Big Bash League 2019 Match 1, Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Thunder: Preview, likely XIs, predictions

Brisbane Heat and Sydney Thunder will get the latest edition of the BBL underway at the Gabba when they clash on Tuesday, December 17.

Both teams start the season on level-pegging – that’s the beauty of early season encounters – but expect their campaigns to progress differently. Brisbane are favourites to win the tournament, and Sydney have been tipped to occupy the wooden spoon spot by the end of it all.

Brisbane had a good off-season. Darren Lehmann has taken over the reigns of the side as coach, and has overseen the prized signing of AB de Villiers, who will be available for the team for the final six games of the season. There is plenty of stardust going around in the meanwhile though.

Expect big things from Chris Lynn in the top order, and the opening duo of Tom Banton and Max Bryant should be cause for concern for most of the sides in the BBL. With Ben Laughlin and Mujeeb Ur Rahman propping up the bowling side of things, Brisbane look dangerous.

Thunder, meanwhile, had an overhaul in the off-season. Alex Hales and Chris Morris have been two major additions to the side, with the Englishman boosting the opening options, and the South African providing a valuable option both with bat and ball.

Usman Khawaja’s name has also been secured by the side, and there is a special feeling about Thunder. For all those tipping them to place low, they could spring a surprise.

It could therefore make for a very interesting opener to what should be an exciting tournament.

Head to head

Heat and Thunder have, over the years, clashed in 9 matches. That Heat have won seven of those encounters is telling of the nature of this rivalry – Thunder have won only once, with the other match ending without result last season after power outage forced a sharing of points.

Key players

Chris Lynn (Brisbane Heat): The big-hitter has been in terrific form recently – he was top-scorer at the Abu Dhabi T10 League – and with the T20 World Cup in the horizon, will be looking to make his mark and earn his spot in the Australian XI. The Thunder bowlers better brace themselves.

Usman Khawaja (Sydney Thunder): Much like Lynn, Khawaja is also out of the reckoning of the national side, and will be hoping to make a mark in the BBL. The left-hand batsman has traditionally been a good performer in the franchise T20 league, and expect more big things from him this season.

Likely XIs

Brisbane Heat: Tom Banton, Max Bryant, Chris Lynn (c), Matt Renshaw, Sam Heazlett, Jimmy Peirson, Ben Cutting, Mitch Swepson, Josh Lalor, Ben Laughlin, Zahir Khan

Sydney Thunder: Usman Khawaja, Alex Hales, Callum Ferguson, Jason Sangha, Matt Gilkes, Alex Ross, Daniel Sams, Nathan McAndrew, Chris Morris, Chris Green, Chris Tremain

Prediction Sydney to surprise all and sneak a victory in the opener.