Head and Test Bowlers Excluded from BBL; Smith, Labuschagne, Khawaja Cleared for Select Matches

Melbourne, Jan 7 (NationPress) Travis Head and Australian bowlers who participated in the five-match Test series versus India will not be taking part in the remaining matches of the Big Bash League (BBL).

Head, along with Scott Boland, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, and Mitchell Starc, is set to miss the current BBL season despite being contracted.

Steve Smith is scheduled to play three BBL matches before the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka, while Marnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja are each expected to participate in only one match as part of tailored plans established by Cricket Australia’s high-performance team.

While Smith, Labuschagne, and Khawaja face restrictions, Alex Carey, Sam Konstas, Beau Webster, Mitchell Marsh, and Jhye Richardson have been authorized to compete in the rest of the BBL season.

Australia is anticipated to announce a 16-man squad for the two-Test series in Sri Lanka soon. The squad will leave for a pre-tour camp in the UAE on January 19 or 20, which will make the touring players unavailable for the BBL finals scheduled from January 21 to 27.

It is still unclear whether all squad members from the recent Sydney Test against India will join the Sri Lanka tour. Josh Inglis, Peter Handscomb, Todd Murphy, and Matthew Kuhnemann are potential candidates for inclusion.

Glenn Maxwell is also under consideration, but with Australia already qualified for the World Test Championship (WTC) final, his expertise in subcontinental conditions may not be necessary, leading selectors to focus on the 2027 tour of India when forming the squad.

Smith will miss the Sydney Sixers match against the Melbourne Stars at the MCG on Thursday but is expected to participate against the Perth Scorchers at the SCG on Saturday. Marsh and Richardson, who are part of the Scorchers’ squad, are also likely to play in their match against the Renegades on Tuesday night.

Smith is also available for the Sixers matches against the Adelaide Strikers on January 15 and Sydney Thunder on January 17, where Konstas will also be in action.

Konstas is expected to feature in all four remaining games for the Thunder, starting with their encounter against the Hobart Hurricanes in Sydney tomorrow night.

Labuschagne and Khawaja will return for the Brisbane Heat's home match against the Hurricanes on January 16, following a 10-day break. However, they will not participate in the Heat’s final regular-season match against the Renegades in Melbourne on January 18, as they are likely to depart for the UAE the following day.

Carey has been cleared to play in the Adelaide Strikers’ last three matches, including a game in Perth on January 18. Webster is anticipated to be available for the Stars’ game on January 19. It appears that some players might leave for the UAE in a staggered manner to accommodate their BBL commitments.

Head, contracted to the Strikers, has chosen to withdraw from the BBL to recuperate following the Sydney Test. With an IPL contract and a busy international schedule—including tours to Sri Lanka, Pakistan, India, England, and the Caribbean—he is set for a demanding travel itinerary extending until July.

Starc, Hazlewood, and Cummins are also preparing for a challenging schedule. Cummins is likely to miss both Tests in Sri Lanka due to the impending birth of his second child, while Hazlewood may be out due to a calf injury.

Lyon, despite having a light workload during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, has been rested from the BBL. At 37 years old and recovering from a significant calf injury sustained in 2023, he is being carefully managed to ensure peak performance for the Galle Tests, where he is expected to lead Australia’s bowling unit.

Cricket Australia’s high-performance team and the BBL have collaborated to ensure player availability during the limited window between the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and the Sri Lanka tour.

“A five-Test match series is demanding, and this was intensified by the competitiveness of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy,'' Oliver stated. “The players and staff deserve significant recognition for their preparation and management, which has facilitated sustained performance through what is an extensive international schedule.

“We have collaborated with each player to create personalized plans that will best support their recovery from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and preparation for future international commitments, including the Sri Lanka tour and ICC Champions Trophy. Whenever feasible, this includes players competing for their clubs in the ongoing BBL season over the next fortnight.”

BBL general manager Alistair Dobson expressed satisfaction in having some of the Test stars participate in the league over the next fortnight.

“We are thrilled to have several Australian Test players entering the competition tonight following their remarkable victory in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and appreciate their commitment to the BBL,” Dobson said.