Big Bash League: Side strain for Perth Scorchers captain Ashton Turner two weeks out from season opener

Perth Scorchers captain Ashton Turner has strained his side playing club cricket and will be in a race to be fit for the Big Bash League’s season-opener, The West Australian can reveal. Turner was injured attempting a sweep shot during a match for Fremantle on Saturday and retired his innings without facing another ball. The Scorchers veteran will be assessed by Western Australia staff early this week ahead of a Sheffield Shield match against New South Wales from Friday, but he is in serious doubt for Perth’s clash with Melbourne Stars on December 15. Recovery from side strains can stretch out beyond a month and will likely impact Turner’s ability to bowl off-spin this season. It comes as the Scorchers grapple with a looming availability crisis. There is a real chance five of their first-choice team miss at least the first match of the year. Cooper Connolly and Ashton Agar are also in a race to be fit to face the Stars at Optus Stadium, while Josh Inglis and Mitch Marsh are on international duties. The injury to Turner deepens the franchise’s spin dearth after Hamish McKenzie left the club to take up a two-year deal with Melbourne Stars for this season. It strengthens the case of Matthew Spoors to debut, who could be the only recognised spinner if all of Turner, Agar and Connolly miss. Turner retired his innings unbeaten on 36, after attempting to sweep a ball off South Perth spinner Joel Logan. He ran through for two leg byes before stretching out his left side as he returned to the striker’s end. He then walked off the field after a short mid-pitch conference with batting partner and Western Australia captain Sam Whiteman, who went on to make a century. Coach Adam Voges was at the ground to watch the two leaders, as well as State-contracted wicket-keeper Baxter Holt and paceman Sam Greer. In a quirk, The West Australian understands Turner had been set to leave Richardson Park around 40 minutes before he retired to attend a wedding. The middle-order star missed almost all of last season with a knee injury, with all-rounder Aaron Hardie taking over the captaincy. Whiteman was dismissed for 100 off 113 balls, but his ton is a major boost in his bid to return for this week’s shield clash. The red-ball skipper had missed a month of cricket with a side strain of his own and sat out three four-day matches. The West revealed last week Connolly, who broke a finger on his left hand playing a one-day international for Australia in November, is almost certain to miss the clash with the Stars after undergoing surgery. Connolly’s recovery time is between four and six weeks post-surgery, but the procedure was not completed straight away. Agar sprained the AC joint in his shoulder in WA’s clash with Victoria last month and is also touch and go for the first match. Seamer Matt Kelly will be parked from the final shield match of the first part of the series in the hope he will be fit to play for the Scorchers.