After 56 games and plenty of action, the BBL09 has now reached the postseason. This year there is a new format for the finals which gives teams who reach the top 2 a second chance and gives teams and fans two extra games of action. We start this finals campaign which the BBL has titled the “Eliminator” with the clash between 4th place Hobart Hurricanes and 5th place Sydney Thunder. The Hurricanes will host this match at Blundstone Arena on Thursday evening at 7.40pm.

 

All season long we have provided our famous FREE Cheat Sheets and Data Tools in our Data Tools section, new for the BBL09 season, Daily Fantasy Rankings presents the Draftstars Lineup Builder! Using our Data Tools and Projections you will be able to quickly build and import BBL teams into Draftstars by using the CSV upload. Access the Builder including tutorials on how the builder works by clicking the banner below.

 

Draftstars have posted a $15,000 contest for a $15 entry, as well as a $1,000 Mini and even a $200 Single Entry contest for a $10 buy-in. Moneyball are offering a $5,000 contest for a $15 entry as well as a $500 guarantee on their $2 contest.

 

The hot conditions experienced by the South-Eastern part of the country will reach Hobart on Thursday, with a hot and sunny day forecasted. This will lead to perfect conditions on Thursday evening for the players and spectators. A fresh deck will be used on Thursday after last Friday’s contest produced a great T20 game between these two actual teams.

 

The Hurricanes were forced into 1 change to their squad for this final with overseas signing David Miller being selected for the South African limited-overs squad. In his place comes Simon Milenko which will mix up the Hurricanes batting order if selected in the final XI. With Miller at 4 now gone, do the Hurricanes bump Ben McDermott to 4 and George Bailey to 5? Or does Jake Doran or Simon Milenko slot straight into 3 or 4? As a ‘Canes fan then the former is much preferred, whoever does come in for Miller will need to perform in this elimination match. The Bowling group of Faulkner, Rose, Ellis, Boland and Ahmad will be retained. 

 

The Thunder have gone into this final with one change from their thrilling win at home against the Scorchers on Sunday. Gurinder Sandhu has been replaced by Brendan Doggett. Chris Morris was clutch in the final over hitting the winning runs of Matthew Kelly and sealed their spot in the finals. There possibly could be a case that Liam Bowe comes in for Sandhu if the Thunder want to go spin heavy. Most likely however Doggett comes in for Sandhu in the final XI. Daniel Sams is the competition’s leading wicket taker with 25 wickets which is a new record in this expanded format and will lead this Thunder attack. 

 

 

The Hurricanes only played 4 home games this season with a 2-2 record for BBL09. Out of these 4 games, teams batting 1st have won the match 3 times with teams batting 2nd losing a significant amount of wickets (29 wickets in the past 3 games) in chasing. Teams that batted first in the past three games have averaged 190 with the bat. Whilst finals are different beast, if I was the captain and I will seriously consider having a bat first.

 

It must be said that the Hurricanes have hit peak form at the right end of the tournament, smacking the Renegades, Thunder and Strikers attacks at the top of the order in their past three matches. Matthew Wade is in some incredible form along with fellow opener D’Arcy Short and new number in Mac Wright. It will take something special from the Thunder to remove these 3 batsman if the Thunder have any hope. The Thunder however do have Alex Hales (108 fantasy point average in the past three games) who has also has hit peak form. If the Thunder do get the opportunity to bat first on this pitch, Hales will be the key to the Thunder’s chances. If you want to back the current history of teams bowling 2nd then look towards the death bowling of Chris Morris and Daniel Sams for the Thunder and Nathan Ellis and James Faulkner for the Hurricanes. But as with any game of T20 cricket, scripts can thrown at the window, especially in the finals.

 

Access our FREE Data Tools for Thursday's BBL Matchup here

Batsman

 

Love It - Matthew Wade ($20,500 Draftstars)

With exception of Usman Khawaja, the opening batsman for both sides are serious T20 players who are capable of going big. None much more bigger than Matthew Wade. Wade was the main catalyst for the Hurricanes late charge to the finals and will be the key wicket for the Thunder. Wade’s past three innings include 66 off 29 (115 FP) against the Gades, 56 off 34 (98 FP) against the Thunder and the mammoth 130 off 61 (239 FP) against the Strikers. $20,500 is a serious amount of salary for a batsman only but the past three matches, Wade has been in the winning lineup. Love it if batting 1st, consider Hales if the Thunder get first crack.

 

Don’t Love It - Usman Khawaja ($16,100 Draftstars)

Pretty obvious this selection with an out of form Khawaja. Came to this tournament with a fantastic record but that has been ruined by his recent low scores. In his past 8 matches, Khawaja has scored 111 fantasy points at an average of 13.87. The price has come down from $18,900 at the start of the season to $16,100 which will make it interesting if you are building more affordable Thunder stacks. But man those past 8 games make it really hard to trust here.

 

Who Knows - Callum Ferguson ($15,000 Draftstars) 

If you thought Khawaja was having a rough trot, then have a look at the body of work that Ferguson has done since the New Year. 9 matches for 123 fantasy points at an average of 13.66. Like Khawaja his price has fallen from $17,900 to only $15,000 on this batting friendly surface. I reckon the Captain has a knock in him and in this elimination game he may prove slate breaking. 

 

Bowlers 

 

Love It - Chris Morris ($15,300 Draftstars) 

I love Morris more here than Sams but the $800 price difference between the two probably mean more owners will go to Sams than Morris. The game logs on the Lineup Builder show that Sams is highly owned but has scored more fantasy points in the past three matches. I prefer Morris here as he will bat 5 and will bowl death overs. Morris is a class international player and will give the Hurricanes trouble if they make inroads into the ‘Canes middle order. 

 

Don’t Love It - Qais Ahmad ($15,100 Draftstars)

With the exception of D’Arcy Short’s 5 wicket haul between these two teams last week, spinners struggled to take wickets, let alone achieved an economy bonus at Blundstone Arena. Ahmad whilst his price has come down there is potential for “donuts” from the overseas spinner. If Thunder bat first I would avoid but may become a sneaky play if Ahmad bowls second innings.

 

Who Knows - Chris Tremain ($11,300 Draftstars)

Tremain hasn’t been seen since the fixture between the two teams back on the 11th of January, then appears in the must-win game against Scorchers! Bowls 3 economical overs for 1 for 14 and scored 56 fantasy points. Do the Thunder keep Tremain in the XI and leave Bowe out? More likely the case and can be a good value add to your teams.

 

 

 

 

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