Our tips and recommendations for picking your fantasy team for the upcoming BBL match between Thunder and Heat (4:48)
Sydney Thunder v Brisbane Heat in Sydney
Our XI: Usman Khawaja, Chris Lynn, Matt Renshaw, Callum Ferguson, Max Bryant, Mathew Gilkes, Ben Cutting, Arjun Nair, Daniel Sams, Chris Morris, Ben Laughlin
Captain: Callum Ferguson
Many options for captaincy here, but we’ll bank on consistency. With three fifties to his name in the competition, and on a pitch with an average total of 160, Ferguson is the best – and safest – option.
Vice-captain: Daniel Sams
Safe with the captain, but a bit left-field for vice-captain. The top wicket-taker of the BBL season gets the nod over many explosive batsmen because of the pitch at Sydney Showground Stadium. Seamers have a healthy average of 21 and a strike rate of 17 at this ground, so Sams could be in business.
Hot picks
Chris Lynn
Didn’t you see the last game?
Usman Khawaja
Sometimes you have to spot a trend. Khawaja has been hot and cold this season, boom or bust – he was below par in the last game, so we’ll gamble on boom. Not to forget, he has two half-centuries this season already.
Matt Renshaw
The most consistent performer for the Heat could easily be your captain on a pitch suited to his game. Renshaw is not to be missed.
Value picks
Max Bryant: Bryant finally came to the party against the Hobart Hurricanes with an explosive 36-ball 65. He would love to carry that momentum forward.
Chris Morris: With two wickets in every BBL game so far, Morris is the main allrounder pick. The assistance that pacers get here should help his death bowling in a big way.
Point to note
The Melbourne Stars chased down the Thunder’s 142 for 7 with three wickets in hand in the last BBL game played at the venue. The best strategy might well be to mix batmen and bowlers, with Ben Cutting and Morris as allrounders.
Source: ESPN Crickinfo