BBL 2018-19, Match 14: Adelaide Strikers vs Sydney Thunder

BBL 2018-19 by
Adelaide Strikers vs Sydney Thunder

Defending champions Adelaide Strikers face Sydney Thunder at the Adelaide Oval in the 2018/19 Big Bash League. 

The match is scheduled for December 31 and the live action begins at 13:45 IST

Bat Flip Prediction

Sydney Thunder are yet to win the bat flip – being asked to bat first on all three occasions so far.

Adelaide Strikers Team

Adelaide Strikers Team News & Playing 11

ADS Team News

Peter Siddle’s omission from the Australian side for the test against India means he is available again and could come back in for Cameron Valente, who has replaced the seamer for the last two matches. Travis Head was in the test side and remains unavailable, however, meaning Colin Ingram will continue to captain the team. Liam O’Connor was dropped from the most recent squad, but Siddle’s return could mean Harry Nielsen and Wes Agar are surplus to requirement in the 13-man squad and the leggie could return – though he has not featured in the starting XI so far this season, with Rashid Khan leading the bowling attack.

ADS Key Players

Once again, Rashid Khan has been in inspired form with the ball – even impressing in the low-scoring defeat to Perth Scorchers last time out when his four overs cost just nine runs – albeit, there was no pressure to score off the Afghanistan magician. He had previously taken 3-19 and 2-13 in the first two matches, however.

Peter Siddle is available again to lead the pace attack, meanwhile, and took 1-8 from two overs on his only other appearance so far.

With the bat, Alex Carey – opening the batting – scored 70 from 46 balls in an opening-game victory but has not lived up to that since. Fellow opener Jake Weatherald needs to kick on after scores of 17, 32 and 22 so far, meanwhile.

ADS Team Form

Entering the tournament as defending champions, Adelaide Strikers won their opening game against Brisbane Heat. Rashid Khan took 3-19 to restrict the Heat to 146 all out, before Alex Carey’s 70 led the reply on the way to a five-wicket win.

They have lost both games since, however – despite posting 174/5 against Melbourne Renegades. Matthew Short scored an unbeaten 65 in that total, including five sixes, but – despite 2-13 from Rashid Khan’s four overs – they lost by five wickets.

Last time out, they limped to 88 all out against Perth Scorchers and lost by seven wickets with 12 balls to spare in a slow-paced but comfortable reply.

Adelaide Strikers Predicted Playing 11

  • Alex Carey, Jake Weatherald, Colin Ingram, Matthew Short, Jon Wells, Jake Lehmann, Michael Neser, Rashid Khan, Peter Siddle, Ben Laughlin, Billy Stanlake
Sydney Thunder Team

Sydney Thunder Team News & Playing 11

SYT Team News

Leg-spinner Jonathan Cook made his Big Bash debut in the win against Sydney Sixers – the only change Sydney Thunder have made so far – and retained his place for the defeat to Hobart Hurricanes too. Gurinder Sandhu has been the man to miss out and, if the Thunder opt to keep the extra spinner, it could be an unchanged line-up for a third consecutive match.

SYT Key Players

Jos Buttler has hit back-to-back half-centuries to remind everybody why he is so feared in the shortest format. The England international scored 63 from 37 balls against Sydney Sixers and 89 from 54 last time out against Hobart Hurricanes.

England test captain Joe Root is yet to unleash his best form, but was in fine nick during the English summer – including back-to-back ODI centuries against India. Captain Shane Watson is also capable of more than he has showed so far – he scored two half-centuries and two 40s in the T10 League prior to returning to Australia. Watson was also in outstanding form in the IPL in May – including hitting a match-winning 117* in the final from 57 balls.

With the ball, Daniel Sams took some punishment last time out having earlier claimed three wickets in each of the first two matches. He will be keen to bounce back to his best form on the back of that.

SYT Team Form

Sydney Thunder were eighth last year but won their first match this time out – a rain-affected defeat of Melbourne Stars in Canberra. Jason Sangha scored 63 not out from 36 balls in 181/5, while Daniel Sams’ 3-5 stopped the reply at 74/6 from eight overs – 16 short of the DLS target of 90.

The Thunder then won the Sydney Derby on Christmas Eve, with Jos Buttler hammering 63 from 37 balls in a total of 169/9. In reply, three wickets apiece for Sams and Fawad Ahmed helped the Thunder to a 21-run win.

Last time out, however, the winning start came to an end. Buttler hit 89 from 54 balls at the top of the order as the Thunder posted 193/6, but they lost by seven wickets with five balls to spare.

Sydney Thunder Predicted Playing 11

  • Jos Buttler, Shane Watson, Callum Ferguson, Joe Root, Jason Sangha, Daniel Sams, Chris Green, Nathan McAndrew, Jonathan Cook, Sam Rainbird, Fawad Ahmed

Adelaide Strikers vs Sydney Thunder Head to Head

There have been nine previous matches between Sydney Thunder and Adelaide Strikers and the latter have won five of them. With one no result, the Thunder have claimed three wins. 

Adelaide won early on last season, as Alex Carey scored 44 in 163/6 and Ben Laughlin claimed 4-26 with the ball as the Strikers were bowled out for 110 in reply. They also won the reverse fixture toom this time setting 158/7 – Colin Ingram top-scoring with 48 from 31 balls. In reply, Michael Neser’s 3-29 helped the Strikers to a 25-run win.