Big Bash League: Perth Scorchers best XI and best available XI for season opener against Brisbane Heat

The Perth Scorchers begin their quest for a record fourth Big Bash League title against Brisbane Heat at Optus Stadium on Wednesday without a host of big names.

English speedster Tymal Mills will arrive in Australia on Monday after finishing up his T10 commitments in the UAE and won’t feature in the two Perth games against the Heat and Hobart Hurricanes on December 22 because of quarantine.

Mills is likely to only play one of the first four games, against his old team Hobart at Blundstone Arena on December 14.

T20 World Cup hero Mitch Marsh and gloveman Josh Inglis will also miss the start of the tournament with Australia ‘A’ duties, but Ashton Agar has been released in a great result.

Bancroft will take the gloves until Inglis is available and is likely to open the batting alongside powerful New Zealand import Colin Munro in his absence as well.

Last season’s leading BBL wicket-taker Jhye Richardson is unlikely to be seen for most – if not all – of BBL11 because of Ashes duties.

Richardson has been replaced in the squad by fellow West Aussie seamer David Moody who was let go by the Hobart Hurricanes so was not included in the best XI.

Emerging WA quick Lance Morris, who has signed from Melbourne Stars, admits he is “touch and go” for the early games because of a side strain playing Sheffield Shield recently, with teenage allrounder Cooper Connolly (finger) also sidelined.

It leaves as little as 13 available players including six from last year’s final loss to Sydney Sixers – Bancroft, Munro, captain Ashton Turner, young allrounder Aaron Hardie and pace duo Andrew Tye and Jason Behrendorff.