The fast-bowler is set to play his first match for the Thunder since BBL|04 against cross-town rivals Sydney Sixers
Cummins named for BBL return
Tearaway Pat Cummins is in line for a return to the KFC Big Bash League after being selected in the Sydney Thunder’s squad for the tournament-opener on Tuesday night.
The Thunder have named two speedsters capable of hitting the 150kph mark to face cross-town rivals Sydney Sixers in the ‘Sydney Smash’ at Spotless Stadium, with West Indian Andre Russell also selected.
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The Sixers have been boosted by the inclusions of captain Moises Henriques, tweaker Stephen O’Keefe as well as quick Sean Abbott, all of whom return from injuries that ruled them out of NSW’s most recent Sheffield Shield match.
In the absence of former Test allrounder Shane Watson, who’s been ruled out until Christmas with a calf injury, Ben Rohrer will captain the Thunder in the local derby. Rohrer himself has recovered from a recent hamstring injury.
England limited-overs captain Eoin Morgan returns to the Thunder team after last playing for them in BBL|04 while his national teammates Jason Roy, who also played for the Thunder in BBL|04, and Sam Billings will make their Sixers debuts.
Former South Africa one-day skipper Johan Botha will play his first domestic match as a local player for the Sixers, having received his Australian citizenship this year, while ex-Test wicketkeeper Brad Haddin has also been included.
Thunder batsman Kurtis Patterson, who looks set for a greater responsibility in the absence of title-winning captain Mike Hussey and South African great Jacques Kallis, said he’s pumped to see Russell and Cummins unleash.
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“Whenever you’ve got two blokes who can bowl over 145km/h and touching 150, it’s quite a nice trait to have in your side,” said Patterson.
“I think it is going to be important for us to manage them and not to get too excited about them early on because they will be key bowlers throughout our 20 overs.
“It is certainly exciting to have both of those guys on board and it is going to be good fun watching them both go tomorrow night.”
Sydney Sixers squad: Moises Henriques (captain), Sean Abbott, Sam Billings, Doug Bollinger, Johan Botha, Ben Dwarshuis, Brad Haddin, Daniel Hughes, Joe Mennie, Stephen O’Keefe, Jason Roy, Henry Thornton, Jordan Silk
Sydney Thunder squad: Ben Rohrer (captain), Fawad Ahmed, Aiden Blizzard, Pat Cummins, Jake Doran, Ryan Gibson, Chris Green, Jay Lenton, Clint McKay, Eoin Morgan, Kurtis Patterson, Gurinder Sandhu, Andre Russell