Scorchers win toss, Strikers bat in knockout BBL final

Murray Wenzel | January 20, 2024

A thinned-out Adelaide Strikers line-up has been asked to bat first by the Perth Scorchers at Optus Stadium in their knockout Big Bash League final.

The Strikers have been hardest hit by the late-season player exodus, this season’s equal-highest wicket-taker Jamie Overton, third-highest run-scorer Chris Lynn and big-hitting Englishman Adam Hose all lost to ILT20 duties.

Perth aren’t immune either, with in-form bat Laurie Evans joining that trio in the UAE, England star Zak Crawley on national duty, and Ashton Turner and Jhye Richardson injured.

Marcus Harris will return to Western Australia and open for the Scorchers on Saturday night, alongside BBL debutant Sam Fanning in the host’s new-look top order.

For the visitors, much will rest on the shoulders of BBL Golden Bat winner and Strikers captain Matt Short, with big-hitting off-spinner Ben Manenti listed to bat at No.6.

The winners will face the Brisbane Heat on the Gold Coast on Monday for the chance to play the Sydney Sixers in Wednesday’s final.

SCORCHERS: Marcus Harris, Sam Fanning, Sam Whiteman, Aaron Hardie (c), Josh Inglis, Cooper Connolly, Nick Hobson, Ashton Agar, Andrew Tye, Jason Behrendorff, Lance Morris.

STRIKERS: Matt Short (c), D’Arcy Short, Jake Weatherald, Thomas Kelly, Harry Nielsen, Ben Manenti, James Bazley, Henry Thornton, David Payne, Cameron Boyce, Lloyd Pope.