Photo Credit: Perth Scorchers
Perth Scorchers rounded out their list for the 2022-23 KFC Big Bash League season by selecting two familiar faces and a rising English star during the inaugural BBL Draft this evening.
Laurie Evans (Gold selection) and Tymal Mills (Bronze selection) will return to the Scorchers for BBL|12, having made significant contributions during last year’s triumphant campaign.
Meanwhile, powerful keeper-batter Phil Salt was recruited with the Club’s silver selection. Perth opted against using its first pick (No.6) in the Platinum Round, before retaining English batter Evans in the Gold round after Sydney Sixers bid for his services.
A powerful right-hander capable of batting anywhere in the order, Evans impressed during last year’s MBBL tournament with 361 runs at 40.11 (strike rate 144.40) and two half-centuries.
Evans dragged Perth from the canvas alongside captain Ashton Turner during the Final against Sydney Sixers at Marvel Stadium, earning Player of the Match honours for his unbeaten 41-ball 76.
He is also exceptional batting against spin, equally comfortable on fast and slow surfaces, and dynamic in the field.
Perth added another batter to the mix in the Silver round, using pick 19 to select talented Englishman Salt.
Salt has represented England 12 times since making his international debut in July 2021, thrilling crowds with fearless ball-striking atop the order.
He boasts the remarkable strike rate of 150.44 in 154 professional T20 games and hit two half-centuries for Adelaide Strikers during the 2020-21 season.
Drafted on his 26th birthday, Salt also presents Perth with another wicketkeeping option, and could slot nicely into the top-order position vacated by Sydney Sixers-bound batter Kurtis Patterson.
With its final selection (Bronze round – pick 30), Perth picked up express left-armer Mills.
A recent fixture in England’s T20 side with 13 international games to his name, Mills took 12 wickets at 15.83 in seven games for Perth during BBL|11.
He is capable of bowling quicker than 150km/h and boasts a raft of variations, allowing him to impact games with the new ball and at the death.
Perth’s draft haul ensured the club will enter BBL|12 with the nucleus of its successful 2021-22 squad.
Salt and star Australia allrounder Cameron Green are the only fresh faces, entering the squad following the departures of New Zealand international Colin Munro (drafted by Brisbane Heat) and Patterson.
Perth Scorchers squad for BBL|12
Ashton Agar
Cameron Bancroft
Jason Behrendorff
Cooper Connolly
Laurie Evans (international – England)
Cameron Green
Aaron Hardie
Peter Hatzoglou
Nick Hobson
Josh Inglis
Matt Kelly
Mitch Marsh
Tymal Mills (international – England)
Lance Morris
Jhye Richardson
Phil Salt (international – England)
Ashton Turner (captain)
Andrew Tye
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Name of Author: Perth Scorchers
The Perth Scorchers are an Australian men’s Twenty20 cricket team competing in the Big Bash League. Based in Perth, Western Australia, they wear an orange uniform and play their home games at Perth Stadium.
