The Brisbane Heat will further assess English recruit Tom Alsop after he was forced to withdraw from tonight’s opening KFC Big Bash League match at the MCG with a quadriceps injury.
Injury Update
Alsop reported soreness in his quad following the team’s training session yesterday at the MCG and scans today revealed a minor strain.
He joined fellow international Colin Munro as late scratchings today from the starting team.
Munro’s scans of a tight hamstring complaint revealed no significant injury and he is looking to return, if cleared, in time for Sunday’s clash with the Adelaide Strikers at the Gabba.
The duo joined pacemen Spencer Johnson (toe) and Michael Neser (hamstring) on the sidelines.
Both quicks are making solid progress in their respective return-to-play programs.
The Heat will weigh up whether to target a short-term international replacement for Alsop once they return to Brisbane tomorrow.
“It is disappointing for Tom as he was primed to go tonight,’’ Heat coach Johan Botha. “We’ll see what the options are for us while he recovers but fortunately the scans indicated it is on the minor side of things.”
Brisbane play their opening two games this week, with their next game after that the Boxing Day away match against the Perth Scorchers in Perth.
The late injuries meant that replacement players Daniel Drew and Tom Whitney became the 90th and 91st capped players for the Brisbane Heat.
Leg-spinner Mitch Swepson also became the club’s 13th captain in its history when he took part in the bat flip earlier this evening.
KFC Big Bash League
Brisbane Heat v Melbourne Stars
MCG, 6.15pm Qld time.
41. Jack Wood
59. Jimmy Peirson
77. Matthew Renshaw
96. Daniel Drew
17. Max Bryant
22. Paul Walter
8. Will Prestwidge
19. Xavier Bartlett
97. Tom Whitney
4. Mitchell Swepson (c)
30. Matthew Kuhnemann
12th – Jack Wildermuth