Big Bash League: Perth Scorchers want to nurse spinner Hamish McKenzie through season with stress fractures

The spin conundrum facing Perth Scorchers just days out from their opening game has taken a fresh twist. The West Australian reported last week left-arm wrist-spinner Hamish McKenzie has suffered a reoccurrence of incomplete stress fractures in his lower back, an injury the State-contracted bowler battled with last season. But it can now be revealed Scorchers staff will try and manage McKenzie through a Big Bash League season where he could play an important role, because of the partial nature of his injury. McKenzie missed Subiaco-Floreat’s Premier Cricket match at the weekend as medical staff weighed up their options with the 24-year-old, but he did bowl four overs in the Scorchers’ intra-club match at Murdoch University on Tuesday. Remarkably, it shoots him back into the frame for a Twenty20 debut in Sunday’s season-opening clash with Melbourne Renegades in Geelong. The Scorchers are also hoping Ashton Agar could be fit for that match, but his availability will largely be dictated by a national team management program as he continues to recover from a calf injury. In promising signs, Agar also bowled his full complement of overs and appeared to move comfortably in the field at the competitive training session. Perth will be desperate to have at least one of their frontline slow bowlers available for the clash on a traditionally slow and turning drop-in wicket at GMHBA Stadium before a trip to the MCG to face Melbourne Stars next Wednesday. All-rounders Cooper Connolly and Ashton Turner also bowled spin overs in Tuesday’s hit-out. McKenzie is highly-regarded in WA cricket after a pair of monster pre-seasons to improve his conditioning. He has been widely pegged to play an important role this summer, partnering Agar after the loss of Peter Hatzoglou. He has made both his Sheffield Shield and one-day debuts already this summer, taking 15 wickets in two remarkable Premier Cricket matches either side of a trip to New South Wales. Get your ultimate guide to the Perth Scorchers BBL|13 season this Thursday in The West, plus a FREE fixtures poster for the season ahead. He bowled without rhythm and struggled to settle into a stop-start spell on Tuesday, including a string on no-balls as he struggled with his approach.