NEWS
Follow UsSydney Sixers paceman Tom Curran and offspinner Ben Manenti have been ruled out of the remainder of the Big Bash League season, the franchise confirmed on Friday (December 17). Meanwhile, left-arm spinner Steve O'Keefe too has been ruled out for the "short term" because of a calf strain.
Curran will return home to England because of a back injury, while Manenti has been ruled out after suffering a neck stress fracture. Meanwhile, Chris Jordan is also scheduled to depart after Tuesday’s clash against Adelaide Strikers.
"We pride ourselves on being a club and a team that embraces challenges but to lose players of the calibre of Tom and Ben, and to have SOK on the sidelines, would be a challenge for any team and those guys aren't simply replaced," captain Moises Henriques said.
"On and off the field, all three of those guys play a massive role for us and their presence around the team and skills on the field will be missed by everybody in the group. But for us, we always look to have 18-match ready players in our squad and we see it as an opportunity for others within our group."
However, the likes of Jackson Bird and Sean Abbott will soon join the set-up. We saw Ben Dwarshuis return from injury this week, Jackson Bird isn't too far away and Sean Abbott is back after the birth of his daughter, so there is no need to panic," said Henriques.
"There are guys like Lloyd Pope and Mickey Edwards who really deserve an opportunity, but due to the strength of our list haven't been able to get as many chances as they deserve, so it will be a great little period for those guys to have a run of games."
The Sixers are currently at the top of the points table, having won three of their four games.