Big Bash League: Perth Scorchers’ top-order taking shape as Cam Bancroft and Josh Inglis raise bat in warm-up
Jackson BarrettThe West Australian
Fri, 9 December 2022 8:39PM
Jackson Barrett
Josh Inglis, Ashton Turner and Cameron Bancroft starred in the Scorchers' final hit-out. Credit: Iain Gillespie
All Bang-ed up
Cam Bancroft is ready to fight for a spot at the top of the order after playing just eight games last summer, but he’s already in the wars.
The opener tried ramping State-contracted quick Sam Greer off the very first ball of the innings, only to deflect the ball straight into his own helmet.
He was attended to by physios and given the green light to continue, before doing the exact same thing facing Greer’s very next over.
Cam Bancroft was all smiles after hitting 50 in the Scorchers’ final intra-club. Credit: Iain Gillespie/The West Australian
He also took a tumble over Cam Gannon while scampering through for a quick single.
It was an eventful but ultimately productive stand, with the in-form opener finishing with 58 from 34 balls in a final push to nail down a spot against the Sixers next weekend.
Hatz off for Turner?
Peter Hatzoglou could be the unlucky man when Adam Voges picks his team for the opening game of the tournament.
The former Melbourne Renegades spinner took five wickets across the two practice matches but was expensive — taken for 50 off four overs and 22 off three.
With the temptation of squeezing as many of their international-calibre quicks into the team as possible, the Scorchers could turn to captain Ashton Turner as their spin option behind Ashton Agar.
Turner looked the best of the spinners on both days and took 3-19 from three overs today. He also bowled ahead of Hatzoglou.
Captain Ashton Turner sweeps, but it was his bowling that caught the eye. Credit: Iain Gillespie/The West Australian
There’s little doubt Hatzoglou will play an important part at some point in the tournament, but the appeal of an extra quick and both spin options holding deserved places inside the top seven of the batting order is strong.
Inglis in serious touch
After the devastating blow of missing Australia’s T20 World Cup campaign, Josh Inglis looks primed for a huge Big Bash campaign.
The wicket-keeper batted at four and went to town on the ‘Scorchers B’ team’s bowling attack, finishing with 57 from just 29 balls.
Josh Inglis looks primed ahead of the Big Bash. Credit: Iain Gillespie/The West Australian
The highlight was a monstrous over facing hapless Subiaco-Floreat and WA Second XI seamer Michael Hart.
Inglis launched a six over cow corner, carved out a back-foot cover drive for four, then flicked another maximum off his pads and cashed in on a tired-looking full-toss to round out a brutal over.
Big guns get rolling
The Scorchers wheeled out an almost full-strength attack for the first time today, with Jason Behrendorff, Matt Kelly, Andrew Tye and Ashton Agar all making their first appearances in orange for the summer.
Behrendorff looked fit and hit his stride, but finished wicketless after bowling both in the power-play and at the death, while Tye took 1-25 from four overs at the end of the innings and Kelly pushed his case for a spot with 2-27 from three.
Sheffield Shield seamer Charlie Stobo was used to round out the attack in the ‘Scorchers A’ side on Friday, with Jhye Richardson absent as he continues to recover from a persistent heel bruising problem.
Richardson has missed Western Australia’s last three matches this summer with the injury but is expected to be fit for Saturday’s match against the Sixers, while Lance Morris’ availability will depend on his national team duties.