Squads –
WF –
Finn Allen, Hamish Bennett, Michael Bracewell, Fraser Colson, Jamie Gibson, Lauchie Johns, Troy Johnson, Iain McPeake, Rachin Ravindra, Michael Snedden, Logan van Beek, Peter Younghusband
AA –
Graeme Beghin, Jamie Brown, Mark Chapman, Louis Delport, Danru Ferns, Ben Horne, Ben Lister, Matt McEwan, Robbie O’Donnell, Ronnie Hira, Will O’Donnell, Glenn Phillips, Ollie Pringle, Sean Solia, Will Somerville, Ross ter Braak
Team News –
WF –
– The Wellington Firebirds are the champions of 2019 season and also finished #1 in the points table with 7 wins and 4 losses.
– Team will be lead by Michael Bracewell who had a poor last season with bat.
– Fraser Colson and Troy Johnson can open the innings. As this is 1st game of the season so predicting openers is a difficult task.
– Rachin Ravindra will bat at 1 down. He has been one of the finest Allrounder in domestic circuit of new Zealand recently contributing with bat and bowl.
– Captain Bracewell will bat at 2 down. Bracewell is very experienced but had a average last season with just 149 runs.
– Lauchie Jones or Finn Allen can keep the Wickets. Allen can also play as an Allrounder.
– Peter YoungHusband a leggie will lead the spin attack for Wellington.
– Hamish Bennett, Logan van Beek and Ian McPeake will lead the pace attack.
AA –
– Auckland Aces were placed 2nd in the points table last season with 5 wins and 5 losses.
– Robert O Donnell and Sean Solia will open for Auckland. O’Donnell is an excellent batsman averaging 50 in FC carrer . Solia is a very good allrounder but had a poor last season with bat .
– Ben Horne and William O Donnell will bat in middle. Horne can contribute through both bat and bowl bit will likely keep the Wickets.
– Danru Ferns will bat next and do the late hitting. He has 22 t20 Wickets.
– Will Somerville will bowl off spin for Auckland.
– Ben Lister, Olly Pringle and Ross ter Braak will lead the pace bowling.
Probable XI –
WF –
Fraser Colson, Troy Johnson, Rachin Ravindra, Michael Bracewell (C), Jamie Gibson, Lauchie Johns/Finn Allen (WK), Hamish Bennett, Logan van Beek, Ian McPeake, Michael Snedden, Peter Younghusband
AA –
Robert O Donnell (C), Sean Solia, Graeme Beghin, Ben Horne (WK), Ryan Harrison, William O Donnell, Bradley Rodden/Danru Ferns, Ben Lister, Olly Pringle, William Somerville, Ross ter Braak
Pitch Report –
Basin Reserve, Wellington
Basin Reserve is a paradise for fast bowlers. Try to cover all important pacers in your team
Average Score : 158
Team Blueprint –
WK –
Ben Horne( 2 down + part time orthodox bowl, 232 runs + 3 Wickets in t20 )
Lauchie Jones( Lower order wk, not much useful record )
BAT –
R O’Donnell(Opener, 595 runs at an average of 50 , Must have )
M Bracewell( 1 down + part time off spin, 572 runs for Wellington, 149 runs in 9 innings last season, Must )
W O’Donnell( Middle order, 485 runs in 35 LA games, GL pick )
Troy Johnson ( Open/2 down, RHB, decent List A career with 211 runs in 5 games)
F Colson(Middle order, can open this game, 91 runs in 5 innings last season, can hit the ball big )
ALL –
R Ravindra ( 1 down + left arm orthodox, very good Allrounder, 8 Wickets + 186 runs last season, Must have )
Sean Solia( Open + slow medium pace, very good Allrounder, poor last season with 50 runs and 4 Wickets )
Danru Ferns ( Middle order + Medium pacer, 22 t20 Wickets, Must have)
F Allen(Open/3 down, 296 runs in 15 LA games, can also bowl )
J Gibson( Middle order + Medium pacer, 358 runs in LA, poor t20 record with Average of 15 )
BOWL –
Logan van Beek(Medium pacer, 9 Wickets in 11 games last season, Must have)
Hamish Bennett( Medium pacer, highest wicket taker last season, Must have)
Ben Lister( Left arm pacer, 21 wickets to his name in 19 outings with eco of 8.27)
O Pringle( Medium pacer, 3 Wickets in t20s, not sure how he will bowl )
W Somerville( Off spin, 5 Wickets last season, Must have )
P YoungHusband( Leggie, bowls Legspin with good pace, 2 Wickets in 4 games last season)
I Mcpeake( Medium pacer, 4 Wickets in t20s, decent option)
R Ter Braak( Left arm pacer, 2 Wickets in t20s, SR of 30 )
C/VC –
WF –
Rachin Ravindra
Hamish Bennett
M Bracewell
AA –
Sean Solia
R O Donnell
Ben Horne