Big Bash League 2019 Match 17, Adelaide Strikers vs Sydney Thunder: Preview, likely XIs, predictions

This is an interesting battle. When these two teams last clashed, on December 21 in Canberra, the match was abandoned due to the smoke from the Australian bushfires. Had four more deliveries been bowled on that occasion, chances are Sydney Thunder would have been declared winners on DLS. As it turned out, the smoke was just too much, and the match was abandoned, with both teams sharing a point each.

That’s the only time so far this season Adelaide has drooped points. They’re top of the table in stellar form, with seven points from their four matches, winning the other three apart from the Canberra smoke-out. Thunder, meanwhile, are at No.4 – apart from the point dropped against Adelaide, they also lost in the Sydney derby against the Sixers, in a match that went down to the Eliminator.

This is, therefore, a chance for Sydney to not only make up for their missed opportunity earlier, but also draw level with the leaders and go atop the table. Can they do that? It depends. How good are Thunder at reacting to setbacks? Bouncing back from a loss is the hallmark of any good side, and Thunder will have to display their credentials in a tough encounter come Tuesday.

Adelaide, meanwhile, have looked nothing short of sublime since the last time these two sides met, beating all of Perth Scorchers, Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades. This one is set up quite nicely.

Head to head

There have been a total of 12 clashes between these sides. Adelaide had reigned supreme overall, with six wins to Thunder’s four. There have two no-results that apart.

Key players

Alex Carey (Adelaide Strikers): The Australia wicketkeeper-batsman has been sublime without being flamboyant so far this BBL. He is the top-scorer, with 186 runs in four innings, but there has been just the one half-century, suggesting he has provided good starts to Adelaide in every outing. It’s consistency, and it’s a good trait to have.

Callum Ferguson (Sydney Thunder): Thunder have relied on their captain Ferguson for runs in the middle. He has 156 so far in his four matches, but a majority of those came in a 73* off 44 in the opener against Heat. There was also a half-century in his last outing against the Sixers. More is expected.

Likely XIs

Adelaide Strikers: Phil Salt, Jake Weatherald, Alex Carey (wk), Jonathan Wells, Rashid Khan, Cameron White, Matthew Short, Cameron Valente, Peter Siddle, Wes Agar, Billy Stanlake

Sydney Thunder: Usman Khawaja, Alex Hales, Callum Ferguson (c), Matthew Gilkes (wk), Alex Ross, Chris Morris, Chris Green, Daniel Sams, Arjun Nair, Chris Tremain, Jonathan Cook

Prediction

Thunder to bounce back with a win.