Sean Abbott has responded to his Australian T20 World Cup snub in style by claiming 3-16 in the Sydney Sixers’ New Year’s Day BBL clash in Melbourne.
Only hours after confirmation Abbott missed out on selection in the final 15-man squad, the Sixers star ran through the Renegades at Marvel Stadium in just his second game back from injury.
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Abbott had been on the cusp of a dream Ashes Test debut when he was struck down by a hamstring complaint while playing Sheffield Shield cricket in November.
Now back for the Sixers, Abbott was at his destructive best as he took the prized wicket of danger man Jake Fraser-McGurk (38 off 29) before finishing with the three wickets at an economy of just four – including a whopping 14 dot balls.
“Nice to grab a couple of wickets,” he told Fox Cricket.
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Talking about that hamstring injury, Abbott said he was just happy to be back on the field.
“I mean if Smithy (NSW captain Steve Smith) had asked me to kept bowling, I probably would have kept bowling,” he shared.
“Just wanted to have a bit of a breather – probably saved myself a couple of months on the bench.
“It’s probably worked out anyway.
“Nice to get out there tonight.”
Abbott’s brilliance overshadowed the 19-ball blitz by Renegades opener Josh brown who set the tone early.
His innings of 41 included three fours and four sixes as Sixer Ben Dwarshuis took the brunt of the damage.
While Dwarshuis would finish with 2-47, the Renegades lost wickets at regular intervals to finish 9-164 off their 20 overs.
FINALS STARTING TO SLIP
The Melbourne Renegades need a win to stay in touch with the top four, but they’ll have to take on the Sydney Sixers without their star spinner Adam Zampa.
The veteran has been ruled out with a neck injury sustained in the side’s last-start loss to the Hobart Hurricanes.
The Sixers meantime have stacked their squad, with Hayden Kerr relegated to batting at 11 – despite having a BBL top score of 98* to his name.
But given Sydney’s depth, it’s meant former Renegade Kane Richardson has been dropped and won’t face his old side.
Thursday’s match started at 4pm AEDT from an open roof Marvel Stadium.
SQUADS
Renegades: Jason Behrendorff, Josh Brown, Sam Elliott, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Caleb Jewell, Hassan Khan, Fergus O’Neill, Ollie Peake, Muhammad Rizwan, Gurinder Sandhu, Tim Seifert, Matthew Spoors, Will Sutherland (c), Andrew Tye
In: Fergus O’Neill Out: Adam Zampa (injured)
Sixers: Sean Abbott, Babar Azam, Jafer Chohan, Joel Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Moises Henriques (c), Daniel Hughes, Hayden Kerr, Ben Manenti, Mitch Perry, Josh Philippe, Lachlan Shaw, Jordan Silk
Ins: Hayden Kerr, Mitch Perry. Outs: Kane Richardson (omitted), Jake Scott (omitted).
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