Hogg out again as Scorchers regroup
Perth Scorchers will be without veteran spinner Brad Hogg again as they look to rebound from their opening Big Bash League loss in today's clash with Melbourne Renegades at the WACA Ground.
Hogg missed the one-wicket loss to Adelaide Strikers on Monday with a minor hamstring complaint, leaving the slow- bowling duties to Ashton Turner, James Muirhead and Ashton Agar.
Turner claimed 1-20 off three overs, leg-spinner Muirhead took 1-38 from four and Agar grabbed 1-8 from one.
Hogg failed a fitness test and was left out of the 13-man squad yesterday.
The Scorchers made just one change to their squad, bringing in Matt Dixon to replace Simon Mackin, who did not feature in the 11 on Monday.
Dixon has been included as an injury replacement for Nathan Coulter-Nile (hamstring).
Coulter-Nile is battling to be fit for Australia's World Cup campaign, starting in February, but did train strongly on Wednesday.
The Scorchers are without last season's captain Simon Katich (retired), Craig Simmons (Strikers), Pat Cummins (Sydney Thunder) and Alfonso Thomas, while the squad's depth has been eroded by the unavailability of Coulter-Nile, Shaun Marsh and Mitch Marsh because of national duties and injuries.
Captain Adam Voges conceded the Scorchers lacked experience, particularly in the continued absence of Hogg, but backed the young side to bounce back against the Renegades.
"It's a very different and younger looking group," Voges said.
"There are some challenges that present with that and we're missing a few of our marquee players.
"But it's giving opportunities to a few of our younger guys in high-pressure situations.
"We're really hoping that they can step up and fill those voids."
The Scorchers identified slow batting in the early overs as significant in the loss to the Strikers. English opener Michael Carberry made 27 in his BBL debut, but used up 35 balls in an innings that included just two boundaries.
Voges was confident the left-hander would produce the goods.
"He probably didn't quite get off to the start that he would've liked in that first game, but he's coming off the winter in England and I've got no doubt that he'll be better for the hit," Voges said.
"He's a big, strong guy and I've seen him play a lot of Twenty20 cricket in England and he's one of the most damaging batsmen over there.
"I'm sure he's looking forward to getting back out there and putting on a real show for the crowd."
In each of the three previous BBL seasons, the Scorchers have lost their opening match before going on to reach the final.
History is on their side, but Voges isn't a believer in omens.
"Not really," Voges said.
"I would've loved to have been 1-0 and bucked the trend.
"You need to get off to a good start in these tournaments because they're such short tournaments.
"But I guess knowing that we've lost our first game in all our previous tournaments and still made finals means we know that we can certainly do that."
