Most of Australia’s Ashes-winning squad have been told to get the Big Bash pads back on, even though the urn has barely cooled. Steven Smith, still shaking the champagne out of his kit after the 4-1 series win, is expected to open up for Sydney Sixers on Sunday night in Hobart. Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne could be back for Brisbane Heat as early as Friday – only two days after England’s last wicket fell.
Mitchell Starc, player of the Ashes and a man who has not turned out in the BBL for 11 years, is pencilled in for the Sydney derby on 16 January. The left-armer has retired from T20 internationals, so if the Sixers reach the play-offs he should be free for the lot. Smith, also outside the current T20 setup, fits the same bill.
Not everyone is strapping the pads back on. Travis Head warned a while ago that he was unlikely to squeeze a Strikers cameo into an already heavy season. He’ll rest, then fine-tune for June’s T20 World Cup. Scott Boland, who bowled more overs than anyone across the five Tests, has been granted a break by Melbourne Stars. Cameron Green, unattached to a BBL side but theoretically available to Perth Scorchers, is also taking a fortnight off.
Sixers supporters may dream of an attack featuring Starc and Josh Hazlewood, but Hazlewood – recently added to the supplementary list – is still managing hamstring and Achilles niggles and is aiming at the World Cup for his return.
The Heat have arguably done best out of Cricket Australia’s release call. Khawaja, Labuschagne and Michael Neser (from 14 January) all re-enter a campaign where only Sydney Thunder are truly out of the finals picture. Ahead of Friday’s top-of-the-table Hurricanes v Strikers clash, just four points separate first from seventh.
“A five-Test match Ashes series is intense,” Ben Oliver, Cricket Australia’s general manager of national teams, said. “The players and staff deserve great credit for their preparation and management which has enabled sustained performance through what is a full international schedule.
“We have worked with each player on individual plans to best support recovery from the Ashes and preparation for upcoming international commitments including the ICC T20 World Cup. Wherever possible, this includes players representing their clubs in the ongoing BBL season over the coming fortnight.”
Australia’s T20 squad for the three-match tour of Pakistan, a warm-up for the World Cup, is still being finalised. Some extra names beyond the World Cup 15 are expected, partly to cover anyone still involved in BBL finals. Staggered departures are on the cards, so franchises in the hunt should not lose stars a moment earlier than necessary.
Who’s in, who’s out (from 10 January unless stated)
• Alex Carey (Strikers)
• Brendan Doggett (Renegades)
• Josh Inglis (Scorchers)
• Usman Khawaja (Heat)
• Marnus Labuschagne (Heat)
• Todd Murphy (Sixers)
• Steven Smith (Sixers)
• Jake Weatherald (Hurricanes)
• Beau Webster (Hurricanes)
• Michael Neser (Heat, from 14 January)
• Jhye Richardson (Scorchers, already back)
The business end of the regular season now looks like a straight sprint: six sides separated by a game and a half, fresh Test talent flying in, and only Thunder too far back to matter. Classical BBL chaos, in other words – and that’s before Starc even bowls a ball.
