Quantcast

Aussie stars back in action for JLT Cup

A host of Australia's international players expected back in action for the Hobart-based finals series this week

The JLT One-Day Cup finals have been locked in, with a raft of Australia international due to be back in action.

The JLT Cup finals system sees the second and third placed finishers playing off in an Elimination Final on Thursday, while the top placed team advanced direct to Saturday's final. Both matches will be played at Hobart's Blundstone Arena.

South Australia and Victoria, as the second and third-placed sides, meet in Thursday's elimination final and there could be as many as six Australia players featuring in the match.

The West End Redbacks have confirmed that Travis Head, Kane Richardson and Adam Zampa will all be available for selection and have joined the squad in Hobart ahead of today's training session.

The Commonwealth Bank Bushrangers also welcome back three internationals in Aaron Finch, Glenn Maxwell and Dan Christian, who have all returned from Australia's T20 series in India and will take the places of Sam Harper, Will Sutherland and Blake Thomson.

Match highlights: New South Wales v Victoria

"To welcome back guys of such high calibre as Finch, Maxwell and Christian at this stage of the tournament is a big win for us, and they'll certainly add some depth to both our batting and bowling line-up," said Bushrangers coach Andrew McDonald.

"The squad has been brilliant so far this tournament to get us to this point, and now hopefully with the return of our Australian representatives we can go a step further and qualify for the final."

Western Australia confirmed their top-placed finish and progress straight through to Saturday's final with a thumping win against the CA XI. They can now expect to bolster an already formidable bowling attack with Nathan Coulter-Nile and Jason Behrendorff.

Behrendorff blitz leaves India reeling

The Alcohol.Think Again Western Warriors already welcomed back Andrew Tye from Australia's T20 side in the nine-wicket win against the CA XI, and they could yet also add in-form allrounder and Ashes hopeful Marcus Stonis.

Coulter-Nile and Stoinis, who moved from Victoria this year, are yet to play for their state this season.

"It's nice to have a few headaches," WA coach Justin Langer said.

"Obviously Coults will come back in, Jason Behrendorff will come back in. We'll see what happens with Marcus Stoinis (who may miss the final for personal reasons).

"We always talk about the collective, so a couple of guys are going to have to miss out on that final after helping us get there."

Ferguson smashes highest score of JLT Cup

The side's envious depth was on show during Tuesday's thumping nine-wicket win over the Cricket Australia XI at North Sydney Oval, where regular No.7 batsman D'Arcy Short was promoted to open.

Short smashed an unbeaten century, while Test aspirant Hilton Cartwright also spent much-needed time in the middle during a knock of 34.

"He hasn't played much. He didn't get a lot of batting time in India obviously, so it's going to take him a bit of time to get some rhythm," Langer said of Cartwright.

"There's no practice like being in the middle."

Dominant D'Arcy makes Short work of CA XI

WA will face the winner of Thursday's elimination final between South Australia and Victoria.

"We'll be confident against whoever it is," Short said.

South Australia quick Daniel Worrall has travelled to Tasmania with the team and could yet feature in the elimination final after being forced off the field with a knee injury after 3.4 overs in their last start.

South Australia's Sports Science and Sports Medicine Manager John Porter said: "Daniel suffered a low-grade knee sprain upon landing after his run-up and an MRI after the match showed no significant damage.

"His condition is improving and he will travel with the team while his availability for Thursday’s match will be determined closer to the game."

The JLT Cup finals will be streamed exclusively live and free on cricket.com.au, the CA Live app or via Apple TV (Gen 4).