Stanlake injury a blow for Strikers

Adelaide Strikers have been dealt another blow ahead of the KFC Big Bash League finals, with promising young quick Billy Stanlake succumbing to the fast bowler’s curse –stress fractures of the back.

The 21-year-old, who made his BBL debut last month, is expected to spend an extended stint on the sidelines due to lumber stress fractures, an injury which will also have ramifications for the myFootDr Queensland Bulls in the Sheffield Shield.

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It is the 204cm paceman's second brush with stress fractures, having missed the entire 2014-15 season with a similar complaint.

An injury free pre-season had led to Stanlake making his Shield and Matador Cup debuts for Queensland, while he had picked up two wickets in his three BBL appearances for the Strikers.

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The news is also a further blow to the Strikers, who are without quick Kane Richardson, currently on international duties with Australia's one-day squad, while star batsman Mahela Jayawardena will miss the final two matches of the BBL regular season with a quadriceps strain.

Young batsman Kelvin Smith has been named in the Strikers' 13-man squad to play the Hobart Hurricanes on Wednesday at Adelaide Oval in place of Jaywardena, while Hamish Kingston replaces Stanlake.

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Jayawardena picked up his injury sprinting for a quick single in the Strikers' run chase against the Brisbane Heat on January 8 at the Gabba.

The 38-year-old, who carried on batting after receiving treatment from team physiotherapist John Porter, posting 53 from 36 balls, is expected to return for the semi-finals.

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A win against Hobart would put the Strikers back on top of the BBL|05 table, and secure them a home semi-final.

Hobart also had an injury worry of their own, with West Indies import Darren Sammy requiring treatment for a quad strain in the final over of their thrilling match against Perth on Sunday, which the Scorchers won by one run.

However, Sammy has been deemed fit to take his place in the match which is a must-win encounter for a Hobart team keen to keep their finals hopes alive.

The Hurricanes have made one change, with allrounder Dom Michael into the squad in place of bowler Jake Reed.

Strikers squad: Brad Hodge (c), Jono Dean, Travis Head, Jon Holland, Hamish Kingston, Ben Laughlin, Jake Lehmann, Tim Ludeman, Michael Neser, Adil Rashid, Alex Ross, Kelvin Smith, Greg West

Hobart squad: Tim Paine (c), Ben Dunk, Cameron Boyce, Dan Christian, Michael Hill, Dom Michael, Simon Milenko, Sam Rainbird, Clive Rose, Darren Sammy, Kumar Sangakkara, Shaun Tait, Jon Wells