Perth Scorchers bowler Joel Paris has missed out on being picked for the BBL final against the Sydney Sixers after skipper Ashton Turner had revealed he was in contention to return. And it means one of his teammates has avoided the heartbreak of being dropped.
Paris played seven matches for the Scorchers this season, but none since injuring his groin in a four-wicket loss to the Melbourne Renegades on January 7. The 33-year-old had snared 11 wickets at an average of 16.72 before the injury struck him down, and the Scorchers view him as one of their best bowlers.
Ashton Turner (R) and the Perth Scorchers have avoided having to leave someone out of the BBL final. Image: Getty
Speaking to the media on Saturday, Scorchers captain Turner said a decision would be made at the last minute. But Paris was left out when Turner named his playing XI at Sunday night’s toss.
Journalist Jackson Bartlett of The West Australian wrote on social media: “Understand Joel Paris came very close, just didn’t get to the start line.” Both teammates named unchanged lineups from their last games.
Turner had said on Saturday: “We’ve got some difficult decisions to make, as is always the case in big games, but Joel will be part of that conversation. We’re halfway through the domestic summer, but this is a game that he’s desperate to be a part of. Speaking to him (on Friday), this is probably the one bit of silverware that he hasn’t got in his trophy cabinet.
“We saw the impact that he had for us in the first half of this campaign, and he gives us the left arm variety. He’s so versatile that he can take the new ball, he can bowl through the middle, he can bowl the surge and can bowl the death, and there’s not many bowlers that tick those boxes.”
Joel Paris (L) would have likely replaced Brody Couch (R) if he was fit for the BBL final. Image: Getty
One of Brody Couch or David Payne were shaping to make way if Paris was picked. Payne took 2-13 off three overs in the Scorchers’ win over the Sixers that sent them into the final. Couch took 0-25 off two overs and loomed as the heartbreak story of the final, but that has been avoided.
Sydney Sixers need to overcome gruelling schedule
The Scorchers are chasing a record-extending sixth BBL title in their ninth grand final appearance. The Sixers are playing in their eighth grand final and could win their fourth title.
The Sixers are travel-weary and enter Sunday’s decider in Perth on the back of an energy-sapping schedule that has seen them fly to Brisbane, Perth, Sydney and back to Perth in the space of eight days. In contrast, the Scorchers haven’t left Perth since January 15 and will be fresh and ready.
The Sixers’ two best players – Steve Smith and Mitchell Starc – are coming to the end of a gruelling summer that saw them beat England in the Ashes. The Scorchers have Test players Josh Inglis and Jhye Richardson, but they only featured in two and one of the games against England respectively.
with AAP