Scott Boland will return tomorrow for the Hobart Hurricanes as all Test players with BBL deals are expected to confirm they will suit up for their clubs
Seven Ashes stars set to return for Big Bash finals
Fresh from his Ashes-winning heroics, Scott Boland will turn out for the Hobart Hurricanes to help their bid to secure a spot in this summer's KFC BBL finals.
Boland was today named in Hobart's squad for Wednesday's final regular season match against the Melbourne Stars at the MCG after a chartered flight carrying Australia's Test players with BBL deals landed in Melbourne today.
All BBL clubs have been based in the city since early January in a bid to minimise the risk of further outbreaks of COVID-19 among the playing ranks.
The Hurricanes play tonight at Marvel Stadium against the Melbourne Renegades, but Boland was not included in the squad for that game.
Boland's return follows that of non-playing Test squad members Michael Neser and Mitch Swepson, who both returned for the Brisbane Heat, and Mitch Marsh and Josh Inglis, who have been in action for the Perth Scorchers.
The availability of other Test squad members for BBL clubs will confirmed across the the next 24 hours once paperwork clears, but all players are expected to feature at least once in BBL|11.
Nathan Lyon has been confirmed to return to the Sydney Sixers for the finals series, as he has done in previous summers after Test series. Lyon's invovlement will start with tomorrow's match against the Brisbane Heat who will field Marnus Labuschagne, the world's top-ranked Test batter.
Heat and Sixers players, including Lyon and Labuschagne, flew a chartered flight to Brisbane this afternoon ahead of tomorrow's game at the Gabba.
New Test gloveman Alex Carey and player of the series Travis Head both will both be named in the Adelaide Strikers squad for the finals series after they flew direct back to Adelaide. The Strikers have already completed their regular season fixtures and confirmed a spot in the finals, but will wait and see where in the top five they finish with Wednesday's fixtures.
The Sydney Thunder, currently sitting in third, have confirmed they will be including club captain Usman Khawaja in their squad for Wednesday's game against the Renegades.
"I'll be playing. I'm pretty tired at the moment, but I've got a bit of time between now and then, so looking forward to it," Khawaja said via Sydney Thunder.
And the top-placed Perth Scorchers have confirmed the return of Jhye Richardson for their qualifier final. Richardson joined the Scorchers group this afternoon and will train tomorrow ahead of Saturday's final.
The right-armer has not played a competitive match since he took a five-wicket haul in the second Ashes Test in Adelaide in mid-December, kept out of the Test side by Boland's heroics.
A Sheffield Shield workhorse for Victoria, and Hobart's player of the season last summer, Boland was seen as a surprise selection for the Boxing Day Test match. He stunned everyone, not least England's batters, by taking 6-7 in the second innings to help Australia clinch the Ashes series.
That was enough for him to hold his spot in the SCG and Hobart Tests and he finished his first Test series with 18 wickets in three games and a bowling average of 9.55.
Boland has played just one match for the Hurricanes this summer before he was called up for the Ashes, but enjoyed an excellent BBL|10 with 17 wickets in 14 games for the Hurricanes.
The Hurricanes currently sit in fifth position, and a win in tonight's match against the Renegades will set the top five teams and guarantee the Hurricanes a spot in the finals. If they lose tonight, a win tomorrow will be required to ensure they make the top five and Boland's return is especially timely with Nathan Ellis and Joel Paris both still sidelined.