Ellis Misses Knockout; Weatherald Focuses on Shield Play
Hobart Hurricanes’ captain Nathan Ellis will not participate in the upcoming knockout finals against the Melbourne Stars. His absence is due to an unspecified injury sustained during the team’s last regular season match against Brisbane Heat.
In that match, held last Wednesday, Ellis completed his four overs. Unfortunately, the Hurricanes’ hopes of finishing in the top two were dashed in the final over. The club announced that Ellis has been ruled out of the home final scheduled for tomorrow.
Upcoming Challenges for the Hurricanes
This month is pivotal for Ellis, as he is slated to play for Australia’s pace attack in the T20 World Cup starting February 7. Another significant absence for the Hurricanes is English allrounder Rehan Ahmed, who has left for international duties as part of England’s T20 World Cup squad. They will be engaged in ODI and T20 series in Sri Lanka beginning Thursday.
Hobart Hurricanes’ Squad Updates
Following the injuries, veteran paceman Jackson Bird and batter Charlie Wakim have been added to the Hurricanes’ squad. They will face the Melbourne Stars with Ben McDermott stepping up as the captain in Ellis’ absence. Weatherald’s situation is also notable; he has opted out of the finals campaign to focus on red-ball cricket.
Weatherald’s Decision to Focus on Red-Ball Cricket
Jake Weatherald, who joined the Hurricanes this season after years with Adelaide Strikers, has not played since Australia’s successful Ashes series. Coach Jeff Vaughan has noted that Weatherald does not feel prepared to participate in T20 matches, reiterating Cricket Tasmania’s support of his decision.
Weatherald has primarily focused on red-ball cricket during this domestic summer. He has only played in Tasmania’s opening 50-over matches this season, participating in four of seven One-Day Cup fixtures last summer. His impressive Shield campaign last year earned him a Baggy Green cap in November.
Coach’s Remarks on Weatherald’s Focus
Vaughan stated, “Through conversations, Jake doesn’t feel ready for white-ball cricket at the moment. He aims to excel in traditional formats.” He further emphasized Weatherald’s desire to perform well for Tasmania when the Shield season resumes on February 5. Weatherald is determined to secure his position as Australia’s leading opener.
Melbourne Stars’ Standings and Strategy
On the other side, Melbourne Stars captain Marcus Stoinis anticipates no changes in their lineup for the knockout match. The club aims to secure their first BBL finals win in six years. After missing the chance for a top spot due to a loss to Perth Scorchers, Stoinis feels confident in their preparations for this finals campaign.
Melbourne Stars’ Squad for Knockout
- Hilton Cartwright
- Joe Clarke
- Tom Curran
- Sam Harper
- Liam Hatcher
- Campbell Kellaway
- Blake Macdonald
- Glenn Maxwell
- Hamish McKenzie
- Haris Rauf
- Tom Rogers
- Peter Siddle
- Marcus Stoinis (c)
- Mitch Swepson
Stoinis expressed, “We have been playing good cricket this season. If we maintain our consistency, we can achieve our goal.”
BBL|15 Finals Schedule
| Match | Date | Time (AEDT) |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifier: Perth Scorchers v Sydney Sixers | Tuesday, January 20 | 7:30 PM |
| Knockout: Hobart Hurricanes v Melbourne Stars | Wednesday, January 21 | 7:30 PM |
| Challenger: Loser of Qualifier v Winner of Knockout | Friday, January 23 | 7:15 PM |
| Final: Winner of Qualifier v Winner of Challenger | Sunday, January 25 | 7:15 PM |
A reserve day is also available on Monday, January 26, at 7:15 PM AEDT for the final.
