BBL 2024-25: Daniel Hughes ruled out of remainder of season with pre-existing right elbow injury

The Sydney Sixers have suffered a huge blow as experienced batter Daniel Hughes will miss the remainder of the Big Bash League (BBL) season after suffering a pre-existing right elbow injury.

The injury occurred during the Sixers' season opener against the Melbourne Renegades at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), leaving the team to explore replacement options for their top-order batting lineup.

The 35-year-old entered the season with high hopes following a strong stint in England earlier in the year. After fracturing his elbow during a grade cricket match in October, he had undergone extensive rehabilitation and had been cleared to return to play.

However, during Monday’s match, Hughes reinjured his elbow while diving to attempt a catch off Tim Seifert’s bat. The dive not only proved unsuccessful but also left Hughes in too much pain to continue, effectively ruling him out of action for the remainder of the season.

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We’ll wrap our arms around him in the weeks ahead: Rachael Haynes

Despite the setback, Hughes’ injury does not require surgery at this point. Across 106 BBL matches, Hughes has hammered 15 half-centuries. The loss of Hughes opens the door for other players to step up. General Manager Rachael Haynes expressed her disappointment over the news.

“While the news is not what we had hoped for Daniel, and we’re obviously incredibly disappointed to lose him for the remainder of this season, we know that he’ll commit himself to his rehab over the coming months, just as he did earlier in the year. A pleasing aspect of our group is that we have players ready to step up at any time and we know that whoever comes into the side will be prepared to play their role. Regardless of whether he’s on the field or not, Daniel remains a core part of our group, and we’ll wrap our arms around him in the weeks ahead," she said in a statement.

The injury could provide opportunities for players like Kurtis Patterson, who missed out on selection in the first game despite his stellar form in the Sheffield Shield. Another potential candidate is Lachie Shaw, a player originally named as a replacement for Steven Smith, who is only available for a part of the tournament.

Despite Hughes’ early exit in the opener, the Sixers secured a convincing five-wicket victory over the Renegades. Captain Moises Henriques led from the front, scoring an unbeaten 53 off 27 balls to chase down the target of 170 with nine balls to spare.