Hurricanes star facing axe for BBL semis

Expensive import Tymal Mills is facing the selectors’ axe with Hobart Hurricanes coach Gary Kirsten unable to guarantee the wayward quick a place in the semi-finals team.

The Hurricanes will play the Scorchers in Perth on Thursday night despite letting last-placed Melbourne Stars chase down 185 on Saturday.

Mills returned 2-56 from his four overs, taking his tally to 389 – the most runs conceded in one BBL season.

Asked if the Hurricanes can afford such a luxury selection, Kirsten was non-committal.

“We need to sit down as a leadership group and make what we think is the best decision for the team for the semi-finals,” he said.

“I think there are a lot of factors in play. It will be interesting today to look at that wicket in the international and we are going to have to make decisions on what we think is the best for the team.”

Former Australian T20 bowlers Xavier Doherty and Brett Geeves both believe Hobart should stick with Mills.

Doherty said as long as Mills had not lost all confidence, he would hand him the new ball.

“If he’s your marquee man and he’s got some good skills, I’d pick and stick and just back he would bowl a good over to start and that would get him going,” Doherty said.

The Hurricanes will lose opener D’Arcy Short to the Australian team, but will regain wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Paine.

“It is going to be quite a creative selection for this game to be quite honest with you, something different,” Kirsten said.