GameDay Squad AUS Cricket Round 32 Preview: The Sydney Thunder take on the Adelaide Strikers in the 37th match of BBL13 in Canberra at Manuka Oval on Sunday the 14th of January.
Here's everything you need to know ....
Predicted Teams
Sydney Thunder: 1. David Warner, 2. Alex Hales, 3. Cameron Bancroft, 4. Tom Kohler-Cadmore, 5. Oliver Davies, 6. Alex Ross, 7. Daniel Sams, 8. Nathan McAndrew, 9. Chris Green, 10. Gurinder Sandhu, 11. Tanveer Sangha
Adelaide Strikers: 1. Matt Short, 2. D'Arcy Short, 3. Chris Lynn, 4. Adam Hose, 5. Thomas Kelly, 6. Jamie Overton, 7. Harry Nielsen, 8. Henry Thornton, 9. David Payne, 10. Cameron Boyce, 11. Lloyd Pope
Start Vs Sit
Batters - Chris Lynn / Jake Weatherald vs Oliver Davies
Lynn missed the last match for the Strikers due to a hamstring strain. If he's fit to play in this match, he will be my third batsmen. The decision on who to start if he doesn't play is between Weatherald and Davies in my opinion. Weatherald's innings against the Hurricanes was one of the best I've seen in BBL13, he scored 80 runs off 32 balls. Prior to this match he had only scored 11 runs in his three matches and averaged four points. Davies has played seven matches and averages 29 points. He had a good start to the season and was ranked as one of the top three batsmen in his first two matches. Over his last five matches he hasn't really been relevant in AUS Cricket and has ranked outside the top three batsmen in all these matches, averaging 20 points. I have Weatherald ranked slightly ahead of Davies for this match. This is down to him batting higher up the order and the form he showed in his last innings.
Start: Chris Lynn / Jake Weatherald
All-Rounder - Chris Green vs D'Arcy Short
Both players have put in handy performances at times throughout BBL13. Green averages 34 points and has ranked as one of the top four all-rounders in a match in three of his seven matches. Short averages 38 points and has ranked as one of the top four all-rounders in a match in five of his eight matches. This might seem like a bit of spicy take but I'll be starting Green ahead of Short. This all comes down to the success spinners have had at Manuka Oval in BBL matches over the last two seasons. Also, opening batsmen have struggled here and have averaged 26 points over the same period. Lastly, Green has performed very well at this venue over the last two seasons and has averaged 67 points in the matches he has played here.
Start: Chris Green
Bowler - Tanveer Sangha vs Henry Thornton
As I mentioned above, spinners have had a lot of success at Manuka Oval in recent times. However, spinners haven't scored well against the Strikers this season. There have been 18 spin bowlers that have bowled against the Strikers. Only three of them have been ranked as one of the top three bowlers in a match when you look at the points they have gained from bowling stats. Thornton has performed well over his four matches and averages 37 points. He averages four more points than Sangha but I prefer Sangha for this match. In the match Sangha played against the Heat at this ground, he took three wickets and scored 71 points. Personally, I put more weight on how spin bowlers perform a venue compared to how they have performed against opposition.
Start: Tanveer Sangha
Matchup Matrix
Key Takeaways:
Opening and middle order batsmen have scored well against the Thunder
Both pace and spin bowlers haven't scored well against the Strikers
Spin bowlers have scored well against the Thunder
Ground Matrix
Key Takeaways:
Batsmen have performed better here in the second innings
Spin bowlers have scored well here
Pace bowlers have scored well when they bowl in the second innings
Hot Take
Cameron Boyce will rip through the Thunder's middle order and take three wickets on his way to being the top scoring bowler in this match.
Who to play in your GDS starting XI
BAT - David Warner
BAT - Alex Hales
BAT - Chris Lynn / Jake Weatherald
ALL - Matt Short
ALL - Daniel Sams
ALL - Jamie Overton
ALL - Chris Green
WK - Cameron Bancroft
BWL - David Payne
BWL - Cameron Boyce
BWL - Tanveer Sangha