Maddinson returns, Finch to miss third straight BBL game

Aaron Finch will miss a third straight KFC BBL|11 match for the Melbourne Renegades after not being included in their 15-player squad to take on the Brisbane Heat on Monday night.

Finch is still feeling the effects of his knee surgery prior to the T20 World Cup where he captained Australia to victory, choosing to use the opening matches of the domestic tournament to return to greater fitness.

The 35-year-old was optimistic last week of returning to action in tonight's game on the Gold Coast but ultimately the short turnaround between games for the Renegades proved too much.

However, the 'Gades will be boosted by the inclusion of recruit and new skipper, Nic Maddinson, who will play his first game for the club after defecting from the Melbourne Stars.

Having captained Australia A to a final session victory against the England Lions on Sunday afternoon, even using his own services as a bowler and taking the penultimate wicket, Maddinson will be confident in leading his new team to their second win of BBL|11.

Beginning their season with a win at home against the Adelaide Strikers, the Renegades were then bundled out for just 100 in the reverse fixture at Adelaide Oval on Thursday night, with Maddinson set to add some much-needed fire power to an inexperienced batting line-up.

Josh Lalor also comes into the squad, replacing young fast bowler Zak Evans for the trip to Metricon Stadium.

The match on the Gold Coast will be the Heat’s first home game of the season as they search for their opening victory of their BBL|11 campaign.

The side has been based in Kingscliff in northern NSW over the weekend, training and preparing for their clash on Monday night, as they wait for the Queensland border to re-open on the morning of the game.

Their opening two matches were played in Canberra and Perth respectively, but they now have back-to-back home games with the Sydney Thunder visiting the Gabba on December 19.

The Heat, who crossed the Queensland border at 2am on Monday morning – just an hour after it opening without quarantine restrictions – have welcomed back Ashes Test squad leg-spinner Mitch Swepson and England Lions batsman Tom Abell after the Australia A tour match.

The pair will link up with the Heat squad at Metricon Stadium this afternoon, with Swepson's inclusion meaning Gold Coast rookie and replacement player Hugo Burdon will drop out of the squad.

Fellow Australia A representatives Mark Steketee and Michael Neser were not considered for selection due to workload and Test squad considerations.

Neser, who took 5-29 and 2-36 in Australia A's 112-run win over the England Lions at Ian Healy Oval in Brisbane, could be a chance of a Test debut with Josh Hazlewood ruled out of the Adelaide Test, but West Australian quick Jhye Richardson appears the frontrunner to take his place at this stage. 

"It’s actually quite a positive that we’re here in Kingscliff because we’ve had a bit of a disrupted process through going to Perth and then coming back here," Heat coach Wade Seccombe said.

"Now that we’re in northern New South Wales and the boys are allowed to get out and go to the beach and have a little bit of down time, it’s actually very good for their ability to recover from the flight.

"We’re going to come across early in the morning and then rest up in preparation for the game."

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