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BBL06 semi-final: Stars axe gloveman but Marcus Stoinis a boost against Perth Scorchers

Jon Pierik

The Melbourne Stars have dropped specialist wicketkeeper Sam Harper in the hope of profiting from greater firepower in their top order in Tuesday's Big Bash League semi-final.

The Stars need help outside of their top three batsmen - Luke Wright, Rob Quiney and Kevin Pietersen - and hope the return of all-rounder Marcus Stoinis can alleviate this.

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The Sydney Sixers weathered a top order collapse to beat the Melbourne Stars at the MCG.

Harper had been at No.7 in the order, with the Stars preferring to retain Seb Gotch - the son of former Fitzroy and St Kilda footballer and VFL coach Brad - in the middle-order, and again hand him the gloves.

Gotch is an occasional wicketkeeper who was given that role against the Brisbane Heat on his BBL debut last week and caused a social-media stir for wearing a short sleeve shirt - something keepers rarely do. His keeping was solid and he contributed 30 off 25 balls that night but made only one in the loss to the Sydney Sixers on Saturday when Harper, run out for five, returned.

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Evan Gulbis, promoted to No.4 against the Sixers, was stumped for duck, while skipper David Hussey has been unable to really get going through the tournament.

Forgotten fast bowler Dan Worrall, who has been dealing with a recurrence of back stress fractures, was included in the 13-man squad and could play should he pass a fitness test at the WACA on Monday night.

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Worrall played three one-day internationals in South Africa on the eve of the home summer but hasn't been seen because of injury since the Sheffield Shield season went into hiatus. 

He would have been part of the Stars' frontline attack had he been fit but has joined fellow quick John Hastings - their best "death" bowler - on the sidelines because of injury.

It's understood the Stars, in need of greater control with the ball in the final overs, were debating who Worrall could replace should he be a shock selection. Left-arm spinner Liam Bowe would appear to be under pressure, although the man nicknamed the Wizard captured the key wicket of Moises Henriques on Saturday.

If Bowe was axed, the spinning duties would primarily be left to Michael Beer, who tormented the Scorchers, his former club, when they last met little more than a week ago. Beer was the only frontline spinner selected that night.

The Stars hope to give Hussey a fitting send-off with victory and another crack at what has proven to be an elusive title - should this be his last dance.

Hussey, 39, has yet to declare whether he will play on next season, and that decision will come in conjunction with the Stars once this campaign is done.

"Huss has a been a year-by-year proposition over the last couple of years, so we will sit down - hopefully, it's next Monday and not on Wednesday," Stars chief executive Clint Cooper said.

"He has been an absolute testament to the club. He is an out-and-out Melbourne Star through and through, and we would love to send him off. Going over to Perth gives him that opportunity - it may be the last time he plays in front of his former home crowd over at the WACA."

Hussey has proven himself in all conditions, scoring more than 6000 runs at a strike rate of 133 from more than 250 matches in domestic Twenty20 competitions.

"He is just a genuinely good bloke, too, you couldn't meet a nicer bloke than David Hussey," Cooper said.

Under Hussey, Cooper said the Stars had rebuilt their culture in recent seasons.

"We have really worked hard at building a strong list and a strong culture around that list. I have seen some significant changes in the culture of the club over the last two years. There is a good, natural want to be a part of the Stars," he said.

There is also a want by the Stars to enjoy a championship after falling short in five finals campaigns, with a sixth almost upon them.

They will hope for runs from Hussey, who has a top score of only 29 through this year's campaign but hasn't always had time to build momentum, such is the frenetic nature of the bite-sized format.

Stoinis was released from the Australian one-day international squad after the win over Pakistan on Sunday. He had joined the ODI squad last Wednesday but did not play in the two subsequent matches.

However, he has been selected in the Australian squad leaving on Friday for the three-match Chappell-Hadlee series in New Zealand, meaning he won't be available for the final against either the Sixers or Heat, should the Stars make it.

Stoinis was a key contributor in the seven-wicket win over the Scorchers when the team last met, claiming 1-28 off four overs and making an unbeaten 40 in a successful pursuit of 135 for victory.

The two teams also met in last year's semi-final, with the Stars emerging seven-wicket winners at the MCG after the Scorchers had been restricted to 7-139.

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