Big Bash League: Adelaide Strikers sweat on Mahela Jayawardene fitness
View(s):Travis Head has a foot in the door for Twenty20 World Cup selection but the Adelaide Strikers power-hitter is more worried about a teammate’s leg. Head earned praise from national selector Mark Waugh after thrashing a 25-ball 50 in Adelaide’s eight-wicket Gabba win on Friday night that ended Brisbane Heat’s Big Bash League finals hopes.
Mahela Jayawardene under a fitness cloud
However, Head was sweating on the fitness of Sri Lankan great Mahela Jayawardene, who earned man-of-the-match honours with a 30-ball 53 while nursing a quadriceps injury. Opener Jayawardene pulled up lame from a quick single but powered on with his leg strapped. Scans this weekend are set to determine whether the 38-year-old’s BBL season is over. Adelaide reclaimed the BBL ladder lead from Perth and have two regular season games left to seal a top-two finish. “I spoke to him and he is not too sure,” Head said of Jayawardene’s fitness. “He continued to bat so I think he will get through the tournament.
“Whether he misses one or two games (I am not sure).” Waugh admitted it was hard to ignore the World Cup claims of Head and Brisbane captain Chris Lynn, the BBL’s top two run-scorers.”You can’t bat as well as they are and not have your name up in lights,” Waugh told Ten Network on Friday night. The left-handed Head was dismissed for the first time in three BBL innings, a run that included 201 runs and a match-winning ton on New Year’s Eve.
Lynn misfired with 34 on Friday night but still tops the BBL run-scorers with 321 at 64.20 and a strike rate of 169.84.
Head is second on that list with 251 at 62.75 and 161.93. “It’s nice to hear that (from Waugh) but I haven’t thought about it (World Cup) too much,” Head said.
“(But) we have seen if you keep getting runs on the board you put your name up there.” Dropped twice, Head rode his luck to thrash four sixes.
Opener Tim Ludeman (57 not out) was dropped on four. “Mahela and I could play with freedom with Tim anchoring,” said Head.
AAP