’s a question mark on whether Finn Allen or Laurie Evans keeps. Perth added wicketkeeper Joel Curtis as a local replacement but it’s unlikely he forces his way into the XI.
Predicted line-up
F.Allen (wk)
M.Marsh
A.Hardie
C.Connolly
A.Turner (c)
L.Evans
N.Hobson
A.Agar
J.Paris
M.Kelly
M.Beardman
Sydney Sixers
Doubtful: Sean Abbott (hamstring)
Unavailable: Sam Curran (ILT20), Steve Smith, Mitch Starc (Test squad)
Sean Abbott is set to miss the trip to Perth with a hamstring injury. Sam Curran is unavailable as well away at the ILT20, so that opens the door for Hayden Kerr and Mitch Perry to come into the line-up. Given the likely conditions in Perth, the Sixers will likely only play one spinner, so Jafer Chohan misses out. The Sixers have favoured Daniel Hughes in the top 3 in their warm-ups.
Predicted line-up
Babar Azam
D.Hughes
J.Philippe (wk)
M.Henriques (c)
J.Silk
J.Edwards
B.Dwarshuis
H.Kerr
M.Perry
T.Murphy
K.Richardson
Melbourne Renegades vs Brisbane Heat
Monday 15 December 7:15pm AEDT
GMHBA Stadium, Geelong
Melbourne Renegades
Not 100%: Tim Seifert (finger)
Unavailable: Nathan Lyon, Brendan Doggett (Test squad), Will Salzmann (hamstring), Adam Zampa (paternity leave), Callum Stow (back), Tom Rogers (injury)
The ‘Gades have a few selection issues, particularly in the spin department with Adam Zampa and Callum Stow unavailable, with reports suggesting Michael Archer will be added. Tom Rogers will miss with injury, with Andrew Tye set to replace him after being added as a local replacement. It’s hard to pick the ‘Gades top 4, but we’ve left out Josh Brown but he could equally play. Tim Seifert says he’s good to go after a fractured finger.
Predicted line-up
C.Jewell
Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
J.Fraser-McGurk
T.Seifert
O.Peake
Hassan Khan
W.Sutherland (c)
F.O’Neill
A.Tye
M.Archer
J.Behrendorff
Brisbane Heat
Not 100%: Matt Kuhnemann (side)
Unavailable: Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Michael Neser (test squad), Callum Vidler (stress fracture), Spencer Johnson (back)
There’s a lot of unknowns with this Heat side who flirted with using Jack Wildermuth as an opening batsman in a warm-up game this week. This side is very hard to pick, with Michael Neser and Spencer Johnson both out, opening the door to youngster Oli Patterson. One of Patterson, Hugh Weibgen or Lachlan Hearne will miss out, even if they play different roles, as Wildermuth’s flexibility unlocks a lot.
Predicted line-up
C.Munro
N.McSweeney (c)
M.Renshaw
L.Hearne
M.Bryant
T.Alsop (wk)
X.Bartlett
J.Wildermuth
O.Patterson
Shaheen Shah Afridi
M.Kuhnemann
Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Thunder
Tuesday 16 December 7:15pm AEDT
Ninja Stadium, Hobart
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Hobart Hurricanes
Not 100%: Mitch Owen (hamstring), Matthew Wade (side), Rehan Ahmed (leg strain)
Unavailable: Beau Webster, Jake Weatherald (Test squad)
Another line-up that is hard to predict given a range of batting line-up permutations. With Jake Weatherald and Beau Webster out, there’s 2 spots open in their top 3 that we’re predicting youngster Tim Ward and Nikhil Chaudhary to occupy. Chaudhary played first drop in last season’s Final.
All the talk this week has been about Matthew Wade in the middle order, along with Ben McDermott. Tim David’s rise as a genuine 4 in franchise and international cricket is compelling, but we wait and see if Hobart adhere. Rehan Ahmed could also come up the order.
Chris Jordan, Riley Meredith and Nathan Ellis will be their preferred three quicks ahead of Jackson Bird and Billy Stanlake.
Predicted line-up
M.Owen
T.Ward
N.Chaudhary
B.McDermott
T.David
M.Wade (wk)
Rehan Ahmed
C.Jordan
Rishad Hossain
N.Ellis (c)
R.Meredith
Sydney Thunder
Doubtful: Shadab Khan (shoulder)
Unavailable: Lockie Ferguson (ILT20), Ravi Ashwin (knee)
Don’t listen to David Warner, he’ll open the batting. Shadab Khan’s role will be at no.6 and as their sixth bowling option. The biggest debate is whether they pick Wes Agar, Nathan McAndrew or Ryan Hadley as their third quick, or does Tom Andrews sneak in as another spinner.
Predicted line-up
D.Warner (c)
S.Konstas
C.Bancroft
O.Davies
S.Billings (wk)
Shadab Khan
C.Green
D.Sams
R.Hadley
R.Topley
T.Sangha
Sydney Sixers vs Adelaide Strikers
Wednesday 17 December 7:15pm AEDT
SCG. Sydney
Sydney Sixers
Doubtful: Sean Abbott (hamstring)
Unavailable: Sam Curran (ILT20), Steve Smith, Mitch Starc (Test squad)
As the second game of their double, it all comes down to performance but we expect spinner Jafer Chohan to come back into calculations at the SCG.
Predicted line-up
Babar Azam
D.Hughes
J.Philippe (wk)
M.Henriques (c)
J.Silk
J.Edwards
B.Dwarshuis
H.Kerr
J.Chohan
T.Murphy
K.Richardson
Adelaide Strikers
Doubtful: None
Unavailable: Travis Head, Alex Carey (Test squad)
The Strikers line-up looks straight-forward except for the omission of Liam Scott, who has a case to be in this side. Chris Lynn is good to go despite an injury scare in Nepal last week.
Predicted line-up
M.Short (c)
M.Harvey
C.Lynn
J.Sangha
A.Ross
J.Overton
H.Nielsen (wk)
H.Thornton
Hasan Ali
L.Wood
L.Pope
Melbourne Stars vs Hobart Hurricanes
Wednesday 17 December 7:15pm AEDT
MCG, Melbourne
Melbourne Stars
Doubtful: None
Unavailable: Scott Boland (Test squad), Mark Steketee (hamstring)
The talking point for the Stars is their top 3 and if Campbell Kellaway, Sam Harper and/or Tom Rogers take 2 of the 3 spots alongside Joe Clarke. With Mark Steketee and Scott Boland unavailable, we’re expecting fast bowler Liam Hatcher to play, although there’s some good hype around Tom Whitney.
Predicted line-up
J.Clarke
C.Kellaway
S.Harper (wk)
G.Maxwell
M.Stoinis (c)
H.Cartwright
T.Curran
L.Hatcher
M.Swepson
Haris Rauf
P.Siddle
Hobart Hurricanes
Doubtful: Mitch Owen (hamstring), Matthew Wade (side), Rehan Ahmed (leg strain)
Unavailable: Beau Webster, Jake Weatherald (Test squad)
As the second game of their double, it all comes down to performance.
Predicted line-up