Photo Credit: Perth Scorchers
Perth Scorchers have finalised their list for the 2022-23 KFC Big Bash League season with a trio of signings, including two dynamic England internationals and a promising wrist-spinner.
Prolific Yorkshire batter Adam Lyth, who played seven Tests and five Ashes contests for England, headlines the list as a replacement for injured draftee Phil Salt.
At home atop the order and capable of scoring rapidly during the Power Play, Lyth has tallied 4,089 runs in 166 T20 games with the impressive strike rate of 149.61.
The classy left-hander showcased his explosiveness by thumping a 73-ball 161, including 20 fours and seven sixes, for Yorkshire against Northamptonshire in 2017.
This is the sixth-highest individual men’s T20 score of all-time, and the highest in English domestic cricket.
Lyth will be available for the first half of BBL|12.
Joining him in orange is versatile Middlesex batter Stephen Eskinazi, who is expected to be available for the whole tournament.
Eskinazi captains Middlesex’s T20 side and has compiled 1,955 runs at 35.54 (strike rate 140.34) in 64 T20s.
No stranger to Australian conditions, having come through the WA pathway system, Eskinazi is a regular for Claremont-Nedlands during the Australian summer and blasted an unbeaten 51-ball 80 against Fremantle last month.
Talented left-arm wrist-spinner Hamish McKenzie rounds out Perth’s list off the back of impressive performances for WA’s second XI and Subiaco-Floreat.
The WA Cricket Rookie has taken 23 wickets at 15.22 across all formats in the Alcohol.Think Again Premier Cricket First Grade competition, after winning the 2021-22 Olly Cooley Medal as the competition’s best player.
McKenzie snared 3-25 from four overs in the Scorchers’ intrasquad hit-out at Scotch College on Thursday, and claimed the scalps of superstars Hardik Pandya and Dinesh Karthik for a WA XI against India at the WACA Ground in October.
A bowler by trade, the 23-year-old also strikes the ball cleanly and can score quickly in the lower order.
Perth will begin their campaign against Sydney Sixers at Optus Stadium on Saturday 17 December, in a grand final rematch themed ‘Home of the Champions’.
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Reflecting on signing Lyth, Eskinazi and McKenzie, Perth Scorchers General Manager – High Performance Kade Harvey said:
“We’re excited to round out our list for BBL|12 with three talented players in Adam, Stephen and Hamish.
“Adam has shown his class for many years, offering our group a lot of experience. He times the ball well and scores quickly at the top of the order, and is also a left-hander which adds balance to the batting line-up.
“Stephen has a strong record for Middlesex, can play a few different roles and also scores quickly. He’s used to WA conditions as a Claremont-Nedlands regular, so he’ll be a valuable asset throughout the whole tournament.
“Hamish’s wrist-spin continues to evolve for Subiaco-Floreat and the WA Second XI team. Getting him into the Scorchers environment provides Hamish with a huge opportunity to develop his craft under the guidance of guys like Ashton Agar and Peter Hatzoglou.
“We can’t wait to get Adam, Stephen and Hamish around the group leading into our first game against the Sixers at The Furnace next Saturday.”
Perth Scorchers squad for BBL|12
Ashton Agar
Cameron Bancroft
Jason Behrendorff
Cooper Connolly
Faf du Plessis (International – South Africa)
Stephen Eskinazi (International – England)
Cameron Green
Aaron Hardie
Peter Hatzoglou
Nick Hobson
Josh Inglis
Matt Kelly
Adam Lyth (International – England)
Hamish McKenzie
Tymal Mills (International – England)
Lance Morris
Jhye Richardson
Ashton Turner (Captain)
Andrew Tye
UPCOMING PERTH SCORCHERS MATCHES:
BBL|12 – Game 1
Perth Scorchers v Sydney Sixers
Saturday 17 December, first ball 4:05PM WST
Optus Stadium, Perth
LIVE: Foxtel, Kayo
BBL|12 – Game 2
Hobart Hurricanes v Perth Scorchers
Monday 19 December, first ball 4:15PM WST
University of Tasmania Stadium, Launceston
LIVE: CH7, Foxtel, Kayo
BBL|12 – Game 3
Melbourne Stars v Perth Scorchers
Friday 23 December, first ball 12:30PM WST
CitiPower Centre, St Kilda
LIVE: Foxtel, Kayo
BBL|12 – Game 4
Perth Scorchers v Adelaide Strikers
Monday 26 December, first ball 6:15PM WST
Optus Stadium, Perth
LIVE: CH7, Foxtel, Kayo
