MICHAEL Carberry is expected to make his Big Bash debut for the Perth Scorchers on Monday – despite an injury scare.

The Hampshire batsman is back in Australia a year after England’s disastrous last Ashes tour, a chastening experience that has put him off staying in cricket when his playing career ends.

Carberry’s latest trip down under got off to a bad start when he was struck on the elbow during a practice session at the Waca.

A year after his Ashes-best 43 on the same ground, Carberry was taken to hospital for a precautionary scan.

Fortunately, the 34 year-old was given the all-clear and is expected to make his Big Bash debut in Perth’s opening game against Melbourne Renegades on Monday.

Carberry’s teammates include Yasir Arafat, who will play limited-overs match¬ es for Hampshire next season, and Ashton Turner, a graduate of Abica (Ageas Bowl International Cricket Academy).

They will be up against a Renegades squad cap¬ tained by Aaron Finch, whose record- breaking 163 for Australia lit up the Ageas Bowl in 2013, and Nathan Rimmington, who played a handful of games as Hampshire’s overseas player last year and could yet return.

Jackson Bird, who will start the season as one of Hampshire’s overseas players, could not prevent Melbourne Stars teammate Kevin Pietersen from being upstaged in the opening game of the tour nament.

Pietersen, below, made his highest score since his penultimate Test appearance – but still finished on the losing side.

The former Hampshire batsman’s 46-ball 66, including two fours and four sixes, ensured the Stars had 148-7 to defend, despite another failure from Glenn Maxwell, who was out for seven.

But after making his highest score since his 71 in the Boxing Day Test against Australia last year, Pietersen was overshadowed by Adelaide Strikers batsman Tim Ludeman, who made an unbeaten 92 (44 balls, nine fours, five sixes).

Bird, who has recently made his comeback after nine months out with a back injury, was one of the leading bowlers in last year’s Big Bash, with 13 wickets at 14 apiece.

But he conceded 25 from his two overs as Adelaide won by eight wickets with 45 balls to spare.

The 28 year-old is due to play for Hampshire during the first three months of the LV County Championship season and will be up against a Hobart Hurricanes side captained by former Hampshire batsman George Bailey tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Andrew Flintoff’s comeback will continue earlier than expected following a shoulder injury to West Indies leg-spinner Samuel Badree.

Flintoff was originally going to play for Brisbane Heat midway through the tournament as cover for New Zealand’s Daniel Vettori. But he will now play from the start – beginning with Brisbane’s opener against Sydney Thunder on Sunday.

The 37 year- old’s teammates include Mitchell Johnson and former Hampshire pair Shane Watson and Dan Christian.