BBL 7, Match 12, Preview: Confident Strikers take on fiery Heat

Adelaide Strikers have looked the most settled team in this season’s Big Bash League (BBL) so far. Not just because they have won two back to back games, but the way they have won those games. Yes, the last game against the Sixers went a bit tight towards the end, but that’s only because the Sixers tail-enders wagged and managed to connect a few, otherwise, it was turning into another one-sided game for the Strikers.

The reason why the Strikers’ appear to be such an accomplished unit is their bowling. The addition of the Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan has done wonders for them. The 19-year-old has grabbed 4 wickets in two matches at the average of 11 and at an economy rate of 5.5 which is outstanding to say the least in in the shortest format of the game.

Apart from Rashid, the other bowlers have come to the fore as well for the strikers. While Billy Stanlake has rattled the batsmen with his pace, Michael Neser has been pretty decent with his variations as well. Travis Head trusted him to bowl the last over against the Sixers and he lived up to the expectations of the skipper as he nailed five yorkers in the over to make sure the opposition couldn’t go over the line. It was a wonderful exhibition of death bowling by the 27-year old.

However, if there is one batting line-up in the tournament which can test the depth of Strikers’ bowling, it’s Brisbane Heat. While Brendon McCullum has been as explosive as ever playing T20 cricket in the recent times, Chris Lynn has returned from injury to add even more firepower to an already fiery top order. Joe Burns at 4 has also been very consistent as he has been able to play two match winning innings so far for the Heat in the two games he has played.

The Heat’s bowling, however, will be a little weaker coming into this game because of the departure of the leg-spinner Shadab Khan who has left for New Zealand to join the Pakistan national squad. The Heat though still have a leg-spinning option in the form of Mitchell Swepson who had done a wonderful job for them last season. This season though, he hasn’t been at this best and the think tank will now want him to step up to the plate in Shadab’s absence.

Adelaide Strikers (Predicted XI): Alex Carey (WK), Jake Weatherald, Travis Head (C), Collin Ingram, Jonathan Wells, Jake Lehmann, Michael Neser, Rashid Khan, Peter Siddle, Ben Laughlin, Billy Stanlake

Brisbane Heat (Predicted XI): Jimmy Peirson (WK), Brendon McCullum (C), Chris Lynn, Joe Burns, Ben Cutting, Alex Ross, Josh Lalor, Mark Steketee, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Gannon, Mitchell Swepson