Thunder take new faces to Hobart for BBL

Jan 7, 2017 - 5:25 AM Big Bash reigning champs Sydney Thunder will blood two new international players during their trip south to take on Hobart Hurricanes.

West Indies' T20 World Cup-winning hero Carlos Brathwaite replaces injured Andre Russell (hamstring) and hopes to pick up where his predecessor left.

"It's a dream to play in the Big Bash - to replace Russell, not so much, because he's one of the guys I really look up to and he's big shoes to fill," Brathwaite said ahead of Sunday's clash at Bellerive Oval.

"I just want to replicate, or at least come as close to the things he's done for the franchise over the past couple of years."

Best-known for his final-over boundary-clearing in the Windies' World T20 final win over England, Brathwaite said BBL crowds shouldn't get too excited about a repeat.

"I've just come to have fun and do my best for the team," he said.

England batsman James Vince has also been named in Thunder's travelling squad.

The BBL debutant takes over from countryman Eoin Morgan who's on national duties in England's limited-overs side.

The Thunder cross Bass Strait bottom of the BBL ladder with just one win from five matches, while Hobart has a 2-3 record, desperately needing a win for a shot at the finals.

Hurricanes have named paceman Shaun Tait in their squad after the he missed two rounds with an elbow injury.

"He has certainly assured us he wants to play ... and we're looking forward to seeing him unleash some nice thunderbolts," coach Damien Wright said.

Vince is likely to be the greatest surprise for Hobart.

"We don't know a hell of a lot about him," Wright said, adding that he plans to quiz Hurricanes' England quick Stuart Broad about the batsman who boasts a top T20 score of 107 not out.

SQUADS

HURRICANES: Tim Paine (capt), Dan Christian, Cam Boyce, George Bailey, Stuart Broad, Hamish Kingston, Ben McDermott, Clive Rose, Kumar Sangakkara, D'Arcy Short, Shaun Tait, Beau Webster, Jon Wells.

THUNDER: Shane Watson (capt), Fawad Ahmed, Aiden Blizzard, Carlos Brathwaite, Pat Cummins, Ryan Gibson, Chris Green, Kurtis Patterson, Jay Lenton, Clint McKay, Arjun Nair, Ben Rohrer, James Vince.

Source: AAP