A huge weekend of BBL09 action with four games over Saturday and Sunday. The 1st game of Saturday’s double header sees the Adelaide Strikers make their tournament debut against the 2-0 Sydney Thunder at Manuka Oval in Canberra.

 

Along with 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 $1,500 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. Draftstars have also offered a Double Header contest. Perfect opportunity to use the 'Player Swap' tool if a player in the 2nd match (Scorchers vs Renegades) is not selected.

As we all know, the bushfires raging around the country have affected the air quality and Canberra is no exception. With the game starting just after 1810 AEDT there is a forecast cool change to come through Canberra (after suffering a 40+ degree day) that may bring a small chance of a storm. Unlikely to change anything for the match but it something to check before the game.

Whilst it is a small sample size from our Points Against tool from our Data Tools, it does show outside of the bat friendly Gabba, Manuka gives up a lot of runs. In BBL08, the Thunder chased down Hurricanes 166 for the loss of 6 wickets in the last game of the season whilst in the 1st fixture last year, the Thunder amassed 188 against the Stars. The game was affected by weather later in the game. If you like you total 6’s markets, 18 6’s have been hit in 3 and half innings last season.

The Thunder have shot out of the gates and beaten the Champions on their home ground in Game 3 and the Heat in Game 1. They are now at their adopted 2nd home in Canberra and go into this match again as slight underdogs. With the Thunder top 3 in Khawaja, Hales and Ferguson all making runs in their opening matches, the team will look to continue their form at the batting friendly venue. The Renegades did attack the Thunder’s bowlers in the powerplay in Geelong and the Strikers would be looking to replicate against the Thunder bowling attack. The Thunder will be buoyed that they are not really relying on 1 or 2 bowlers to take all the wickets. Though it must be stated that Daniel Sams and Arjun Nair have started the tournament well.

The Strikers bowling attack already looks a little thin after the selection of Michael Neser into the Boxing Day Test squad. Outside of whiz kid (yes 21 is still a kid) Rashid Khan and international Billy Stanlake, the Strikers attack of Wes Agar, Harry Conway and Matthew Short lack experience. Although love to see Harry Conway be unleashed after sending off tails in the Shield with a heightened excitement that is much watch TV.

 

However the batting lineup is strong with Captain Alex Carey a real specialist in the short ball format. Add in the dynamic opener the Englishmen Phil Salt and Jake Weatherald, the Strikers batting lineup is real strong. 

 

This shapes up as a matchup on who can keep their batting partnerships intact and put pressure on the opposition bowling attack. The Thunder have 2 games under their belt already but do play their 3rd game on the “road” in 5 days.  

 

This season, our famous FREE Data Tools have returned for BBL09. We have also expanded our tools to both Draftstars and Moneyball (New!) fantasy sites for the tournament.

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

Batsman

 

Love it - Phil Salt ($14,800 Draftstars)

Salt who boast a 161 Strike Rate in the T20 Vitality Blast in England, will be unleashed by the Strikers on a batting friendly deck in Canberra. Don’t mind if picked at 3 in the batting order but should open with the dangerous Alex Carey. His price point though will make Salt a pretty popular play.

 

Don’t Love it - Matthew Gilkes ($9,800 Draftstars)

The value batsman on the slate has not got going so far in BBL09. Batting at 4 for the Thunder through 2 games, Gilkes has scored 4 runs off 6 balls and 15 runs off 20 balls in his first 2 games so far. The top 3 have done the majority of the run scoring so far. 

 

Who Knows? - Cameron White ($12,200 Draftstars)

White was recruited by the Strikers to bring experience to the middle order for Adelaide. Not sure if White still has the form first up so I’ll be watching from a far against the Thunder.  

 

Bowlers

Love it - Rashid Khan ($22,000 Draftstars)

Both teams rely on their spin bowlers to restrict and to take wickets and Rashid Khan leads all comers when it comes to spin. The spinner is a prestigious talent and will lead the Strikers bowling attack. Doesn’t mind swinging the willow late in an innings as well.  

 

Don’t Love it - Chris Morris ($16,100 Draftstars)

The bowling all-rounder missed the first 2 games of BBL09 due to being in South Africa for the Super league,.Whilst I believe he is an important player for the Thunder, I would rather see a game first before rostering in my sides.

 

Who Knows? - Harry Conway ($8,000 Draftstars)

I do really hope Conway gets a game for the Strikers 1st up but we may have to wait until later in the tournament. If he indeed does get a game, Conway will become a cult figure at the Strikers with his pace and famous send-offs! 

 
 

 

 

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