Sydney Thunder will take on Adelaide Strikers in the Match No. 51 of Big Bash League (BBL 10) at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday (January 24). Both teams are eyeing the knockout spots.   

Thunder have been in good form this season, winning five games on the trot that kept them at the top of the points table for weeks. However, a couple of consecutive defeats has pulled them back to some extent. But the recent win against Sydney Sixers by 46 runs helped them climbed to third place in the points table. Their all-round performance has helped them maintain their place in the top four.  

Adelaide Strikers, on the other hand, have seen ups and downs with some inconsistency in their winnings run. However, they have won 6 out of 12 matches that had put them in the top four but Thunder’s win in the last game pulled them back at 5th place in the point table, while Perth Scorchers win against Stars deteriorated their position as they dropped to sixth place in the table. Their bowling unit has helped them win the matches on many occasions. 

Overall, both the teams have won 6 matches each out of their 14 meetings in BBL. However, in the last five encounters, Thunder have emerged victorious 3 times, while Strikers won once as one had no result. 

BBL HEAD-TO-HEAD 

Overall: Matches – 14 | Thunder – 6 Wins | Strikers – 6 Wins | No Result - 2

Last 5 Matches: Thunder – 3 Wins | Strikers – 1 Wins | No Result - 1

SUGGESTED TEAMS

While you could go for the above team, you also have the option of choosing your own team from cricket.com’s Fantasy Research Centre. Based on algorithms we come up with six different teams that could fetch crucial points.

GROUND DETAILS & TEAM COMBINATION

The ground has hosted seven BBL matches this season. The hosts Strikers have won four matches here. However, Thunder, who won their last match against Sydney Sixers, was also played at this venue. 

Average first innings score at this ground is 177/7 in the last seven matches. The team that batted first, won four out of seven contests. 

The Ground has favoured pacers as compared to spinners in the last 14 innings. Fast bowlers have taken a wicket every 17.1 deliveries in 164.5 overs. Spinners have picked a wicket every 21.4 deliveries in 99.4 overs. However economically pacers have proved costly than spinners.

Seamer Wes Agar is the highest wicket-taker (14 wkts) this season at Adelaide Oval. However, keeping Peter Siddle away from the Fantasy XI could be an injustice, as the spinner has taken 8 wickets in the last five innings at this venue.  His previous record in the ongoing season has also been impressive so it would be ideal to pick pacers and spinners both in the team  

Captain Selection 

Alex Hales is the highest run-scorer in the BBL this season. He scored 462 runs in 12 innings, which includes two half-centuries and one century that he blasted at Adelaide Oval in the last match against Sixers. The batsman struck a 110-run knock off 56 balls, hitting eight sixes and nine fours. His 110-run score is the highest score by a batsman in BBL this season. Adding more power to Thunder's batting unit, the right-handed batsman has been impressive this season and could be an ideal pick for captain selection.

X-Factors

Tanveer Sangha is the fourth-highest wicket-taker (20 wkts) in BBL this season and also in the last match against Sixers at Adelaide Oval, he picked two crucial wickets despite being a pace friendly pitch. He has grabbed most wickets (17) than any other bowler in the middle overs (5 to 16) this season.

Peter Siddle is the highest wicket-taker in death overs among spinners this season.  He has picked eight wickets in as many innings in death (17 to 20). His best bowling figure is 5/16 that he produced against Hobart Hurricanes. Siddle has helped Adelaide Strikers win the match on many occasions. 

Alex Carey has shouldered run-scoring responsibility for Adelaide Strikers at the top order. He scored his highest runs this season against Brisbane Heat, blasting 101 runs off 62 balls. He is also the highest run-scorer at Adelaide Oval this season. He accumulated 285 runs at an average of 47.5 and strike rate of 135.7 at the venue.