Squads –
THU –
Usman Khawaja, Alex Hales, Callum Ferguson(c), Matthew Gilkes(w), Alex Ross, Daniel Sams, Chris Green, Arjun Nair, Nathan McAndrew, Jonathan Cook, Chris Tremain, Ben Cutting, Oliver Davies, Brendan Doggett, Baxter Holt, Adam Milne, Tanveer Sangha
HEA –
Chris Lynn(c), Max Bryant, Daniel Lawrence, Sam Heazlett, Tom Cooper, Jimmy Peirson(w), Simon Milenko, Xavier Bartlett, Ben Laughlin, James Bazley, Matthew Kuhnemann, Connor Sully, Jack Wood, Mujeeb Rahman
Team News –
THU –
– Sydney Thunders lost the 1st game of the season 10 by 22 runs against the Stars but they have a strong lineup and will be favorates to win this game.
– Usman Khawaja and Alex Hales both will open the innings. Both of them form a very strong opening pair. Hales was 2nd highest scorer last season. Hales scored 46 while Khawaja was out cheaply on 7.
– Calumn Ferguson will bat 1 down. Ferguson has a lot of experience of BBL and is one among the top 5 scorers in BBL history. He scored 54 last game.
– Alex Ross will bat at 2 down followed by Holt at 3 who will also keep the Wickets.
– Ben Cutting and Daniel Sams will do the late hitting for the thunders. Both can be promoted.
– Chris Green , Tanveer Sangha and Jono Cook will be handling the spin attack. Green mostly bowl 1-2 overs in powerplay.
– Nathan McAndrew, Daniel Sams and Ben Cutting will lead the pace attack of Sydney. Sams will bowl in death.
HEA –
– Brisbane Heat has a very poor outing with the bat in the 1st game against Stars and are looking quite weak this season in both the department. Chris Lynn should fire for the Heat to show some fight against the Thunders.
– Mujeeb Rahman has recovered from the covid and has joined the squad and is likely to play this game.
– English Allrounder Lewis Gregory will be available for selection from 4th game of the team while All of Labushagne, Joe Burns and Mitchell Swepson will be available after the test series.
– Sam Heazlett and Max Bryant will open the innings. Both were looking good in their short span at the Crease last game.
– Chris Lynn will bat at 1 down. Lynn is not someone to introduce especially at the shorter format. He scored runs a ball 20 last game.
– Dan Lawrence will handle the middle order. Lawrence will contribute through both bat and off spin bowl.
– Tom Cooper who played for the Renegades last season will bat at 3 down for the Heat. He has a lot of experience and looked good last game.
– Jimmy Peirson will bat next and will keep the Wickets. Pierson has scored more than 800 runs for the heat.
– Matthew Kuhnemann, Jack Wood, Mujeeb Rahman and Dan Lawrence will be the spinners for Heat.
– Ben Laughlin, Xavier Bartlett and Simon Milenko(risky) will handle the pace attack.
Probable XI –
THU –
Usman Khawaja, Alex Hales, Callum Ferguson (C), Alex Ross, Baxtor Holt(WK), Ben Cutting, Daniel Sams, Chris Green, Tanveer Sangha, Jono Cook, Nathan McAndrew.
HEA –
Max Bryant, Sam Heazlett, Chris Lynn (C), Dan Lawrence, Tom Cooper, Jimmy Peirson (WK), Xavier Bartlett, Ben Laughlin, Matthew Kuhnemann, Jack Wood, Mujeeb Rahman.
Pitch Report –
Manuka Oval, Canberra
Neutral Wicket but will have more help for spinners than pacers as seen in 1st T20 between India and Australia.
Average Score : 160
H2H : 8-2 ( in favour of Brisbane Heat )
Team Blueprint –
WK –
M Gilkes( Middle order, decent last season, not much useful in SL even if plays )
Jimmy Pierson( Middle order, 836 runs for the Heat in BBL, Must if dropping top order)
BAT –
Chris Lynn( 1 down, no intro needed, 387 runs at SR of 149 last BBL, 20(20b) last game, Must have)
Alex Hales( Open, RHB, very aggressive , 576 runs last season at an average of 38.40, 46 last game, Must have)
Usman Khawaja( Open, very consistent, 388 runs last season, Important player of team, just 7 runs last game )
Calumn Ferguson ( 1 down, very experienced + attacking batsman, 2800 t20 runs , 54 runs last game )
Tom Cooper(3 down, SR of 131 in t20s, experienced, poor last season with just 89 runs in 11 games, 26 last game )
Max Bryant( Open, very attacking, 145 runs in 10 games last season, 20 last game)
Sam Heazlett( Open, decent batsman with 347 t20 runs, good option if opens again )
Alex Ross( 2 down, known for his big hitting, 238 runs in 10 games last season averaging 39 )
ALL –
Daniel Sams( Left arm pacer + can do big hitting ,30 Wickets last season, 2 Wickets last game, Must have )
Ben Cutting ( Middle order + Medium pace, scored 276 runs last season, also he scalped eleven wickets, Must )
Simon Milenko( Lower order + Medium pacer, 68 List A Wickets )
Dan Lawrence( 2 down + off spin, very good Allrounder, 190 runs + 4 Wickets in T20BLAST 2020)
Arjun Nair ( Off spin + decent batting, 8 Wickets and 80+ runs last BBL, good choice)
BOWL –
Mujeeb Rahman ( Mystery spinner, bowls mostly in powerplay overs, 15 BBL Wickets at economy of just 6.09, Must have )
Adam Milne( Right arm fast, very experienced with 116 t20 Wickets, Must have if plays)
Ben Laughlin(Medium pacer, death bowler, top wicket-taker with 15 scalps for Brisbane Heat last season, wicketless last game)
Chris Green( Off spin, picked 35 wickets in his BBL career whereas, batted at an average of 18.47, 2 Wickets last game )
M Kuhnemann( Slow left arm, 17 List A wickets, 1w last game, bowled in powerplay )
Chris Tremain( Right Arm medium pace, known for his swing, 5 Wickets in 10 games last season, didn’t played last game)
Jack Wood( Left arm orthodox, very impressive debut last game with 2 Wickets )
Tanveer Sangha ( Leggie, young u19 bowler, 2 Wickets last game )
Jono Cook( Leggie, bowled most of overs in powerplay last season, 9 Wickets in 8 games , 1 Wicket last game)
C/VC –
THU –
Usman Khawaja
Alex Hales
Daniel Sams
Ben Cutting
HEA –
Chris Lynn
Dan Lawrence
Mujeeb Rahman