Rising star Aaron Hardie has put his baggy green dreams to the side for the time being as he turns his full attention to helping the Perth Scorchers win the BBL title.
Hardie’s star displays at No.3 have played a key role in helping guide the Scorchers into Saturday’s BBL decider at Optus Stadium, where more than 50,000 fans are set to converge.
The 24-year-old has plundered 443 runs this season – behind only Matt Short’s 458 – and he’s also snared four wickets despite being unable to bowl for several matches due to a quad niggle.
Australian great Ricky Ponting urged selectors to hand Hardie a Test debut as a replacement for the injured Cameron Green in last month’s third Test against South Africa at the SCG.
Hardie ended up being overlooked after Australia opted to play Matt Renshaw, but the WA allrounder remains firmly in the thoughts of selectors going forward.
One big stumbling block for Hardie is the presence of his WA teammate Green in the Australian set-up.
Green is firmly established in the Test team, making it difficult for Hardie to get a sniff.
But Hardie isn’t even thinking about that situation at the moment, with his eyes firmly set on helping the Scorchers win a fifth BBL title.
“I haven’t really thought about that too much,” Hardie said when asked about his international prospects.
“I’ve got a very good friend of mine doing a pretty good job at that at the moment and I’m enjoying watching him play.”
Hardie was named at No.3 in the BBL team of the season.
It’s in stark contrast to last season when Mitch Marsh was locked at No.3 and Hardie batting down the order when given a chance.
“It was a nice surprise to wake up to this morning,” Hardie said of his team-of-the-season honour.
“I was joking then that batting at three in any team I’m happy with, and to be in that team is pretty special. But if we can get the job done on Saturday, that’s all that matters.”
Scorchers paceman Jhye Richardson has been ruled out of the final after failing to recover from a hamstring injury he suffered on January 4.
Fellow pace ace Lance Morris will also miss the match after linking up with the Australian Test squad.
Paceman Matt Kelly and spinner Peter Hatzoglou are battling it out to replace Morris, with coach Adam Voges conceding he faces a tough decision between the pair.
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