Melbourne Stars will be without Lasith Malinga for tonight's must-win Big Bash League match against the Sydney Thunder, leading them to draft England all-rounder Dimitri Mascheranas into their squad.
It was initially expected that the Stars would have to do without David Hussey and Glenn Maxwell, but Cricket Australia has let both play before reporting to international duty ahead of Friday's ODI at the MCG.
Australia's opponents Sri Lanka have not been as lenient with Malinga, who only plays for his country in limited forms of the game, meaning he will join suspended skipper Shane Warne on the sidelines.
Test bowler Jackson Bird is likely to come into the side for Malinga.
Mascheranas, who played with Warne for Hampshire in England and the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, could provide extra depth to the star-studded batting order that has disappointed in recent games.
Victory for the Stars against the winless Thunder would see them secure a semi-final berth.
Tags: sport, cricket, twenty20, melbourne-3000 First posted January 08, 2013 13:41:41
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