GameDay Squad AUS Cricket Game 8 Preview: The Adelaide Strikers take on the Sydney Thunder in the 8th match of BBL13 in Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval on Tuesday the 19th of December.
Here's everything you need to know ....
Predicted Teams
Adelaide Strikers: 1. Matt Short, 2. D'Arcy Short, 3. Chris Lynn, 4. Adam Hose, 5. Jake Weatherald, 6. James Bazley, 7. Jamie Overton, 8. Harry Nielsen, 9. Wes Agar, 10. Henry Thornton, 11. David Payne
Sydney Thunder: 1. Cameron Bancroft, 2. Alex Hales, 3. Matt Gilkes, 4. Oliver Davies, 5. Alex Ross, 6. Daniel Sams, 7. Nathan McAndrew, 8. Chris Green, 9. Liam Hatcher, 10. Zaman Khan, 11. Tanveer Sangha
Start Vs Sit
Batters - Adam Hose vs Oliver Davies
Without seeing the Strikers play so far in BBL13, the decision of who to start between Hose and Davies is a coin flip. Both players averaged 32 points in BBL12 when applying GDS scoring. Hose had one fifty and three scores of 30+ runs, Davies had three fifties and three scores of 30+ runs. Davies looked in good touch against the Heat last week and he was the Thunder's best batsmen scoring 35 runs from 30 balls. Going by his performance against the Heat and the stats from BBL12, I'm leaning towards starting Davies as I think he offers a higher ceiling.
Start: Oliver Davies
All-Rounder - D'Arcy Short vs James Bazley
Both of these players are new to the Strikers for BBL13 and it's going to be interesting to see how they fit into the bowling attack. With Rashid Khan out of the tournament, the door is now open for Short to have a larger bowling role than he did in BBL12. If the Strikers decide to start with a genuine spin bowler, I think this takes away a lot of the upside that Short offers. Bazley was the 12th ranked all-rounder in BBL12 and averaged 38 points a game when applying GDS scoring. Of this 38 point average, 29 points came via bowling. I'm leaning towards Bazley in this match, only because he averaged 17 points more per game than Short in BBL12. I believe he is the safer option but Short can be a great POD. If the Strikers bat first, I might pivot and start Short. Especially if the Strikers don't play a genuine spin bowler.
Start: James Bazley
Bowler - Wes Agar vs Zaman Khan
Agar was the 10th ranked bowler in BBL12 and averaged 43 points per game when applying GDS scoring. He took eighteen wickets in his thirteen matches but in five of these matches he failed to take a wicket. Khan had a good debut in the BBL against the Heat and scored 52 points. However, 41 of these points came in the 20th over of the Heat innings when they were trying to go for it. It looks like the Thunder have found their new death bowler but he may be a risky option if he doesn't start taking wickets in his first couple of overs.
So, who should we start! It really depends on which team bowls first. In five of the seven matches at the Adelaide Oval for BBL12, the team batting first were not bowled out. Knowing this, I believe there is a higher chance that the team that bowls first will bowl Agar or Khan for their full complement of overs.
Start: Agar if the Strikers bowl first, Khan if the Thunder bowl first.
Matchup Matrix
Key Takeaways:
Spin bowlers had a lot of success against the Strikers.
Opening and middle order batsmen have a fair bit of success against both teams.
Pace bowlers had a lot of success against the Thunder.
Ground Matrix
Key Takeaways:
Spinners have a lot of success, especially in the second innings
Opening and middle order batsmen have a lot of success here
Avoid lower order batsmen
Hot Take
Alex Hales to bounce back after his golden duck against the Heat and score a fifty with a strike rate of 200.
Who to play in your GDS starting XI
BAT - Chris Lynn
BAT - Alex Hales
BAT - Oliver Davies
ALL - Matt Short
ALL - Daniel Sams
ALL - Chris Green
ALL - James Bazley
WK - Cameron Bancroft
BWL - Henry Thornton
BWL - Tanveer Sangha
BWL - Wes Agar / Zaman Khan