Round 4 commences from Wednesday 7:15pm AEDT so get your trades organized with the Sydney Thunder, who are on a double, playing first up, while the Perth Scorchers have back-to-back byes.
Brisbane Heat v Sydney Thunder
Wednesday 27 December, 7:15pm AEDT/6:15pm local time, Gabba
Heat
Doubtful: Nil
Unavailable: Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne (Test duty), Will Prestwidge (side)
Predicted Changes
No changes
The Heat are flying at top of the table, with no real need for changes, so we anticipate they won’t change a thing.
1 C.Munro (c)
2 J.Brown
3 N.McSweeney
4 M.Renshaw
5 S.Billings (wk)
6 P.Walter
7 X.Bartlett
8 M.Neser
9 S.Johnson
10 M.Swepson
11 M.Kuhnemann
Thunder
Doubtful: N/A
Unavailable: David Warner (Test duty)
Predicted Changes
No changes
The Thunder are fifth with a 1-2 record but won last time out over the Melbourne Stars, so they’re unlikely to change that formula, although Gurinder Sandhu may be considered on his home deck. Matthew Gilkes was dropped for that game with Cameron Bancroft taking the gloves. This will be Zaman Khan’s final game before exiting for Pakistan duty.
1 C.Bancroft
2 A.Hales
3 J.Sangha
4 O.Davies
5 A.Ross
6 D.Sams
7 N.McAndrew
8 C.Green (c)
9 L.Hatcher
10 Zaman Khan
11 T.Sangha
Hobart Hurricanes v Melbourne Stars
Thursday 28 December, 7:15pm AEDT, Blundstone Arena
Hurricanes
Doubtful: Ben McDermott (neck)
Unavailable: N/A
Predicted Changes
Ins: Ben McDermott
Outs: Nikhil Chaudhary
The Hurricanes ended their 0-2 start to the season with a victory over the Renegades last game, so there’s no major need for change. Both Matthew Wade (back spasms) and Riley Meredith (side) successfully returned from injury last game, while Ben McDermott missed out after a neck knock at training, which is understood to be only minor. If he’s fit, he’ll come back in, with Nikhil Chaudhary looking the most expendable player after not batting or bowling last game. Mac Wright has been good whenever called upon and deserves to hold his spot.
1 M.Wade (wk)
2 C.Jewell
3 B.McDermott
4 M.Wright
5 S.Hain
6 T.David
7 C.Anderson
8 C.Jordan
9 N.Ellis (c)
10 P.Dooley
11 R.Meredith
Stars
Doubtful: N/A
Unavailable: Scott Boland (Test duty), Nathan Coulter-Nile (calf)
Predicted Changes
Unchanged
The Stars finally snapped their three-game losing run with a four-wicket win over the Sixers on Boxing Day, so they’ll be fairly settled. This game will be Haris Rauf and Usama Mir’s final ones before they exit for Pakistan duty. It is still unclear if Glenn Maxwell will be fit to bowl after a forearm injury.
Jonathon Merlo’s role, as a late middle-order bat with no bowling requirement, remains perplexing so if they change anything, he seems quite expendable with scope for a Mark Steketee return to bolster their attack, but given their all-round options, you sense the Stars will want to stick with that after a win.
1 T.Rogers
2 S.Harper (wk)
3 B.Webster
4 G.Maxwell (c)
5 M.Stoinis
6 H.Cartwright
7 Imad Wasim
8 J.Merlo
9 Usama Mir
10 J.Paris
11 Haris Rauf
Melbourne Renegades v Adelaide Strikers
Friday 29 December, 7:15pm AEDT, Marvel Stadium
Renegades
Doubtful: Aaron Finch (back soreness)
Unavailable: Nathan Lyon (Test duty), Jordan Cox (import quota)
Predicted Changes
Ins: Aaron Finch, Mackenzie Harvey
Outs: Nic Maddinson, Shaun Marsh (both managed)
The Gades once again find themselves last on the ladder with no wins from five games, with their finals hopes fading fast. Something needs to change, but it’s hard to know where to look. Nic Maddinson’s batting form is a major worry with a strike rate of 82.75 from four knocks where he’s made only 48 runs, yet he’s the captain. He may need a rest with that in mind, plus he’s only just returned from an ACL injury, with Will Sutherland taking the reins.
Aaron Finch may be fit to return and support Sutherland. Shaun Marsh playing two games in four days seems unlikely so Mackenzie Harvey could get a chance. Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s availability moving forward is also a mystery after a dispute with the Afghanistan Cricket Board.
1 J.Clarke
2 Q.de Kock (wk)
3 J.Fraser-McGurk
4 M.Harvey
5 A.Finch
6 J.Wells
7 W.Sutherland (c)
8 T.Rogers
9 K.Richardson
10 A.Zampa
11 Mujeeb Ur Rahman
Strikers
Doubtful: N/A
Unavailable: Travis Head, Alex Carey (Test duty)
Predicted Changes
No changes
The Strikers have had a long lay-off since losing narrowly to the Sixers. Adelaide are midtable so there’s no desperate need for changes especially having completed only two games, but the form of Jake Weatherald and Wes Agar isn’t amazing. Weatherald seems more likely to get dropped, with Tom Kelly in contention, but it’s likely the Strikers will back him in for now.
1 M.Short (c)
2 D.Short
3 C.Lynn
4 J.Weatherald
5 A.Hose
6 J.Overton
7 J.Bazley
8 H.Nielsen (wk)
9 W.Agar
10 C.Boyce
11 D.Payne
Sydney Thunder v Sydney Sixers
Saturday 30 December, 7:15pm AEDT, Sydney Showground
Thunder
Doubtful: N/A
Unavailable: David Warner (Test duty), Zaman Khan (Pakistan duty)
Predicted Changes
Ins: Tom Kohler-Cadmore
Outs: Zaman Khan
Zaman Khan will be unavailable for this game due to Pakistan duty, opening up his death overs role alongside Daniel Sams, who’ll probably bowl the 20th now. Nathan McAndrew and Liam Hatcher may be the obvious death options.
However, we anticipate they’ll replace Zaman in the XI with new English recruit Tom Kohler-Cadmore and go with one less bowler than previous. That shift in balance may mean more overs for Tanveer Sangha, McAndrew (who could be replaced by Hatcher) and Gurinder Sandhu, who all didn’t bowl a full 4-over allocation last game. Kohler-Cadmore typically bats first drop in England and could also take the gloves, which would impact Cam Bancroft.
1 C.Bancroft (wk)
2 A.Hales
3 T.Kohler-Cadmore
4 J.Sangha
5 O.Davies
6 A.Ross
7 D.Sams
8 N.McAndrew
9 C.Green (c)
10 G.Sandhu
11 T.Sangha
Sixers
Doubtful: Hayden Kerr (side), Moises Henriques (shoulder), Dan Hughes (head knock)
Unavailable: Steve Smith (Test duty), Tom Curran (suspended)
Predicted Changes
Ins: Hayden Kerr (if fit)
Outs: Joel Davies (if Kerr is fit)
The Sixers suffered a shock loss to the Stars last game, so they could make some changes. Hayden Kerr’s availability remains unknown following a side strain. Moises Henriques could be in doubt too with a shoulder complaint, while Dan Hughes copped a head knock last game.
Kerr likely slots into Joel Davies’ spot in the side if available, while Kurtis Patterson seems Henriques’ likely replacement if he’s not available. Todd Murphy and/or Izharulhaq Naveed could easily come into the side if the Sixers figure it’s time to rest economical veteran Steve O’Keefe after playing all four games this BBL. SOK will likely want to play the local derby though, and instead miss the upcoming Brisbane or Coffs Harbour trip.
1 J.Philippe (wk)
2 J.Vince
3 D.Hughes
4 M.Henriques
5 J.Silk
6 J.Edwards
7 H.Kerr/J.Davies
8 S.Abbott
9 B.Dwarshuis
10 J.Bird
11 S.O’Keefe
