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CA release Aussie trio for BBL final

Travis Head, Alex Carey and D'Arcy Short to be released from national duty for Sunday's final

Cricket Australia has announced that Travis Head, Alex Carey and D'Arcy Short will be released from national duties for tomorrow's KFC BBL final in Adelaide.

Adelaide Strikers duo Head and Carey as well as Hobart Hurricanes opener Short will head to Adelaide tomorrow morning following Australia's Gillette T20 Tri-Series opener against New Zealand in Sydney tonight.

After the final, the trio will head to Hobart on Monday and re-join the national squad ahead of the second match of the T20 tri-series, against England at Blundstone Arena on Wednesday.

The release clause has not applied to fast bowlers because of their tougher physical workloads, so Strikers quick Billy Stanlake will not play in the BBL final and instead stay with the national squad.

Head was the only player from the 14-player Australia squad made available for the BBL semi-finals and he played a match-winning hand of 85 not out in the Strikers' thrilling final-ball victory over the Melbourne Renegades last night.

Watch the thrilling final over at Adelaide Oval

Australia's stand-in captain David Warner has confirmed Head would not play in the T20I series-opener, but the left-hander has still travelled to Sydney for the match.

Short and Carey look certain to make their T20 debuts at the SCG tonight, while left-arm quick Ben Dwarshuis is also in the mix for his first international cap.

The released trio face a tight turnaround for the BBL clash; after a late finish tonight following the game at the SCG, they will fly to Adelaide tomorrow morning for the match that starts at 4pm local time.

With 425 runs at 53.12, Carey has a breakout BBL campaign while Head (330 runs at 47.14) remains one of the most destructive white-ball batsmen in the country.

Aussie T20 squad sizzle reel: Alex Carey

Short, meanwhile, has scored a BBL record 504 runs at 56 and will strengthen a Hurricanes batting unit that blasted 4-210 against minor premiers and reigning champions Perth Scorchers on Thursday.

After leading the Strikers to their one-run win over the Renegades, Head said national selectors had been "proactive" in allowing him to play in the semi-final.

"It would be nice to play (in the BBL final), but it was nice to get some runs here, to come back and play in front of a big crowd in a high-pressure game," said the 24-year-old.

"We’ll cross that bridge tomorrow and work out what’s happening.

Captain Head lights the way for the Strikers

"It was very pro-active from the selectors and Darren (Lehmann, Bupa Support Team men’s coach) to give me the opportunity (to return to the BBL).

"I’m only young and still trying to learn my craft and there’s nothing better than playing in front of a full house in high pressure games, and execute."

Cameron White, who was released to captain the Renegades in their regular-season clash with the Strikers two weeks ago only a day after playing for Australia in the third Gillette ODI against England, said the selectors make each club vs. country decision on its own merits.

"I don’t think there needs to be a policy or anything like that, it’s just that if the Australian selectors see there’s an opportunity to release a player to go and play, (they) just take every situation individually and on its merits," White said.

"I don’t think there needs to be a set rule.

"If they (selectors) think he (Head) is not going to play in the (T20I) game tomorrow he can go back (to the BBL) and play, and it’s not going to upset the team’s plans or anything like that.

"I don’t think anyone in the comp has an issue with it."

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