Squads –
THU –
Usman Khawaja, Alex Hales, Callum Ferguson(c), Matthew Gilkes, Sam Billings (w), Alex Ross, Daniel Sams, Chris Green, Arjun Nair, Nathan McAndrew, Jonathan Cook, Chris Tremain, Ben Cutting, Oliver Davies, Brendan Doggett, Adam Milne, Tanveer Sangha
STA –
Nick Larkin, Glenn Maxwell(c), Andre Fletcher(w), Clint Hinchliffe, Ben Dunk, Seb Gotch, Hilton Cartwright, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Billy Stanlake, Adam Zampa, Liam Hatcher, Zahir Khan, Tom O Connell, Nicolas Pooran
Team News –
THU –
– Sydney Thunders after loosing the 1st game won 3 back to back encounters against Heat, Scorchers and Renegades last game. Sam Billings is added to the squad and will also be the Wicket keeper of team.
– 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 35 while Khawaja 34 the other game.
– 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 63 not out last 2nd game.
– O Davies will bat at 2 down followed by Sam Billings at 3 who will also keep the Wickets. Davies was brilliant in his last 2 outing hitting 8 maximum.
– Ben Cutting and Daniel Sams will do the late hitting for the thunders. Both can be promoted.
– Chris Green , Tanveer Sangha will be handling the spin attack. Green mostly bowl 1-2 overs in powerplay.
– Adam Milne, N McAndrew, Daniel Sams and Ben Cutting will lead the pace attack of Sydney. Sams and Milne will bowl in death.
STA –
– The Stars have been delighted by the return of Marcus Stoinis but team ace bowler Coulter Nile will not be available due to a calf injury.
– Andre Fletcher will open the innings for the stars along with Marcus Stoinis. Stoinis is back and also has good chances of bowling this game.
– Hilton Cartwright will bat at 1 down. Cartwright has been brilliant so far contributing with both bat and bowl but haven’t converted his scores into a big one.
– Glenn Maxwell will bat at 2 down followed by Hard hitting Nicolas Pooran. Maxwell is in some form after a desastrous IPL season. Maxwell is also bowling good number of overs. Both smashed a total of 13 sixers last game against the Sixers.
– Ben Dunk or Nick Larkin can play next. Larkin had a brilliant last year with 2 50+ scores in 4 games but haven’t got much chance to play this season. Dunk will bat in lower order this game.
– Adam Zampa and Zahir Khan will lead the spin attack for the Stars. Zampa took 2 Wickets last game.
– Billy Stanlake, Lance Morris and Liam Hatcher will handle the pace attack. Coulter Nile is not available for this game.
Probable XI –
THU –
Usman Khawaja, Alex Hales, Callum Ferguson (C), O Davies, Sam Billings (wk), Ben Cutting, Daniel Sams, Chris Green, Tanveer Sangha, Nathan McAndrew, Adam Milne.
STA –
Andre Fletcher (WK), Marcus Stoinis, Hilton Cartwright, Glenn Maxwell (C), Nicolas Pooran, Ben Dunk, Billy Stanlake, Adam Zampa, Zahir Khan, Liam Hatcher, Lance Morris.
Pitch Report –
Manuka Oval, Canberra
Neutral Wicket but will have more help for spinners than pacers.
Average Score : 160
Team Blueprint –
WK –
Nicolas Pooran ( Middle order, one of the best hitters in world t20s, 520 runs in the IPL with a SR of 165, 65(26b) last game, Must have )
Ben Dunk( 3/4 down, hard hitter, 300 runs in PSL at SR of 167, can drop as will bat low in SL )
Seb Gotch( Middle order, 325 runs for the stars in BBL )
Sam Billings ( 3 down + wk, 393 runs at a SR of 134 in t20i’s, Must have pick)
M Gilkes( Middle order, decent last season, not much useful in SL even if plays )
B Holt ( 3 down, not much useful record’s, can be used as a credit saver )
BAT –
Alex Hales( Open, RHB, very aggressive , 576 runs last season at an average of 38, 35 last game, Must have)
Usman Khawaja( Open, very consistent, 388 runs last season, Important player of team, 8,17, 21,34 runs last 4 games )
Calumn Ferguson ( 1 down, very experienced + attacking batsman, 2800 t20 runs, 61* last 2nd game )
Andre Fletcher(Open + wk, hard hitter of the ball, 34,20 against NZ in t20 series, poor form)
Nick Larkin( Middle order, young talent, 297 runs in 11 games last season, risky but best GL pick this game)
Alex Ross( 2 down, known for his big hitting, 238 runs in 10 games last season averaging 39, 34 last 3rd game, will likely miss the game)
H Cartwright ( Open/1down, brilliant form with both bat and bowl , 46R, 2w, 14R this tournament so far )
Oliver Davies( 2 down, bug striker of the ball, 8 sixers in last 2 games by him, Must have )
ALL –
Daniel Sams( Left arm pacer + can do big hitting ,30 Wickets last season, 1 Wickets + 22 runs last game, Must have )
Marcus Stoinis( Open, bowling is still not confirmed, 705 runs last BBL, 61 2nd game, Must have)
Glenn Maxwell( 1/2 down + off spin, 167 runs at a SR of 194 against India recently, 46(26b), 39(29b), 71* last 3 of 4 game, Must have )
Ben Cutting ( Middle order + Medium pace, scored 276 runs last season, also he scalped eleven wickets, 29 runs + 1w last 2nd game, Must )
Arjun Nair ( Off spin + decent batting, 8 Wickets and 80+ runs last BBL, good choice)
BOWL –
Adam Milne( Right arm fast, very experienced with 118 t20 Wickets, 2 Wickets last game, Must have)
Adam Zampa( Leggie, best bowler of team, no into needed, 2 Wickets last game, Must have )
Chris Green( Off spin, picked 40 wickets in his BBL career whereas, batted at an average of 18.47, 2 Wickets last game )
Billy Stanlake( Tall Right arm pacer, poor last BBL with just 4 Wickets, 1w last game)
Nathan Coulter Nile( Medium pacer, 10 Wickets last season, can bat as well , 2 Wickets last game, Must have)
C Hinchcliffe( Left arm orthodox, decent last season with 8 Wickets, credit saver)
Zahir Khan ( Chinnaman, 8 Wickets in 8 BBL games, Must have)
Liam Hatcher( Pacer, excellent last game with 3 Wickets, Must have , will also save credits )
Chris Tremain( Right Arm medium pace, known for his swing, 5 Wickets in 10 games last season, didn’t played last game)
Tanveer Sangha ( Leggie, young u19 bowler, 4 Wickets last game )
Jono Cook( Leggie, bowled most of overs in powerplay last season, 9 Wickets in 8 games , 2 Wicket last 2nd game, didn’t played last game)
C/VC –
THU –
Calumn Ferguson
Alex Hales
Daniel Sams
STA –
Marcus Stoinis
Glenn Maxwell
Nicolas Pooran