Brisbane Heat have declared big-hitting Luke Pomersbach a certain starter for Tuesday’s BBL semi-final against Melbourne Renegades despite suffering a blow to the foot in last weekend’s clash with Hobart Hurricanes.
Pomersbach hit 82 in the match in Hobart, including the fastest half-century of the tournament this summer which came off just 24 deliveries.
“He’s fine. He woke up the next day and he could walk which was the first sign that it probably wasn’t broken,” Heat skipper James Hopes told reporters on Monday.
“I’m pretty sure you’ll see him running around today.”
The fourth-placed Heat (4-4 win-loss) and the competition leaders the Renegades (7-1) both missed the finals last summer and have put themselves one step away from the riches of the Champions League T20.
The top two sides from Australia’s BBL qualify for the tournament to be held in October.
The Renegades and the Heat have been boosted by having key players dropped on Monday from the Australian one-day international squad.
The Renegades regain skipper and opening batsman Aaron Finch while paceman Ben Cutting returns for the Heat.
Finch will form a one-two punch at the top of the order for the home side at Eithad Stadium with England import Alex Hales, who smashed 89 off 52 deliveries in his first match against Sydney Sixers on January 9 after replacing injured West Indian Marlon Samuels.
“We know who Alex Hales is. We had a look at him in the off-season and we were under the impression he may not be available for a fair chunk of the tournament,” Hopes said.
“We’ve done a bit of planning. But in T20 cricket, if a batsman has a day out, there’s very little you can do.”
Finch (309 runs at 77.25) and Ben Rohrer (253 at 50.60) have dominated the tournament for the Renegades and with Hales also in top form, Finch is pleased that since he smashed a match-winning hundred in round one, they are now far from a one-man show.
Rohrer had previously been used in various batting roles but had embraced the No.4 spot since joining the Renegades, Finch said.
“That’s a great sign for us. Just his self-belief and the skills that he brings are exceptional,” Finch said.
Perth Scorchers host Melbourne Stars in the second semi-final at the WACA on Wednesday night.
