Head to prioritise World Cup prep as Test stars return to BBL

Key Highlights

• After crossing from Adelaide Strikers in the off-season, paceman Brendan Doggett, unused in the final three Tests against England, is then poised for a blockbuster debut with the Renegades in the return Melbourne derby at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.
• Sixers superstar Steve Smith will be available alongside spinner Todd Murphy for Sunday afternoon’s clash with Hobart, which is also set to feature Beau Webster and potentially Jake Weatherald for his Hurricanes debut.
• Ashes player of the series Mitchell Starc will be afforded an extra few days’ rest after taking 31 English wickets across the summer before he ends a decade-long BBL absence in next Friday’s Sydney Smash at the SCG.
• Having retired from international T20s last year to prolong his Test career, Starc said he hadn’t thought too far ahead following the end of the NRMA Insurance Ashes series other than to “pull on the magenta” alongside Smith to try and help the Sixers get to another final.
• Starc took two wickets in the Sixers BBL|01 final triumph over the Scorchers but missed their next two championships due to his international commitments.