Hamstring sidelines Richardson until finals

Perth Scorchers are hoping star quick Jhye Richardson will be back in time for their finals campaign after he suffered a hamstring strain during his side's loss to Sydney Thunder on Wednesday night.

The right-armer, who has the second most wickets in BBL|12 with 15, abruptly brought his final over to a premature end against the Thunder before limping off Perth Stadium in the six-wicket defeat.

Richardson's scans returned a minor strain on Thursday, with Scorchers coach Adam Voges saying the club was hopeful of seeing him return for the backend of the tournament.

"It's on the very minor end of a hamstring strain," he told reporters today.

"Unfortunately, it’s the same hamstring that he did injure six to 12 months ago so we may need to take the cautious route.

"I think you need to (be cautious) with someone of Jhye's calibre, but we've got a world-class medical staff here and I'll trust them to put the work in with Jhye.

"Hopefully we'll get him back on the park as soon as possible."

It means the first-placed Scorchers will likely be without their strike bowler until their likely finals berth, but they will get the bonus of Lance Morris joining their side for the first time this season after he and Marcus Harris were released from the Test squad today.

Richardson's latest injury continues his recent misfortune, with the 26-year-old missing three Marsh Sheffield Shield games earlier this season with heel bruising.

It is also the same hamstring that caused him to miss WA's drought-breaking Shield title last season.

WA teammate Aaron Hardie is another on the Scorchers growing injury list, with the allrounder missing the Thunder game with a minor quad complaint.

The 23-year-old is a chance to return to the ladder-leaders' squad for their clash with the Brisbane Heat on Saturday but is being closely monitored each day.

Unheralded 31-year-old English seamer David Payne comes into Perth's squad for a potential debut against the Heat.

The Adelaide Strikers also have dual injury concerns, with skipper Peter Siddle and opener Jake Weatherald both missing their record-breaking win at Adelaide Oval on Thursday night.

Siddle is working through a lower back complaint that is expected to force him out for at least one more game, while Weatherald is still managing an abdominal strain picked up earlier in the campaign.

Weatherald was expected to return for the final-over win over the Hurricanes but was replaced by Ryan Gibson in the squad on the day of the game after pulling up sore from training.

The Hurricanes meanwhile seem to have avoided an injury scare of their own with new cult hero Paddy Dooley named in their 14-player squad to face the Renegades at Marvel Stadium tomorrow after landing awkwardly while saving a boundary last night.

The mystery spinner saved four when diving full stretch late in the Hurricanes loss but landed heavily on his left shoulder and immediately left the field.

The left-armer has taken 12 wickets in a breakout campaign so far and is expected to play an even bigger role in the next few matches with Shadab Khan out for the Hurricanes with a fractured finger just before he was due to depart for international duties.

Shadab is expected to return to Australia later in the tournament after Pakistan's three-match ODI series against New Zealand finishes on January 13.

And the Renegades have announced the signing of veteran leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed as a replacement player for Shaun Marsh who was injured while batting during the Melbourne derby on Tuesday.

Scans have confirmed a low-grade hamstring strain for Marsh, but he will remain with the Renegades squad in the hope of returning later in the season.