Ashton Turner to miss remainder of BBL 2023-24

Perth Scorchers suffered a massive blow as their captain Ashton Turner will play no further part in the remainder of the Big Bash League (BBL) 2023-24 after undergoing knee surgery on Friday, December 22.

Turner played in the ninth match of the cash-rich league between Hobart Hurricanes and the Scorchers, at the Optus Stadium in Perth, on Wednesday, December 20. The 30-year-old brought himself on to bowl the 12th over as Hobart were reeling at 74/5. After bowling the first ball of the over, Turner pulled up, experiencing pain in his right knee. He left the field and couldn't take any further part in the clash.

According to an official statement from the Scorchers, the scan reports suggested Turner needed surgery to repair a meniscus tear in his right knee. The defending champions also stated that the right-handed batter will miss the remainder of the tournament and an exact time frame on his return would be estimated down the line.

"Perth Scorchers captain Ashton Turner will miss the remainder of the KFC BBL|13 season following surgery this morning to repair a meniscus tear in his right knee," the club said in a statement.

The Scorchers are currently assessing the options they have as far as appointing a stand-in captain is concerned. An official announcement will come ahead of their Boxing Day clash against the Melbourne Renegades.

Ashton Turner looks to make amends in IPL after a forgettable first stint

Turner played four matches for the Rajasthan Royals in the 2019 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Out of the four matches he played, Turner registered three ducks. He went out of favour after the horrendous performance but the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) roped him in for his base price of INR 1 crore in the IPL 2024 auction, giving the Perth-born a shot at redemption.

The Lucknow Super Giants appointed Australian opener Justin Langer as their head coach earlier this year. They finished third on the points table last season before being ousted by the Mumbai Indians in the Eliminator. LSG have assembled a strong squad and will be looking to go the distance in the forthcoming IPL season.