On the same day when Australia went into a Sydney Test without a specialist spinner for the first time since 1888, a BBL match witnessed 11 wickets fall to spin.
No specialist spinner at Sydney
For the first time since 1888, Australia fielded an XI without a single specialist spinner in a Test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground, a venue that has historically (albeit not recently) supported spin. However, they did pick Beau Webster, an all-rounder who bowls both seam and spin, and some batters who bowl part-time spin.
The decision raised several eyebrows. Former Australian spinner Kerry O’Keeffe warned about the “flow-on effect” if Australia do gradually shut spinners out of the game. England finished day one on 211-3 as Webster bowled seam.
Spinners rule in Perth
While seam dominated the day at Sydney, a different story unfolded in a BBL match at the Perth Stadium, a venue renowned for assisting pace. Perth Scorchers posted 153-8 after Matthew Short won the toss and opted to field. Openers Mitchell Marsh (37 in 33 balls) and Sam Fanning (31 in 24) added 72 in 53 balls before the two wrist-spinners took charge.
Leg-break bowler Lloyd Pope finished with 4-23 from his four overs, while left-arm wrist-spinner Tabraiz Shamsi returned 4-0-30-3. Taking advantage of the conditions, Short himself bowled four overs of off-breaks for 32, while left-arm spinner Jerrssis Wadia conceded 33 from his four.
Match 23, Perth Scorchers vs Adelaide Strikers
vs
- Ball by ball Over
Scorchers captain Ashton Turner opened bowling with left-arm spinner Cooper Connolly along with Joel Paris. Connolly bowled his spell for 1-31 and Ashton Agar for 1-21. To reinforce the spin attack, Turner came on himself and had 2-1 in his only over. However, the real star for the hosts was fast bowler Joel Paris: having hit two sixes in his 14-ball 20 not out, he finished with 3-22 to help bowl out the Scorchers for 120.
The 25 overs bowled by the spinners were the most in a BBL match, while the 11 wickets they shared were the joint-most.
Most overs of spin in a BBL match
| Overs | Runs | Wickets | Home | Away | Venue | Season |
| 25 | 171 | 11 | Perth Scorchers | Adelaide Strikers | Perth | 2025/26 |
| 23.1 | 143 | 7 | Melbourne Stars | Adelaide Strikers | Melbourne | 2021/22 |
Most wickets falling to spin in a BBL match
| Overs | Runs | Wickets | Home | Away | Venue | Season |
| 15 | 150 | 11 | Adelaide Strikers | Brisbane Heat | Adelaide | 2024/25 |
| 25 | 171 | 11 | Perth Scorchers | Adelaide Strikers | Perth | 2025/26 |
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