Sydney Thunder vs Adelaide Strikers Preview & Prediction | BBL|14 | League Stage
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David Warner’s highly-anticipated first match as Sydney Thunder captain sees his side take on Adelaide Strikers, a play-off team in BBL 13
Date & time: Tuesday December 17th 2024: USA PT – 12:15am / USA ET – 3:15am / UK – 8:15am
Venue: Manuka Oval, Canberra, Australia
Weather: Dry with sunny intervals and temperatures of around 30c come the start of play
How to watch: USA – Willow TV / UK – Sky Sports & Sky Go / Australia – Seven Network, Foxtel & Kayo Sports
How to get tickets for WBBL|10: Click here for the latest ticket information for Sydney Thunder vs Adelaide Strikers
Sydney Thunder Preview: Only way is up
Things can only get better from a Sydney Thunder point of view after finishing last season rock-bottom of the league stage table, winning just one of their ten games. But it will be a different Sydney Thunder team in this campaign with the appointment of David Warner as their new captain, the 38-year-old competing in a full BBL season for the very first time.
This will be Warner’s first leadership role since his ban six years ago and he has plenty to prove not just as a skipper, but also with the bat following an extended slump in form which saw him go unsold in the recent IPL auction. Warner is expected to open the batting with Sam Konstas with Cameron Bancroft coming in behind them. Nic Maddinson miss out with a broken finger.
Adelaide Strikers Preview: Support for Short
If Adelaide Strikers are to reach their first BBL final since winning the tournament back in the 2017-18 season, they need to provide adequate support with the bat for star man Matt Short. The BBL 13 golden bat winner and MVP of BBL 12, Short has been exceptional for the Strikers now for an extended period of time, but to go all the way in a competition like this, he can’t do it on his own.
The big-hitting BBL veteran Chris Lynn has been a really good signing for Adelaide since leaving Brisbane Heat in 2022 and last season he racked up 304 runs for the Strikers. Overseas player Jamie Overton recorded 16 wickets and can also offer some lusty blows down the order after having been retained for this campaign.
Sydney Thunder Betting Analysis
Providing a point of difference with the ball, long-serving Sydney Thunder all-rounder Daniel Sams has been a consistently reliable performer for the side, as his left-arm medium-fast bowling so often proves effective both in the powerplay and at the death when utilised. Sams has the ability to swing the ball both ways and his changes of pace can also outfox opposition batters. Consider making a play on Sams to record over 1.5 match wickets.
Adelaide Strikers Betting Analysis
The sensible move here from a betting perspective has to be investment on Matt Short. He’s been the Strikers’ ace with the bat in each of the last two seasons and is a constant source of runs for the team. His ability to clear the fence is notorious across this competition and opening the batting inside the powerplay, this should only aide Short with the majority of the field forced inside the circle. Back the Adelaide opener to accumulate 30+ runs and to strike over 0.5 match sixes.
Sydney Thunder vs Adelaide Strikers Expert Prediction
This is likely to prove one of the closest games in the opening few days of this new BBL campaign. Whilst Adelaide Strikers enjoyed a significantly more successful season in 2023-24, Sydney Thunder are rejuvenated and reenergised under the command of Warner. But things clicking into place immediately for the Thunder won’t be easy to achieve and the process may prove slower than they would like when taking into account the tough opposition. Adelaide’s top order is intimidating and when considering how much the bowling attack impressed last season, it’s well worth backing them to begin BBL 14 with a victory.
Sydney Thunder vs Adelaide Strikers Top Tip: Adelaide Strikers to win
