Here are our fantasy picks for the match between the Sydney Thunder and Sydney Sixers (5:19)
December 28: Sydney Sixers v Sydney Thunder in Sydney
Our XI: Josh Philippe, Alex Hales, James Vince, Usman Khawaja, Callum Ferguson, Chris Morris, Tom Curran, Benjamin Manenti, Chris Green, Daniel Sams, Sean Abbott
NOTE: We might not always be able to tip you off about a late injury (or other relevant) updates
Captain: Callum Ferguson
Ferguson has started the tournament strongly for the Thunder. In three games, he has 104 runs at a strike rate of 160, including a player-of-the-match effort against the Brisbane Heat. And before play was interrupted against the Adelaide Strikers, he had smashed six boundaries in his unbeaten 27.
Vice-captain: Chris Morris
Morris bowls in the death, and will be called upon when the team is under pressure. He picked 2 for 31 in his first game, and has been playing T20 regularly – he took ten wickets at 8.2 per over in the MSL. He can give you some handy runs with the bat if required too.
Hot picks
Alex Hales
Hales has one player-of-the-match performance already, courtesy the 38-ball 68 against the Melbourne Renegades, and scored 44 of those runs in boundaries. If he gets going, he could earn a lot of points. But his lack of consistency is why he is only a hot pick and not an obvious choice of captain.
James Vince
Vince is an under-rated T20 cricketer, and a busy, useful player. He has started well – average 23 and strike rate 116.45 – in all three games, but hasn’t got a big one. The derby is a good time to get that.
Josh Philippe
In fantasy cricket, it is imperative to have the openers in your line-up. The probability of them playing a role is the highest and if you have an impact player like Philippe who can take away the match from the opposition, then it is a must.
Value picks
Daniel Sams: Six wickets at 8.67 runs per over, Sams has started the tournament well. His left-arm angle has made him hard to pick and he will be key towards removing the Sixers top order.
Benjamin Manenti: Two wickets in each of the three games he has played so far shows how consistent Manenti has been. His wickets have come at 7.9 runs per over. He gives control and gets wickets. Ideal bowler to get those points.
Points to note
The average score while batting first in the last two BBL seasons is 150. Spinners concede only 7.16 runs per over, while striking once every 25 balls, and pacers concede 8.03 runs per over while striking once every 18 balls.
Source: ESPN Crickinfo