Cricket News: COVID-19 in BBL: 12 Brisbane Heat players test positive | 12 Brisbane Heat players test positive to COVID
In another curveball in a tournament ravaged by COVID-19, 10 Brisbane Heat players have reportedly tested positive to the virus.
The Heat’s match against Sydney Sixers, scheduled for January 5 and originally meant to be played on January 4, has officially been postponed. Perth Scorchers filled in to help keep the competition going, beating the Sixers by 10 runs at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast on Tuesday evening.
More COVID-19 drama in the BBL
The 12 Brisbane Heat players have joined 12 Melbourne Stars players – the latest being skipper Glenn Maxwell – in testing positive for COVID-19. This leaves both the Heat and Cricket Australia (CA) in a difficult position in terms of keeping the competition going, as the Stars themselves have had to field very depleted teams for their matches against the Scorchers and Melbourne Renegades.
COVID UPDATE | Unfortunately due to rising cases within our extended squad, tonight’s game on the Gold Coast has be postponed.
12 players & 1 coach received positive PCR tests this afternoon.
The news comes as the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) requested that six players fly home by January 7 to serve an isolation period before England’s T20I series against West Indies later this month.
New South Wales, where the Sydney Ashes Test is currently being played, saw upwards of 35,000 cases on January 5, with one-in-three PCR tests in the community coming back as a positive result.
Brisbane Heat’s next match is scheduled for 6 January against Melbourne Renegades in Geelong, Victoria. It remains to be seen how CA and the BBL will tackle this latest challenge in such a short timeframe as they scramble to keep the tournament going. According to Brisbane Heat’s official Twitter account, they are still confident of putting together a squad of 13 players for the match.
We remain confident we will field a 13-man squad for tomorrow night in Geelong, with Fakhar Zaman & Melbourne-based replacement players eligible & available.
Our remaining players, coaches & eligible local replacement players will charter a flight to VIC tomorrow.#BBL11 3/4
STR vs HUR Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report: BBL 2021/22 Match 35 | STR vs HUR Dream11 Prediction Today | Strikers vs Hurricanes Key Players | Adelaide Oval Pitch Report
It has to be go time for the Adelaide Strikers. The men in blue sit bottom of the BBL 11 after Melbourne Renegades’ victory over the COVID-ravaged Melbourne Stars a few nights ago, and with six games to go of the regular season, they need to win.
The Strikers have lost six matches in a row, including a defeat against Hobart Hurricanes. Incredibly, the Strikers have picked up six Bash Boost points this season, indicating that they are in the match more often than not, but can’t get the job done.
And it won’t be easy today. The Hurricanes will be aiming to hit their best form. They have relied plenty on the brilliant Ben McDermott in recent matches, which has masked the under-par form of Matthew Wade, D’Arcy Short and co. As the season rolls on, this is an opportunity for the Hurricanes to build some batting momentum as their bowling attack continues to impress.
Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
Adelaide Strikers:
Jake Weatherald has arguably been the biggest disappointment for the Strikers this season. They needed him to step up in the absence of Travis Head and Alex Carey, and he is averaging just 18.12 in eight matches in BBL 11.
Weatherald’s score of note came against the Hurricanes earlier this season (51 off 43 balls). He has a good overall record vs Hurricanes, with 424 runs in 12 innings at an average of 38.55 and strike rate of 135.03.
Matt Renshaw has made scores of 24, 22, 63 (vs Hurricanes), 38 and 30 this season at an overall strike rate of 132.08. Renshaw also has similar numbers at the Adelaide Oval, wth 292 runs in 11 innings at an average of 32.44 and strike rate of 134.56.
Jono Wells has scored the third-most runs of any player in T20s at the Adelaide Oval (31 inns, 882 runs, avg. 36.75, SR 136.11). This includes a 26-ball 46 in his last match on the ground.
Wells will be aiming to improve on his record vs Hurricanes that reads: 9 inns, 168 runs, avg. 24.00, SR 121.74.
Rashid Khan is the Strikers’ leading wicket-taker this season (11 wickets in eight games). He also has a terrific record at Adelaide Oval (42 wickets in 28 matches, avg. 17.21, econ. 6.57).
However, Rashid has a poor record vs Hurricanes. He has taken seven wickets in nine matches against them at an average of 41.00 and economy rate of 8.20. This includes 1/30 off four overs earlier this season.
Peter Siddle has the most wickets in Strikers-Hurricanes matches (12 wickets, avg 17.00, econ. 6.92). Also, Siddle has the equal-most wickets of any bowler at the Adelaide Oval, with 42 wickets in 28 matches at an average of 16.33 and economy rate of 7.26.
Hobart Hurricanes:
Ben McDermott smashed 110* off 60 balls vs Strikers back on December 27. He is the leading run-scorer in BBL 11 with 353 runs in six innings at an average of 70.60 and strike rate of 168.09, despite the duck in his last game.
McDermott has scored 281 runs in eight innings vs Strikers at an average of 46.81 and strike rate of 149.97.
D’Arcy Short is struggling for fluency this season. He has scored 233 runs in eight matches at a respectable average of 33.28, but his strike rate of 99.14 is holding the Hurricanes back.
Is this the game where Short fires? He has the most runs in Strikers-Hurricanes matches, with a great haul of 538 runs at an average of 53.80 and strike rate of 141.95. This includes 245 runs in five innings at the Adelaide Oval (avg. 61.25, SR 137.64).
Matthew Wade has scored just 4, 13, 39, 6, 0 and 1 in his last six innings. But, today is the day that Wade can find his best form as he has scored 333 runs in seven innings vs Strikers at an average of 83.25 and strike rate of 176.19. This includes a score of 130 on this ground a few years ago.
Tom Rogers has taken the third-most wickets in BBL 11 (14 scalps in seven matches). This includes 1/30 vs Strikers earlier this season.
Riley Meredith took 3/37 last time out vs Strikers and he will be key at the death in the absence of Nathan Ellis (injury). He has six wickets in five matches vs Strikers, and nine wickets in five matches in BBL 11.
Strikers lead Hurricanes 5-3 in matches at the Adelaide Oval.
Matt Short has scored 16, 14, 2, 16 and 13 in his last five innings. He is looking good early, only to get out soon after. He is striking at 160.86 this season, but the Strikers need him to spend more time at the crease.
Possible Playing 11
Adelaide Strikers have named their 13-man squad for this match. Fawad Ahmed is not available.
Adelaide Strikers: 1. Jake Weatherald, 2. Matt Short, 3. Matt Renshaw, 4. Jono Wells, 5. Henry Hunt, 6. Thomas Kelly, 7. Harry Nielsen (wk), 8. Rashid Khan, 9. Peter Siddle (c), 10. Wes Agar, 11. Liam Scott/Daniel Worrall
Hobart Hurricanes have also named their squad. Nathan Ellis is out with a side injury.
Hobart Hurricanes: 1. Matthew Wade (c & wk), 2. Ben McDermott, 3. D’Arcy Short, 4. Peter Handscomb, 5. Tim David, 6. Harry Brook, 7. Jordan Thompson, 8. Wil Parker/Mitch Owen, 9. Tom Rogers, 10. Riley Meredith, 11. Sandeep Lamichhane
Adelaide Oval Pitch Report and Weather
A mostly cloudy day is forecast for Adelaide, with a top of about 22 degrees. Expect another belter of a batting wicket with short square boundaries for the batsmen to try and exploit.
The average first innings score in three matches on this ground this season is 181.33, including 208 by Brisbane Heat and 187 by Sydney Thunder. The team batting first has won all three matches so far the Adelaide Oval in BBL 11.
Dream11 Prediction
Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time.
Option 1:
BBL 2021/22 Match 35: STR vs HUR Dream11 Prediction
Option 2:
BBL 2021/22 Match 35: STR vs HUR Dream11 Prediction
Fan2Play Prediction
Base team:
Wicket-keepers: Matthew Wade
Batsmen: Ben McDermott, Matt Renshaw
All-rounders: D’Arcy Short
Bowlers: Tom Rogers, Riley Meredith, Peter Siddle, Rashid Khan
Cricket News: Stats highlights: Bangladesh defy all odds to beat New Zealand | Bangladesh produce biggest Test upset of all-time to beat NZ
Who said 2022 wouldn’t be as weird as 2021?
In the first Test match of the year, Bangladesh have pulled off the biggest upset in Test history, beating World Test Champions New Zealand on their own turf.
Bangladesh, who were paying at least 20-to-1 with most bookmakers before the Test, produced easily their best ever performance as they dominated the Black Caps from the middle of day one onwards.
The feat is even more remarkable when you consider the tourists were without linchpins Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan. Ebadot Hossain was the hero after the side put together an excellent batting display, ripping out the stumps of the New Zealand batsmen with an inspired spell late on day four.
New Zealand then began day five 17 runs ahead with five wickets in the bank. A lead of 120 or so could have kept New Zealand right in the game. However, the rampant Ebadot and Taskin Ahmed didn’t give them a sniff, producing an exhibition in reverse swing bowling to rip out the final five wickets for just 22 runs as Bangladesh not only beat the Black Caps, but absolutely smashed them.
Stats highlights as Bangladesh pull off all-time upset to beat New Zealand:
1. First win for Bangladesh in New Zealand in ANY format
Bangladesh came into the Test without registering a single win in New Zealand, spanning 32 matches across ODIs, Tests and T20Is. In fairness, they have never even come close to victory in Test matches in New Zealand, even losing in 2017 after posting a huge 595/8.
New Zealand always dominated Bangladesh at home before this Test.
2. Bangladesh’s first ever Test win against New Zealand
Bangladesh have enjoyed ODI success at home vs New Zealand, but they had never beaten them in a Test match either home or away. Before this Test, the two teams met on 15 occasions, with the Black Caps winning 12. The others were draws, where two were affected by rain.
3. Bangladesh’s first ever Test win in SENA countries
Before this Test, Bangladesh had never won a Test in South Africa, England, New Zealand or Australia (SENA). They have enjoyed some good moments in spurts in these nations over the years, but they never sustained it enough to put together a proper challenge.
In this Test, Bangladesh dominated nearly every session to claim their first ever win in a SENA nation.
4. First 5-wicket haul by any Bangladesh seamer since 2013
New Zealand vs Bangladesh Test highlights: Robiul Islam.
Not since Robiul Islam in Zimbabwe in 2013 has a Bangladesh seamer taken a five-wicket haul in a Test match. Anywhere.
Ebadot Hossain, who had the worst average of any bowler in Test history with at least 10 wickets (81.4), ripped through the Black Caps’ lineup in the second innings to finish with 6/46 and set up a famous, historic victory.
To paint a picture, Bangladesh’s spinners took 31 five-wicket hauls in the period between Robiul’s five-wicket haul and Ebadot’s.
5. New Zealand’s 17-match home unbeaten streak over
New Zealand hadn’t lost a Test at home since South Africa won by eight wickets at the Basin Reserve in March 2017. The Black Caps have been a force at home over the course of the past five years, winning 13 of 17 matches which included dominant victories over the likes of England and India.
Not the case here, however.
6. First Test win by an Asian team in New Zealand since 2011
The last Asian team to win a Test in New Zealand was Pakistan in 2011. They have played five Tests since without success.
India last won in 2009. They have since played six Tests without the joy of victory. Sri Lanka also haven’t tasted success in six Tests since their last victory in the nation since 2006.
If you are a betting person, you may not have ever believed that Bangladesh, who lost 13 wickets in a day to lose a Test at home vs Pakistan last month, would be the team to end this drought.
7. Bangladesh’s first Test win over top 5 team away from home
Before this, Bangladesh had only beaten Zimbabwe (2013, 2021), Sri Lanka (2017) and a weakened West Indies (2009) away from home. So, to beat a near full-strength New Zealand side that was only missing Kane Williamson is quite the achievement (and surprise).
8. Bangladesh’s longest ever Test innings away from Asia
Never before had Bangladesh batted as long away from Asia as they did in their first innings in this Test. They kept the Black Caps out in the field for 176.2 overs, accumulating 458 to take a crucial 130-run lead.
The Tigers batted 196 overs against Sri Lanka in Galle in 2013, which remains their longest-ever batting innings.
9. First time all top 8 Bangladesh batsmen batted over 50 balls in an innings
Bangladesh’s marathon first innings effort was made all the more impressive by the fact that each of their top eight batsmen batted at least 50 deliveries. This was a first for Bangladesh in Test cricket.
10. New Zealand’s streak of eight-straight home Test series wins is over
For the first time since 2017, New Zealand won’t finish a home Test campaign with a series victory. They won eight straight series in this period, which was crucial in their journey to the World Test Championship trophy.
To go one step further, New Zealand have not lost a home series since losing to Australia in 2016. Before that, South Africa won 1-0 in 2012.
They must win the second Test Christchurch to ensure that record stays intact.
What a result for Bangladesh. What a result for Test cricket. The ninth-ranked Test nation has toppled the second-ranked side on their own turf, and it will be talked about for some time to come.
Ashes 2021/22 4th Test: AUS vs ENG Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | Ashes 4th Test Dream11 Prediction Today | Australia vs England 4th Test Key Players | SCG Pitch Report
Australia started the Ashes series as favourites, but not even they could have expected to have sealed the series so easily. Pat Cummins, who was named as captain right on the eve of the series, has enjoyed the perfect start to life as skipper, as he and his bowlers have tormented England across 12 dominant days.
The series moves to Sydney, under both a weather and COVID-19 cloud. New South Wales is seeing upwards of 20,000 cases a day which puts the players on full alert, particularly after Travis Head and Chris Silverwood tested positive. Also, in what is becoming a regular occurrence in the SCG New Year’s Test, rain is expected to cause interruptions, particularly across the first two days.
Not that it will worry Australia too much, though. The bowlers have been all over England like a bad rash, with Scott Boland the latest destroyer with a remarkable 6/7 on Test debut. Mitchell Starc is bowling as well as he ever has, and Cummins continues to do Pat Cummins things as England continue to look for answers. With Cameron Green and Nathan Lyon providing more than capable support, the Australians will be out to cause more pain for the tourists on what looks a green SCG track.
Only Joe Root and Dawid Malan have provided any meaningful resistance with the bat for England. It is a lineup crying out for more from the experienced Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler, who have been under par alongside the struggling openers. The Ashes may be gone, but World Test Championship points are still on offer, and England finally look to have their most balanced attack on deck for a match in this series.
Can England finally pick up their first win in Australia since 2011? Bangladesh’s superb performance in New Zealand may just remind them that anything is possible.
Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
Australia:
David Warner is Australia’s second-highest run-scorer in this series behind Travis Head. He has made two scores in the 90s, and will be aiming to crack the century in this Test.
Warner has scored four centuries in nine Tests at the SCG at an overall average of 57.69.
It is remarkable that Australia have been so dominant with Steve Smith well below his best. He has scored the most runs at the SCG of any current Australian player, with 823 runs in eight Tests at a superb average of 74.81. This includes a century and 81 last year vs India.
World number one Marnus Labuschagne missed out in Melbourne. How he and Smith handle Mark Wood’s pace will be interesting to see. Labuschagne has struck two 50s and a century in this series, and scored 91 and 73 vs India on this ground last year.
Labuschagne has a magnificent record at the SCG. He has struck 476 runs in just three Tests on this ground with three fifties and a double century.
Usman Khawaja is back for Australia and he has a wonderful record at the SCG. In five Tests, Khawaja has hit 352 runs at an average of 70.40.
Pat Cummins has taken 10 wickets in this series at an average of just 14.40. The skipper has taken 17 wickets in four Tests on this ground, including a player of the match performance vs England in 2018 (4/80 and 4/39).
Can Scott Boland make another strong impact? He is coming off a player of the match performance on Test debut, where he took a remarkable 6/7 in the second innings.
England:
Joe Root, of course. The England skipper has scored eight half-centuries in his last eight Tests in Australia, but has failed to convert any. This includes two half-centuries in the Sydney Test in 2017/18 (83 and 58*).
Root finished 2021 with 1,708 runs – the third-highest accumulation in a calendar year in Test history.
Dawid Malan is the other player to put up fight in this series. He also scored a half-century in the SCG Test of 2017/18 (63), and has two fifties to his name in this series.
Can Ben Stokes make an impact? England’s star all-rounder has now fallen below Mitchell Starc in the Test all-rounder rankings, which may fire him up a little. He is averaging just 16.83 with the bat and 62.25 with the ball in this series.
James Anderson had the ball on a string at the MCG (4/33), and he should be a factor once again on a greenish pitch in overcast Sydney. He has taken 14 wickets in four Tests on this ground at an average of 29.00.
Mark Wood has dismissed both Steve Smith (Gabba) and Marnus Labuschagne (MCG) cheaply this series. He will be key as England’s point of difference in this Test.
Stats and Facts
England have not won a Test in Australia in their last 13 attempts. Their last win was at the SCG in 2011.
Mitchell Starc (42.30) and Nathan Lyon (40.94) both average above 40 in Tests at the SCG.
Stuart Broad has taken five wickets at the SCG at an average of 48.60. This surface should have more in it for him, however.
Possible Playing 11
Australia have confirmed their XI for the Test. Usman Khawaja returns to the team with Travis Head isolating due to COVID-19. Also, Scott Boland keeps his place with Josh Hazlewood still out injured.
Australia: 1. Marcus Harris, 2. David Warner, 3. Marnus Labuschagne, 4. Steve Smith, 5. Usman Khawaja, 6. Cameron Green, 7. Alex Carey (wk), 8. Pat Cummins (c), 9. Mitchell Starc, 10. Nathan Lyon, 11. Scott Boland
England have also confirmed their XI. James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Mark Wood will make up the pace attack.
England: 1. Haseeb Hameed, 2. Zak Crawley, 3. Dawid Malan, 4. Joe Root (c), 5. Ben Stokes, 6. Jonny Bairstow, 7. Jos Buttler (wk), 8. Mark Wood, 9. Jack Leach, 10. Stuart Broad, 11. James Anderson
SCG Pitch Report and Weather
The Sydney forecast for the SCG Test, in what has become tradition, is for some rain. There should be enough play for a result in the Test, but expect some interruptions on the first two days in particular.
The pitch itself looked quite green on the eve of the match. Expect the seamers to have a say on a surface that looks similar to the one that Australia rolled England for 68 on.
HEA vs SIX Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report: BBL 2021/22 Match 34 | HEA vs SIX Dream11 Prediction Today | Heat vs Sixers Key Players | Carrara Oval Pitch Report
One week after a low-scoring classic, Brisbane Heat will get another shot to topple the high-flying Sydney Sixers.
The Heat, who have been inconsistent in BBL 11, sit in the top five mainly due to the fact that COVID-19 has decimated the Melbourne Stars. They currently sit four points above the Stars and just three above the Renegades, so this is an important match for the Heat to create some more breathing room.
Last time out, the Heat defended 150 against the highly-rated Hurricanes thanks to some excellent lower-order batting and a brilliant bowling display. However, their powerplay batting remains a worry, and they cannot afford to lose early wickets against a strong Sixers side.
Regarding the Sixers, well, they are never out of the game. They bat so deep, and that was on show last week where they chased 106 against the Heat despite falling to 45/8. That victory was reflective of their season to date, as they continue to find ways to win thanks to such a stacked squad. Sean Abbott produced one of the great all-round performances, and he and his team will be aiming for more another win today.
Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
Brisbane Heat:
Chris Lynn is averaging just 19.25 in eight matches this season. Such numbers are not good enough for such an experienced player, and the Heat needs their main man to deliver today.
Lynn has the most runs in Heat-Sixers matches (303, avg. 25.25). Also, Lynn does have a good record at Carrara Oval, with 283 runs in eight innings at an average of 35.38 and strike rate of 132.24. He has four 30+ scores (two 50s) in these eight innings on this ground.
Sam Heazlett is the Heat’s top run-scorer this season. The left-hander has scored 230 runs in eight matches at an average of 32.85 and strike rate of 133.72.
Heazlett, however, has a poor record against the Sixers. He has scored just 58 runs in seven innings against them at an average of 8.29 and strike rate of 80.56, including just 4 off 10 balls last week. Also, Heazlett has scored just 62 runs in five innings on this ground. Can he improve on these numbers today?
Ben Duckett will also be key to the Heat’s hopes. He has scored 218 runs this season at an average of 27.25 and strike rate of 138.85, including two 50s. He scored 21 (19) in a low-scoring match vs Sixers last week.
Xavier Bartlett has taken six wickets in his last two matches (2/22 vs Sixers and 4/30 vs Hurricanes). He dismissed James Vince and Dan Christian last week.
Mark Steketee has taken nine wickets in seven matches vs Sixers (avg. 20.67, econ. 8.45), including 1/25 last week. Also, Steketee has taken 10 wickets in five matches in BBL 11, and has six scalps to his name in four matches at Carrara Oval (avg. 22.83, econ. 9.79).
Mujeeb ur Rahman has taken six wickets in as many matches vs Sixers, including a brilliant spell of 1/12 last week. He is coming off a player of the match performance vs Hurricanes (3/20).
Sydney Sixers:
Sean Abbott had one of the great all-round games vs Heat a week ago (37*, 4/31 and 2 catches). He has a remarkable haul of 24 wickets in nine matches vs Heat at an average of 10.63 and economy rate of 7.69.
Josh Philippe scored a duck last game vs Heat, but he still has a decent overall record against them (153 runs, avg. 30.60, SR 117.69). Also, Philippe has a similar average at Carrara Oval, with 132 runs in five innings at an average of 33.00 and strike rate of 150.00.
James Vince also scored a duck last week, but his record is also decent vs Heat: 6 inns, 200 runs, avg. 33.33, SR 145.99. He is in need of some runs, with scores of 9, 21, 31 and 0 in his last four knocks.
Moises Henriques scored 57 off 37 balls in his only T20 on this ground. He averages 25.33 overall vs Heat (228 runs), and will be looking to build on this today
Dan Christian produced a gem of an innings (61* off 38 balls) to seal a three-wicket win vs Heat on this ground last season.
Hayden Kerr has taken 11 wickets in seven innings in BBL 11, including 2/18 vs Heat. Ben Dwarshuis took 2/13 last week vs Heat.
Stats and Facts
Matches 15, Heat 3, Sixers 12.
Daniel Hughes has the third-most runs of any player in T20s on this ground: 5 inns, 163 runs, avg. 32.60, SR 153.77.
Jack Wildermuth in his last two innings with the bat: 27 (26) and 28 (21).
James Bazley has 11 wickets in eight matches this season, as well as 96 runs. He scored an excellent 44* vs Hurricanes last game.
Possible Playing 11
Brisbane Heat have named their squad.
Brisbane Heat: 1. Chris Lynn, 2. Jimmy Peirson (c & wk), 3. Ben Duckett, 4. Sam Heazlett, 5. Max Bryant, 6. Xavier Bartlett, 7. James Bazley, 8. Jack Wildermuth, 9. Mark Steketee, 10. Matt Kuhnemann, 11. Mujeeb ur Rahman
Sydney Sixers: 1. Josh Philippe (wk), 2. James Vince, 3. Moises Henriques (c), 4. Daniel Hughes, 5. Jordan Silk, 6. Dan Christian, 7. Sean Abbott, 8. Shadab Khan, 9. Hayden Kerr, 10. Ben Dwarshuis, 11. Steve O’Keefe
Carrara Oval Pitch Report and Weather
Brisbane Heat chased down Melbourne Renegades’ 140 with ease earlier in the season. They chased down the target with 19 balls to spare. Sam Heazlett starred with 41* off 29 balls.
In last season’s BBL, the average first innings score was 156.67 at a run rate of 8.78 (due to some shortened matches). The chasing team won five of the six matches.
Expect a good batting surface and nice, warm evening on the Gold Coast.
Dream11 Prediction
Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time.
Option 1:
BBL 2021/22 Match 34: HEA vs SIX Dream11 Prediction
Option 2:
BBL 2021/22 Match 34: HEA vs SIX Dream11 Prediction
Fan2Play Prediction
Base team:
Wicket-keepers: Josh Philippe, Ben Duckett
Batsmen: Chris Lynn, Sam Heazlett
All-rounders: Sean Abbott, Dan Christian
Bowlers: Mark Steketee, Xavier Bartlett, Hayden Kerr
Match Prediction
Sixers start as favourites. Heat’s best chance of victory is if they bat first.
There is an 80% chance of rain on both days one and two. Approximately 5-10mm worth of rain is expected to fall on both days, which should see some interruptions.
Given the 5-10mm amount, this match should mirror last year’s SCG Test between Australia and India where just 55 overs were possible on day one after frustrating morning rain.
However, the positive news is that days three to five look much more promising. While there is a 60-70% chance of rain on all three final days, the expected rainfall is only 1-3mm on each day which should see plenty of action.
Sydney weather forecast: India frustrated Australia last year after rain impacted day one.
England’s batting under fire after horror show in Boxing Day Test
The question among fans will be how long Australia will need to clean up England once again. Apart from Joe Root and Dawid Malan, the tourists have been incredibly meek with the bat in this series, resulting in an Ashes surrender in under 12 days.
Interestingly, England’s last Test win in Australia was at this ground back in 2011. Their innings victory sealed that series 3-1, which incredibly makes up half of their total victories in Australia since 1990.
With overcast conditions forecast early in the Test and a greenish pitch expected, Joe Root will be hoping to win the toss and bowl to make full use of the conditions. One feels if England are required to bat first in such conditions, Australia may not need too long to make inroads even with some inclement weather around.
Australia confirm XI for SCG Test
Usman Khawaja is back in the Test side, while Scott Boland has kept his place in the team after a remarkable 6/7 in Melbourne.
“You need a disciplined stump-to-stump bowler (at the SCG) and that’s what Scotty brings,” said skipper Pat Cummins.
Josh Hazlewood is still recovering from a side injury, and Mitch Swepson will have to wait for his debut as the Sydney weather forecast won’t suit playing two spinners.
Australia playing XI: 1. Marcus Harris, 2. David Warner, 3. Marnus Labuschagne, 4. Steve Smith, 5. Usman Khawaja, 6. Cameron Green, 7. Alex Carey (wk), 8. Pat Cummins (c), 9. Mitchell Starc, 10. Nathan Lyon, 11. Scott Boland
SA vs IND 2nd Test Dream11 Prediction & FanPlay Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | SA vs IND 2nd Test Match Dream11 Prediction Today| South Africa vs India 2nd Test Match Key Players | Johannesburg Pitch Report
After having scripted a dominating win inside four days at South Africa’s fortress in Centurion, Team India will look to make history in Johannesburg by taking a 2-0 lead to complete their maiden Test series win in the rainbow nation.
India has a lot of happy memories of Johannesburg. It is a rare venue away from home where they are yet to drop a Test match. The tourists have played a total of five Tests at the Wanderers, winning two while the remaining Tests ended in a draw.
It is at this very venue where Team India tasted their maiden Test win [under the leadership of current coach Rahul Dravid in 2006] and it would be fitting if they seal their maiden Test series win in the rainbow nation at a place which has given them so many good memories in the past.
In many ways, it can be argued that their win against South Africa on a snake-pit masquerading as a Test match in Jo’Burg back in 2018, laid the cornerstone for the success that Kohli’s men have tasted in overseas conditions in the last three years.
At Centurion, India flexed their muscles to the hilt as they completely dominated the Proteas in all departments. Having said that, the visitors will be the first ones to admit that their batting barring the opening day, did not perform to its potential, something they would want to improve in the remaining two Tests.
The bedrock of India’s win at Centurion was the opening duo of Mayank Agarwal and centurion KL Rahul, who blunted the new-ball threat in the first couple of sessions to pave way for the middle-order.
Skipper Virat and former vice-captain Rahane batted well but failed to convert their starts into a big knock while Cheteshwar Pujara’s struggles continued. With India likely to play with just five specialist batsmen and a wicketkeeper, it is highly imperative that the senior pros in the middle-order step-up in the 2nd Test, in case the openers depart early.
As for South Africa, skipper Dean Elgar in the second innings and Temba Bavuma across both innings were the lone shining lights with the bat. With Quinton de Kock no longer available, the onus will be on the aforementioned duo and Aiden Markram, who had a poor outing in Centurion, to lead the batting unit.
South African pacers missed the trick in the first couple of sessions in Centurion as they failed to hit the right length but once they got it right, they proved to be more than handful. With Jo’Burg set to aid seamers, Proteas fans will hope that the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and co. make the most of the conditions.
Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
India:
KL Rahul: 2021 proved to be a watershed year for the stylish batsman as he smashed a couple of match-winning hundreds in difficult conditions.
Mayank Agarwal: The Karnataka opener may have missed out on a three-figure score in Centurion but he batted exceedingly well in the first innings to give his side a brilliant platform.
Agarwal scored a 123-ball 60 before his unfortunate dismissal. He will look to continue his form and hopefully convert a start into a daddy hundred.
Cheteshwar Pujara: Johannesburg is one venue in SA where Pujara has done really well. The Indian No.3 smashed his first overseas hundred at the Wanderers way back in 2013 besides scoring a match-winning half-century on a difficult track in 2018.
Pujara’s record at the Wanderers: 229 runs in 4 innings at 57.25. 50/100- 1/1
Virat Kohli: The Indian skipper enjoys playing at the Wanderers. He scored a high-quality 119 against a Dale Steyn-led attack back in 2013 and nearly missed out on scoring another ton in the same game. He also scored a match-winning 50 in the last Test at the venue.
Kohli once again failed to convert his starts into big knocks in the last Test as he went about chasing deliveries outside the off-stump, which he shouldn’t have. His record at the Wanderers – 310 runs in 4 innings at 77.50 – is imperious and one can only hope that the legendary batsman will roll back the glory days in the forthcoming Test.
Ajinkya Rahane: The former vice-captain looked in amazing touch during his knocks of 48 and 20 in the last game but he once again failed to convert them into big scores.
His record at the Wanderers: 119 runs in four innings at 29.75. Rahane played a brilliant knock of 48 [68 balls] on an extremely difficult track back in 2018.
Mohammed Shami: The champion pacer claimed a match-winning five-wicket haul at the same venue back in 2018 and he backed it up with another one in the last game.
Jasprit Bumrah: Bumrah, like Shami, looked at his imperious best in the last game as he consistently challenged the batsmen with movement, pace, uneven bounce and searing yorkers.
Despite battling an injury during the first innings, Bumrah claimed five wickets in the match, including the much-needed scalp of Dean Elgar on the final day.
South Africa:
Dean Elgar: The Proteas skipper missed out in the first inning at Centurion but more than made up for it in the second dig as he blunted a relentless Indian attack to score a gritty 156-ball 77.
Elgar loves batting at the Wanderers. His record at the venue: 523 runs in 14 innings at 45 with 2 50s and 1 hundred.
Aiden Markam: The talented opener would be looking to make amends in Jo’Burg after having missed out in both innings at Centurion.
His record at Jo’Burg is amazing. In eight innings, he has racked up 347 runs at 49.57 which includes 2 50+ scores and a ton.
Temba Bavuma: The white-ball skipper was the best batsman on show for his team across both innings in the first Test. He scored a brilliant 50 in the first innings (52 off 103 balls) before staying unbeaten on 35 (80) in the second dig.
His record at Jo’Burg: 236 runs in 10 innings at 29.50 with 1 50.
Kagiso Rabada: The pace spearhead did not start well in the first innings but once he found his radar, he looked imperious. He claimed a total of seven wickets across two innings.
Rabada’s record at Jo’Burg: 24 wickets in 10 innings at 20.54 with one 5-wicket-haul.
Lungi Ngidi: The tall seamer claimed a six-wicket haul in the first innings to trigger a collapse. He backed it up with two more scalps in the second dig.
Ngidi’s record at Jo’Burg: 6 wickets in 4 innings at 25.50.
Stats and Facts
India have never lost a Test in Johannesburg. They have played five matches at the venue, winning two. Three games ended in a draw.
Since winning back-to-back Tests in England in 1986, India have never backed up their series lead in SENA countries with a win. In South Africa, they took a series lead in 2006/07 when they won the first Test in Jo’Burg but ended up losing the next two Tests.
India are on a five Test winning streak against the Proteas. If they win this Test, then it will be the first time that they will register six Test wins on the bounce against a particular opponent.
South Africa’s record at the Wanderers: 18 wins and 13 defeats in 42 Tests.
If India win the 2nd Test, then Virat Kohli will become the first Asian skipper to register series wins in Australia and South Africa. He will also become the 2nd Asian skipper after Sri Lanka’s Dimuth Karunaratne to win a Test series in the rainbow nation.
Possible Playing 11
India:
India went with 5 batsmen + keeper + 5 bowlers combination at Centurion and while they won the match comfortably, one can argue that there is scope for adding an extra batsman in place of either Shardul Thakur or R Ashwin given the seamer-friendly surfaces and their misfiring middle-order.
However, given Virat’s penchant to go with 5 bowlers, it is unlikely that the visitors will add an extra batsman to their playing XI.
With Duanne Oliver available for selection, the Proteas will have a choice to make between Marco Jansen and Wiaan Mulder.
With Quinton de Kock no longer available, Kyle Verreynne will take-up the keeping gloves.
Likely XI: Dean Elgar (C), Aiden Markram, Keegan Petersen, Rassie van der Dussen, Temba Bavuma, Kyle Verreynne (WK), Marco Jansen/Wiaan Mulder, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Duanne Olivier, Lungi Ngidi
Wanderers Johannesburg Pitch Report and weather conditions
Last time India played a Test at the Wanderers, they were created with a snake-pit masquerading as a Test match pitch with prodigious sideways movement and uneven bounce.
Wanderers is traditionally a safe haven for pacers but normally it flattens out as the Test match progresses.
As far as the weather is concerned, scattered thunderstorms are predicted for each of the 5 days with the temperature hovering between 14-26 degree Celsius.
Dream11 Prediction
Team 01:
SA vs IND 2nd Test Dream11 Prediction
Team 02:
SA vs IND 2nd Test Dream11 Prediction
Fan2Play Prediction
Base team:
Wicket-keepers: Rishabh Pant
Batsmen: Virat Kohli, Dean Elgar
All-rounders: Wiaan Mulder
Bowlers: Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Kagiso Rabada
STA vs REN Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report: BBL 2021/22 Match 33 | STA vs REN Dream11 Prediction Today | Stars vs Renegades Key Players | MCG Pitch Report
With Melbourne Starsravaged by COVID-19 and Melbourne Renegades stuck at the bottom of the BBL 11 table, there is a bit of a sombre feel around this edition of the Melbourne Derby.
And it has got even worse for the Stars, with Joe Clarke and Tom Rogers testing positive for COVID-19.
Nonetheless, it is a crucial encounter for both teams. The Renegades are in must-win territory with just one win from their first seven games. Their last encounter was a washout in Coffs Harbour, but if we’re being honest, they were rank outsiders against the high-flying Sydney Sixers. They welcome back Shaun Marsh for this clash, and have Nic Maddinson available in what looks a much more experienced batting lineup.
Renegades start as heavy favourites in this clash, especially with the news that Rogers and Clarke are out with COVID. They have won just three of 10 matches vs Stars at the MCG, and need to be on their game to ensure a positive result.
Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
Melbourne Stars:
So much depends on Glenn Maxwell. The skipper was out cheaply yesterday vs Scorchers (2), so he will be looking to bounce back today. He has a strong record against the Renegades, with 444 runs in 17 innings at an average of 34.15 and strike rate of 146.05.
Also, Maxwell scored a century on this ground earlier this season, vs Sixers.
Hilton Cartwright is having a solid season: 7 inns, 215 runs, avg. 35.83, SR 149.30. Since the start of 2020, Cartwright has struck 51 runs vs Renegades at a strike rate of 164.52. He could open the batting today in the absence of Clarke and Rogers.
The Stars will be well-served batting Cartwright up the order as he loves batting at the MCG. He has scored 285 runs in nine innings on this ground at an average of 71.25 and strike rate of 141.09.
Brody Couch is the Stars’ leading wicket-taker this season with 11 scalps in seven matches at an average of 19.09 and economy rate of 8.75.
Haris Rauf looked good at times in his BBL return yesterday (2/40), although he was a bit expensive. He has taken eight wickets in five matches at the MCG at an average of 15.25 and economy rate of 7.18.
Melbourne Renegades:
Aaron Finch has the most runs in Stars-Renegades matches (513). He averages 39.46 and strikes at 142.11 vs Stars. Also, Finch has a superb T20 record at the MCG, with 779 runs in 24 innings at an average of 41.00 and strike rate of 141.64.
Shaun Marsh is back in the Renegades squad and he has a terrific record against the Stars. In nine innings, he has struck 377 runs at an average of 47.13 and strike rate of 134.16.
Marsh also has a solid record in T20s at the MCG: 10 inns, 298 runs, avg. 33.11, SR 123.14.
Nic Maddinson is having a good domestic season, and the Renegades need him to fire consistently. He has a poor record in T20s at the MCG (249 runs, avg. 16.60, SR 123.27), so can he improve on this?
Kane Richardson had a shocking outing in his last match vs Hurricanes (0/63). He has seven wickets in seven matches vs Stars, and he will be key in the death overs against an inexperienced Stars lineup today.
Also, Richardson has taken 10 wickets in eight matches at the MCG at an average of 23.10 and economy rate of 8.01.
Wrist-spinner Peter Hatzoglou was player of the match yesterday vs Stars, so watch out for Zahir Khan today. The left-arm wrist-spinner has taken eight wickets in seven matches this season at an average of 24.50 and economy rate of 8.52.
Stats and Facts
Head-to-head: Matches 20, Stars 14, Renegades 6.
Mackenzie Harvey is the Renegades’ leading run-scorer this season (191 runs, avg. 38.20, SR 121.65). He scored a brilliant 47* off 21 balls in his last match vs Stars a year ago to lead the Renegades to a stunning win.
Reece Topley took 2/17 in his last match vs Hurricanes.
Possible Playing 11
Melbourne Stars played a very inexperienced team against Scorchers, and will have an even more inexperienced team here without Joe Clarke.
Melbourne Stars: 1. Hilton Cartwright, 2. Justin Avendano, 3. Glenn Maxwell (c), 4. Charlie Wakim, 5. Travis Dean, 6. Tom O’Connell, 7. Patrick Rowe (wk), 8. Xavier Crone, 9. Qais Ahmed, 10. Brody Couch, 11. Haris Rauf
Melbourne Renegades have named their squad. Shaun Marsh is back, and Nic Maddinson is available. Reece Topley will be available until January 7 before he joins five other English players in flying back home from the BBL.
Also, James Pattinson is awaiting a result of his COVID-19 test, so we will know more about his availability soon before the match.
Melbourne Renegades: 1. Aaron Finch, 2. Shaun Marsh, 3. Sam Harper (wk), 4. Nic Maddinson (c), 5. Mackenzie Harvey/Jake Fraser-McGurk, 6. Mohammad Nabi, 7. Will Sutherland, 8. James Pattinson/Jack Prestwidge, 9. Kane Richardson, 10. Zahir Khan, 11. Reece Topley
MCG Pitch Report and Weather
A cool and partly cloudy day is forecast for Melbourne today. The surface should be different to the lively one we saw in the Boxing Day Test where Scott Boland and Australia ripped through England.
In two BBL matches at the MCG this season, the average first innings score is 169. Both the team batting first and second have won a game each. Last time out, Sydney Sixers chased the Stars’ 177 thanks to Josh Philippe’s 99*.
Dream11 Prediction
Note: The below teams are not based on final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time.
Option 1:
BBL 2021/22 Match 33: STA vs REN Dream11 Prediction
Option 2:
BBL 2021/22 Match 33: STA vs REN Dream11 Prediction
Fan2Play Prediction
Wicket-keepers: Sam Harper
Batsmen: Aaron Finch, Hilton Cartwright
All-rounders: Glenn Maxwell
Bowlers: Kane Richardson, Haris Rauf
Match Prediction
Renegades should win this one with the experience in their team. The Stars are just too decimated.
Cricket News: 6 England players to leave BBL 11 on January 7 | ECB requests that 6 England players leave the BBL earlier than planned
The England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has asked six England players to leave Australia on January 7 to prepare for England’s T20I series in the West Indies starting on January 22.
Sam Billings (Sydney Thunder), Saqib Mahmood (Sydney Thunder), George Garton (Adelaide Strikers), James Vince (Sydney Sixers), Tymal Mills (Perth Scorchers) and Reece Topley (Melbourne Renegades) have been selected in England’s T20I squad for their tour of the Caribbean.
COVID-19 has rocked the BBL: England players required to isolate
The franchises would have planned for this given England’s international assignment takes place during the tournament, but the ECB requires these players to return to the UK sooner than planned to serve an isolation period.
COVID-19 has rocked the BBL. The Melbourne Stars, Sydney Thunder and Perth Scorchers have all been impacted, with players and staff testing positive. The Stars themselves have had 10 players test positive to the virus, resulting in the franchise fielding a very new-look team vs Perth Scorchers on January 2nd that required them to contact grade cricketers to fill in.
The BBL clubs reportedly met on Sunday to discuss how the England withdrawals will impact their respective franchises. It remains to be seen whether these franchises can get international replacements in time for the backend of the tournament.
Sam Billings in particular has been superb for the Thunder, while Saqib Mahmood has also made a strong impact. James Vince has been a regular for the Sixers, even leading them to the title last season. And, Tymal Mills has showcased his white-ball skills as the Scorchers sit top of the table.
Cricket Australia (CA) is determined to keep the tournament rolling on despite the outbreak. Australia is seeing record COVID infections, with New South Wales itself recording upwards of 20,000 cases a day in recent times.
This means the Stars-Renegades game schedule for January 3 will go ahead as planned as CA looks to be as flexible as possible to keep the tournament going in these challenging times. As long as CA deems that players and staff are safe, the tournament will go ahead. Its quality, however, depends on the club’s Sunday discussions which we could know more about in the coming days.
STA vs SCO Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report: BBL 2021/22 Match 31 | STA vs SCO Dream11 Prediction Today | Stars vs Scorchers Key Players | Junction Oval Pitch Report
On paper, this game had the potential to be one of the matches of the season. However, COVID-19 has wreaked havoc for both Melbourne Stars and Perth Scorchers in one way or another, which will see some new players on deck today.
The Stars have had a significant COVID-19 outbreak in their camp that started with a support member which saw the postponement of the other clash between these two teams last week. A number of other players have since tested positive, which will give new players the chance to impress today.
While the Stars will aim to ensure that all affected are in good health and spirits, there is the small measure of getting an important win on the board. Brisbane Heat’s victory yesterday put a bit of a buffer between they and the Stars, who need to produce today to keep in touch. However, it is a tough ask with a number of key players out, with the likes of Glenn Maxwell, Hilton Cartwright, Joe Clarke and Haris Rauf crucial to their hopes.
For the Scorchers, they lost Mitch Marsh and Josh Inglis to Australia’s Ashes squad after Travis Head tested positive for COVID-19. The loss of Marsh in particular will be difficult to replace given his outstanding form, but like the Stars, the Scorchers’ squad members have a chance to impress.
Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
Melbourne Stars:
A lot rests on Glenn Maxwell today. The skipper has to shoulder a lot of the responsibility with so many key players missing. He has a score of 61 vs Scorchers, but just 29 runs in his remaining three innings against them.
Joe Clarke will also be key. He has struck form and is batting beautifully. He has scored two half-centuries in a row: 52 (40) vs Hurricanes and 85 (44) vs Heat.
Expect Hilton Cartwright to bat up the order today. He is in terrific form, with the most runs for the Stars so far this season. The right-hander is in fine touch, with 203 runs in six innings at an average of 40.60 and strike rate of 151.49. This includes a magnificent 79 off 44 balls last match vs Heat.
Brody Couch is Melbourne Stars’ leading wicket-taker in BBL 11 (10 wickets in six matches, avg. 17.40, econ. 8.70).
Haris Rauf is all set to return to the BBL. He has taken 21 wickets in 13 BBL matches, including 1/23 in his only match vs Scorchers to date.
Perth Scorchers:
Colin Munro is the Scorchers’ leading run-scorer this season with 268 runs in seven matches at an average of 67.00 and strike rate of 142.55.
Kurtis Patterson has scored two half-centuries in four innings this season (total of 156 runs, avg. 39.00, SR 156.00).
Cameron Bancroft has a solid record against the Stars. The right-hander has struck 174 runs in eight innings at an average of 34.80 and strike rate of 109.43.
Ashton Turner has scored the most runs among any current Scorchers players against Stars (197 runs, avg. 28.14, SR 156.35).
Andrew Tye has a huge 21 wickets in 10 matches vs Stars (average of 13.81 and economy rate of 7.53). He is wicketless in his last two BBL 11 games, but one can be confident he will be back in the wickets against an inexperienced Stars team.
Tymal Mills was rested last match vs Thunder. If available today, Mills will be a key threat as he is a genuine wicket-taker (six wickets in four matches in BBL 11).
Ashton Agar has taken just two wickets in seven matches against the Stars (avg. 78.50, econ. 7.72). But, he is bowling nicely this season, with 10 scalps in seven matches. Also, it is a different-looking Stars team today.
Jason Behrendhorff also has a poor record vs Stars, with just three wickets in seven innings (avg. 64.33, econ. 7.15).
Charlie Wakim has played just two T20s so far in his career. He scored 43 and 15 in those matches.
Possible Playing 11
Melbourne Stars’ 13-man squad has many new faces. Joe Clarke, Hilton Cartwright and Glenn Maxwell should bat in the top three. They need at least one or two of the three to go big with an inexperienced middle order.
Melbourne Stars have confirmed their 13-man squad for today's #BBL11 game vs Perth
Glenn Maxwell (c), Qais Ahmad, Lachlan Bangs, Hilton Cartwright, Joe Clarke (wk) Brody Couch, Xavier Crone, Ahmad Daniyal, Syed Faridoun, Tom O'Connell, Haris Rauf, Tom F Rogers, Charles Wakim pic.twitter.com/zoiL32P17h
— ?FlashScore Cricket Commentators (@FlashCric) January 1, 2022
Melbourne Stars: 1. Joe Clarke (wk), 2. Hilton Cartwright, 3. Glenn Maxwell (c), 4. Charles Wakim, 5. Thomas F. Rogers, 6. Lachlan Bangs, 7. Tom O’Connell, 8. Ahmad Daniyal, 9. Haris Rauf, 10. Qais Ahmed, 11. Brody Couch
Mitch Marsh and Josh Inglis are unavailable for the Scorchers. Nick Hobson tested positive for the virus and pacer Matt Kelly is in isolation.
Perth Scorchers: 1. Kurtis Patterson, 2. Cameron Bancroft (wk), 3. Colin Munro, 4. Ashton Turner (c), 5. Laurie Evans, 6. Aaron Hardie/Lance Morris, 7. Ashton Agar, 8. Andrew Tye, 9. Peter Hatzoglou, 10. Jason Behrendhorff, 11. Tymal Mills
CitiPower Centre Junction Oval Melbourne Pitch Report and Weather
The Junction Oval surface is typically one of the flattest pitches. It is often a belter for batting, and it should be the case here today in very cricket-friendly conditions (29 degrees and sunny).
The last T20I on this ground was between Australia Women and New Zealand Women in 2020. Australia (155) held on for a tight four-run win on a good pitch.
Dream11 Prediction
Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time.
Option 1:
BBL 2021/22 Match 31: STA vs SCO Dream11 Prediction
Option 2:
BBL 2021/22 Match 31: STA vs SCO Dream11 Prediction
Fan2Play Prediction
Wicket-keepers: Joe Clarke
Batsmen: Colin Munro, Hilton Cartwright, Kurtis Patterson
All-rounders: Ashton Agar, Glenn Maxwell
Bowlers: Andrew Tye, Haris Rauf
Match Prediction
Scorchers should have too much experience for the Stars in this one. Scorchers to win.
