Jhye Richardson is currently recovering from a hamstring injury sustained against the Thunder on January 4, which has kept him out of the Scorchers’ previous seven games. Reigning KFC BBL champions Perth Scorchers have been dealt a double blow ahead of Saturday’s Qualifier final against the Sydney Sixers, with seamers Jhye Richardson and Matthew Kelly ruled out. Until that moment, the 26-year-old speedster had lit up the Big Bash with 15 wickets in seven games, including three hat-tricks.
Jhye Richardson ruled out from BBL12
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The three-Test capped right-armer has had a difficult summer after a heel injury in early November sidelined him till the Scorchers’ opening match of the season on December 17. Jhye Richardson was still working his way back to full health after suffering heel bruising during BBL|12, and although Jhye Richardson could bat comfortably for four overs, he hoped to be completely healed by the conclusion of the competition for Western Australia’s back-to-back Marsh Sheffield Shield campaign.
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Jhye Richardson said last week that he hoped to be eligible for the Scorchers’ last regular season encounter, but he now faces a race against time to establish Jhye Richardson health for next Thursday’s Challenger or Saturday’s Final, depending on the outcome of tomorrow night’s play against the Sixers. Kelly is ineligible for selection for the Perth Stadium Qualifier after receiving a concussion in their last play against the Melbourne Renegades on Sunday.
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During Jhye Richardson third over, the 28-year-old right-armer took a ball to the head as a throw from the outfield bounced off Aaron Finch’s bat. He exited the field right away and was substituted out of the game due to a concussion. “Matt has been making good progress through the concussion return to play procedures. He won’t be ready for tomorrow, but we anticipate him to return to full training soon after “Dr Tom Hill, WA Cricket’s State Medical Officer, said.
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The fact that spin bowling allrounder Ashton Agar is unavailable adds to the Scorchers’ selection quandary, as he prepares for Australia’s four-Test Qantas Tour of India, which begins with a three-day training camp in Sydney on Saturday. Lance Morris, a fellow Test squad member, is available after missing the encounter against the Renegades due to sickness. In the Qualifier, veteran fast Andrew Tye will play his 100th BBL match, with Jason Behrendorff and English seamer David Payne completing up a powerful pace quartet.
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The winner of tomorrow night’s Qualifier will host the BBL|12 final on February 4, while the loser will play a home Challenger final on Thursday. More than 30,000 tickets have already been sold for the blockbuster match, which will be the Scorchers’ first men’s home BBL final in over five years – and just the second overall at Perth Stadium.
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