Scorchers keen to unleash Joker in BBL

Paceman Jason Behrendorff says Lance Morris has become a scary prospect for batters, labelling the tearaway quick as the Perth Scorchers' "Joker" in the pack.

Morris' stunning start to the Sheffield Shield season resulted in him being called into the Australian squad as injury cover ahead of the day-night Test against the West Indies in Adelaide.

Although the 24-year-old missed out on a spot in the XI, it seems just a matter of time before he earns a baggy green.

Morris can hit speeds in excess of 150km/h, and he looms as a major trump card for the Scorchers this summer if he's not needed for the three-Test series against South Africa.

"If Lance is available for us, he'll definitely be a real prize packet for us, for sure," Behrendorff said.

"Not only does he bowl 150km/h at times, he's really consistent now. So that's really troubling batters. 

"If you chat to our guys in the nets or guys around the country, they say he's probably one of the fastest, if not the fastest, at the moment. He's just a scary sight to face.

"It's like having the Joker in the pack – having a guy that can bowl express pace and really put batters on the back foot."

The Scorchers' title defence has already received numerous blows before a ball has even been bowled.

Perth cut ties with grand final hero Laurie Evans after he tested positive to a banned substance, while Mitch Marsh (ankle) and import Phil Salt (shoulder) were ruled out for the season.

Former South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis has been drafted into the squad as a late replacement, but he will only be available for the first seven games.

Meanwhile, Melbourne Stars recruit Trent Boult is looking forward to making his BBL debut, but he still harbours hope of remaining a key cog of New Zealand's international set-up.

New Zealand Cricket agreed to release Boult from his central contract in August to allow the 33-year-old to spend more time with family and play in more T20 leagues around the world.

Boult is hoping to be a part of NZ's bid for glory at next year's 50-over World Cup in India.

"It's a moving landscape at the moment with what that looks like, but I definitely have huge ambitions to still be there," Boult told reporters on Friday.

"The 2023 World Cup next year in India is a big one that I'd love to be a part of but it's a lot of cricket away."