BBL 2017-18, Match 4, Preview: Adelaide Strikers start their campaign against Sydney Thunder

Adelaide Strikers will host Sydney Thunder on Friday in the fourth match of the seventh season of the Big Bash League (BBL). Adelaide had a disappointing season last year as they failed to qualify for the semi-finals. They would be hoping to give a better account of themselves this year. Sydney Thunder finished last season with a wooden spoon but they have shown signs of improvement as they won their first match this season.

Australian all-rounder Travis Head would be leading Adelaide this year. Strikers would want their captain to be in top form if they want to go deep into the tournament. Thunder got off to the best possible starts this season as they won their first match against the city rivals Sixers. Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson is the captain of Thunder, and he did play a captain’s inning in the first match vs Sixers. Thunder did start last season too with a derby win but things went downhill thereafter.

Toss: Adelaide Strikers won the toss and opted to bat

Adelaide Strikers (Playing XI): Jake Weatherald, Alex Carey(w), Colin Ingram, Travis Head(c), Jonathon Dean, Jake Lehmann, Jonathan Wells, Rashid Khan, Peter Siddle, Ben Laughlin, Billy Stanlake

Sydney Thunder (Playing XI): Kurtis Patterson, Jos Buttler(w), Shane Watson(c), Ben Rohrer, Ryan Gibson, Arjun Nair, Aiden Blizzard, Chris Green, Andrew Fekete, Mitchell McClenaghan, Fawad Ahmed

Playing Combination

Adelaide Strikers

Brad Hodge and Tim Ludeman joined Melbourne Renegades this season. The strength of Strikers’ batting line-up has suffered due to this and they seem overdependent on the form on Travis Head. Colin Ingram, who is an overseas recruit can prove to be a key player for the Strikers.

Their bowling has a balanced look to it. Rashid Khan‘s inclusion can prove to be a masterstroke. The young leg-spinner has troubled batsmen all over the world as they have struggled to pick him. Experience of fast bowlers like Peter Siddle and Ben Laughlin is an asset for the team as well.

Sydney Thunder

Thunder have a star-studded batting line-up but unfortunately for them, they are missing some top players who are on national duty. In the absence of Usman Khwaja, pressure on Watson and Jos Butler has increased. These two have the responsibility of holding the innings together so the likes of Blizzard can play with freedom in the end.

The bowling looks settled for men-in-green with the likes of Mitchell McClenaghan and Clint McKay coming into play. Fawad Ahmed was brilliant in the first match vs Sixers as their batsmen found it hard to pick him.

Focus will be on

Shane Watson

The former Australian all-rounder is one of the most feared batsmen in the shortest format of the game. He is among the experienced players in this format of the game as he has played in leagues all over the world. Watson looked in great form vs the Sixers as he scored 77 runs which put Thunder in a great position to win the match. If Watson can maintain this form throughout the tournament, very few can stop him.

Travis Head

Brad Hodge, Tim Ludeman, and Ben Dunk left the franchise this suausmmer. This has left Adelaide batting line-up thin and over-dependent on their captain Head. Adelaide management has faced a lot of criticism for allowing so many quality players to leave. The onus is on the 23-year-old to lead from the front and deflect the criticism his team is facing.