Big Bash League draft: Aaron Finch predicts Laurie Evans will be on the table for Perth Scorchers at draft

Former Australian Twenty20 captain Aaron Finch says Perth Scorchers will be in the game for championship-winner Laurie Evans at Thursday afternoon’s Big Bash League draft.

The Melbourne Renegades legend — who will host the draft for Channel 7 — does not expect his former side will fight to retain Evans and believes he is still the perfect fit for the Scorchers.

Evans was pinched by the Renegades at last year’s draft with pick three and the club still has retention rights to him.

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“I’m not convinced that the Renegades will look to retain him, to be honest,” Finch told The West Australian.

“I don’t think there will be too much fight there from the Renegades. He didn’t have the greatest year last year.

“When you’re not bringing a bowling skill to the table as well as (being) a middle-order player, I think your numbers have to be very consistent. I think the Scorchers would be an obvious fit there.”

Finch said a batter that is already familiar with the tricky Optus Stadium wicket would be attractive to the Scorchers. Evans also has strong relationships with senior players and staff at Perth and was a fan favourite in his two seasons at the club.

“He has played there before and done well and it is such a unique place to play, particularly for international players,” he said.

“So to target someone who you have had before, who you know can handle the conditions and play well there.

“It’s obviously a high-pressure environment too, Perth. They’re pretty passionate fans and they can jump off-board pretty quick as well.

“Just somebody who has been there and done it would be really attractive and no doubt he would be very high on the Scorchers list.”

In an interview with The West on Tuesday, Scorchers coach Adam Voges said they would “absolutely” look at bringing Evans back to Perth if he was still on the table for them.

The Scorchers have pick four, 16 and 17 in the international player draft. They will use pick four to add Finn Allen to their list for a second season.

They have hinted they could target spin late in the draft in a rare play, given both Ashton Agar and Cooper Connolly are left-arm finger spinners.

Finch said it is vital to have variation in a spin attack, particularly on the east coast. He also forecast it would come in handy if the Scorchers were to play a final away from home.

“I think it’s crucial to have that option in your squad, because you can’t just tailor your side towards your home conditions, particularly when they are as extreme as they are at Optus,” Finch said.

“I still don’t think it will be a high priority for the Scorchers, I think they will have a look and see in the last two rounds to see if they can find potentially a mystery spinner — every team wants one of those.

“You have to take all conditions into account. If you finish outside the top two you are playing away finals. You would expect to play one in either Melbourne or Sydney and you would have to have a really well-rounded squad.”

The Scorchers also have retention rights to English quick Tymal Mills. It is believed they are interested in bringing the crafty bowler back to the club for the first time since 2022.

They also have retention rights to English trio Keaton Jennings, Matthew Hurst and dual-citizen Stevie Eskinazi, but are less likely to consider a batting option outside of Evans.

Pakistani superstar Shaheen Shah Afridi is widely tipped to land at Brisbane Heat with the first pick in the draft. The world-class left-armer has availability for a full-season.

Finch said the Heat could form a bowling attack reminiscent of the Scorchers’ in their hay-day if they take Afridi. That would also include Australian internationals Spencer Johnson, Xavier Bartlett and Michael Neser.

“You are weighing up whether Bartlett will be around the Test squad — he is a very, very good bowler — he has been around the Australian setup for quite a while,” Finch said.

“I’d still be very surprised if he doesn’t go No.1 and the availability for the whole competition is huge. That’s why Babar Azam was such a big get for the Sydney Sixers as well, because they are available the whole time.

“We have seen over a long period of time, teams with the best bowling attack go a long way to winning titles. Perth for years, when you had (Jason) Behrendorff, (Jhye) Richardson, (Andrew) Tye, Matty Kelly, combined with Agar, that was a formidable attack, particularly at home.

“There’s no surprise that teams are looking to that bowling department to strengthen it. The old saying is ‘batters sell memberships, bowlers win premierships’ and that rings true.”