Tait dumped for must-win BBL match

Jan 10, 2017 - 6:13 AM Hobart Hurricanes have dumped paceman Shaun Tait for their must-win Big Bash clash with Melbourne Renegades.

The paceman returned from a two-game injury absence on Sunday to be belted for 32 runs from two overs while failing to take a scalp against Sydney Thunder.

Skipper Tim Paine confirmed Tait won't travel to the MCG for Thursday's game.

"He's obviously been a bit sore in the elbow and the ball hasn't been coming out as he would like or as we would like so he's out for this game," Tait told reporters on Tuesday.

"We know that he's quality when he's fit and firing, we just need to make sure he is next time we play him."

Paine dismissed the proposition that Tait has seen his best days in the shortest format.

"That's ridiculous," he said.

"We know Tait at his absolute best is still a match-winner, we saw that in Sydney in the first game when he took three wickets from eight balls."

But Sunday's performance showed Tait at well below his top speed, which often nudges 150km/h.

"We'll get some bowling into him this week and hopefully he'll be right to go for the next game," Paine added.

Hurricanes have just two wins from six games and must get the points on Thursday to keep alive their hopes of a final-four finish.

Star international batsman Kumar Sangakkara, dumped for the Thunder match, could be brought back into the XI on Thursday.

"(Renegades) have got some really good spin bowlers and Kumar has shown over the years that he's a quality player of spin ... his experience could be used in the middle order," Paine said.

Replacement Ben McDermott, making his BBL debut on Sunday, surpassed Sangakkara's top-score (22) this season from just 17 balls and went on to make 31.

Paine said there could be room in the middle-order for both batsmen.

Spinner Clive Rose has also been omitted from Thursday's squad, with pace duo Jake Reed and Sam Rainbird called in.

SQUAD: Tim Paine (capt), Dan Christian, Cameron Boyce, George Bailey, Stuart Broad, Hamish Kingston, Ben McDermott, Sam Rainbird, Jake Reed, Kumar Sangakkara, D'Arcy Short, Beau Webster, Jon Wells, Sam Rainbird, Jake Reed.

Source: AAP