Last Updated on 8 months by Charbel Coorey
STR vs THU Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report: BBL 2021/22 Match 28 | STR vs THU Dream11 Prediction Today | Strikers vs Thunder Key Players | Adelaide Oval Pitch Report
It is time for the traditional New Year’s Eve clash at Adelaide Oval, and the Adelaide Strikers desperately need to win this one. Peter Siddle’s team have lost four games in a row to sit second-from-bottom. If this match does go ahead, they have a great chance to win it as Sydney Thunder have been ravaged by four COVID-19 cases.
Last time out, Ben McDermott was far too good for the Strikers, and the Sydney Thunder will need to scramble to put together an XI for this match. The men in green became the first team to beat Perth Scorchers this season with a comfortable 34-run win a few nights ago. It is the batting that looks in good shape, while the bowling can look the goods when on song.
According to reports, Alex Hales, Tanveer Sangha, Sam Whiteman and another player have tested positive to COVID-19. As things stand, Cricket Australia are working with South Australia (SA) Health on having this match go ahead.
Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
Adelaide Strikers
- Jake Weatherald found some form, albeit with a hard-fought 51 off 43 balls last game vs Hobart Hurricanes. The left-hander has the most runs in Strikers-Thunder matches, with 261 runs in nine matches at an average of 32.63 and strike rate of 141.08. He scored 31 (26) and 80* (47) against Thunder last season.
- Weatherald is also the only player to score at least 1,000 T20 runs at the Adelaide Oval (1,045 runs, avg. 31.67, SR 138.23).
- Jono Wells will also be key for the Strikers today. He also has a good record at Adelaide Oval, with 836 runs in 30 innings at an average of 36.35 and strike rate of 134.41. He will be looking to build on his record vs Thunder: 8 inns, 172 runs, avg. 28.67, SR 113.16.
- Matt Renshaw scored 63 off 41 balls in his last match vs Hobart Hurricanes. He will be aiming to improve on his poor record vs Sydney Thunder: 4 inns, 26 runs, avg. 6.50, SR 89.66.
- Peter Siddle has an excellent record against the Thunder. The Strikers’ skipper has taken 13 wickets in eight matches at an average of 11.31 and economy rate of 5.41.
- Also, Siddle has the third-most wickets in T20s at Adelaide Oval. He has taken 41 wickets in 27 matches at an average of 15.59 and economy rate of 7.06.
- Rashid Khan has 10 wickets to his name in seven matches vs Thunder (avg. 17.20), as well as 10 wickets in six matches this season (avg. 17.10). Also, no bowler has more wickets in T20s at Adelaide than the Afghan leg-spinner (42 wickets in 27 matches, avg. 16.67, econ. 6.60).
Sydney Thunder:
- Jason Sangha is having a brilliant campaign. The talented batsman has struck 142 runs in three matches so far this season at an average of 71.00 and strike rate of 136.53. He scored 56* off 46 balls in his last match.
- Sam Billings is on fire. The keeper-batsman has struck the sixth-most runs of any player in BBL 11 with 236 runs at an average of 47.20 and strike rate of 153.24. He was player of the match last time out with a brilliant 67 off 35 balls against the Scorchers.
- Daniel Sams has an excellent record for the Thunder against Strikers. He has taken 10 wickets in five matches at an average of 11.10 and economy rate of 6.28. Also, Sams he has a good record at Adelaide Oval with seven wickets in three matches at an average of 11.71.
- Saqib Mahmood has been an excellent addition to the Thunder side. The England seamer has taken seven wickets already in BBL 11 in just three matches, part of 36 wickets in 22 short-form matches this year.
- Brendan Doggett could play if Tanveer Sangha is officially ruled out. He has taken three wickets in three games for Thunder vs Strikers. Nathan McAndrew is coming off a three-wicket haul vs Scorchers.
Stats and Facts
- Head-to-head: Matches 16, Strikers 7, Thunder 7, N/R 2.
- Thunder lead Strikers 4-3 in matches at Adelaide Oval.
- Matt Short remains Strikers’ top run-scorer this season, despite scores of 16, 14 and 2 in his last three matches. His 156 runs have come at a strike rate of 160.82.
- Ben Cutting averages just 12.56 and strikes at 113 in 12 innings vs Strikers.
Possible Playing 11
Adelaide Strikers are yet to officially name their squad for this match. One change they could make is Daniel Worrall in for Wes Agar.
Adelaide Strikers: 1. Matt Short, 2. Jake Weatherald, 3. Matt Renshaw, 4. Jono Wells, 5. Thomas Kelly, 6. Harry Nielsen (wk), 7. George Garton, 8. Rashid Khan, 9. Peter Siddle (c), 10. Daniel Worrall/Wes Agar, 11. Fawad Ahmed
Sydney Thunder have four cases of COVID-19 in their squad. According to reports, Alex Hales, Sam Whiteman, Tanveer Sangha and another player are positive.
Sydney Thunder: 1. Oliver Davies, 2. Matthew Gilkes, 3. Jason Sangha, 4. Sam Billings (wk), 5. Alex Ross, 6. Daniel Sams, 7. Ben Cutting, 8. Nathan McAndrew, 9. Chris Green (c), 10. Saqib Mahmood, 11. Brendan Doggett/Gurinder Sandhu
Adelaide Oval Pitch Report and Weather
Brisbane Heat smashed 208 on this ground eight days ago. Expect another good, easy-paced surface where the batsmen can hit through the line cleanly. Also, both teams will look to target the shorter square boundaries.
It is a very hot day in Adelaide today with a top of about 39 degrees. No rain is forecast.
Dream11 Prediction
THE BELOW TEAMS WILL BE UPDATED WHEN WE HEAR FURTHER UPDATES FROM THE BBL.
Option 1:
Option 2:
Fan2Play Prediction
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You can pick more star players with Fan2Play thanks to lower credit scores.
- Wicket-keepers: Sam Billings
- Batsmen: Alex Hales, Jason Sangha, Jake Weatherald
- All-rounders: Daniel Sams
- Bowlers: Saqib Mahmood, Rashid Khan, Peter Siddle
Match Prediction
Runs on the board batting first will be key. Strikers should win this with the chaos in the Thunder squad right now.
Also read: Twitter reactions as Bumrah, Shami, KL Rahul lead India to win over South Africa at Centurion
