Perth Scorchers lose Marsh and Salt due to injuries

Just two weeks before the upcoming edition of the Big Bash League (BBL), defending champions Perth Scorchers have been dealt with double blows. Two key players – Phil Salt and Mitchell Marsh – are ruled out of the competition. 

Salt, suffered a grade two ligament injury during England’s 0-3 whitewash against Australia earlier in the year. Surgery for a long-standing ankle injury has ruled Marsh out of the competition, leaving the Scorchers with a thin squad. 

"Losing Mitch and Phil so close to the start of the season is very disappointing," Perth Scorchers General Manager - High Performance, Kade Harvey, said. "Mitch is one of the best ball-strikers in global cricket with an incredible MBBL record, and his leadership and presence around the group is enormous.

With the first clash of the season on December 17, against formidable Sydney Sixers, the Scorchers are looking for replacements. 

"Phil has proven his class for England and in T20 tournaments around the world, so it's unfortunate he won't pull on the orange this summer. We're under no illusions about how difficult it will be to cover the absence of Mitch and Phil, but we take pride in the depth of our squad and have a lot of players capable of stepping up."