With both teams coming in with 1-3 records, the match between the Adelaide Strikers and Brisbane Heat could be pivotal to either team’s chances for finals action. It is fair to say that both teams’ rosters are hindered with availability, it is going to be an interesting match under the lights of Adelaide Oval. It is a Sunny day in Adelaide and according to our BBL Data Tools -  the ground is a fair fantasy contest between Bat and Ball.

 

Draftstars have a $25,000+ contest available for Monday night along with contests for the mini, micro and High Roller.

 

 

The Strikers have named an 18-man squad (which is pretty much everyone who could play) after Daniel Drew and Harry Conway were added. Drew is back for another replacement stint for Ryan Gibson who blew is hamstring and is out indefinitely. Drew may feature in this match but could be named as a X-factor. The form of George Garton has pushed out Wes Agar which was a bit of a surprise in their match against the Sixers. Garton opened the bowling but went for 41 runs from his 4 overs with 2 wickets in Sydney. This is going to be a watch this space going forward on how the Strikers manage the likes of Dan Worrall, Fawad Ahmed, Wes Agar and George Garton.

As expected, Matt Renshaw was reintroduced to the team and batted at 3 against the Sixers, but you could almost bank him in to open on the way Matt Short and Jake Weatherald go gun-ho at the start of the innings. Thomas Kelly has made himself a home in the 5 spot by scoring 41 off 34 off the Sixers thus pushing Harry Nielsen down to 6. For a side that is missing Alex Carey and Travis Head, this is probably the best that the Strikers can do. Not enough players who are game winners, but they can all contribute.

 

Likely XI: Short, Weatherald, Renshaw, Wells, Kelly, Nielsen (wk), Garton, Khan. Worrall. Siddle (c), Ahmed

 

The Thunder last played on Sunday night in that “blind” match with everyone watching the Test match in Adelaide. The Heat were simply outplayed by the Thunder with the bowlers pretty much top scoring. The Heat do have selection concerns with Tom Abell out for four weeks with a Knee strain, Mitch Swepson back in Melbourne for the Test squad and Jack Wildermuth 50/50 to return after his lingering back injury. I reckon the Heat will roll the dice here and name Wildermuth but could use their X-factor if his form/back is no good in the field. The Heat’s 15-man squad also include Nathan McSweeney, Matthew Kuhnemann and Cameron Gannon but are unlikely to be considered here.

The Heat somewhat have been let down by two of their main stars in Mujeeb and Chris Lynn. Mujeeb was out for a duck and bowled 4 overs against the Thunder for 0 wickets and 8.5 economy rate. Lynn who did get going against the Renegades was out cheaply for 4 against the Thunder. The Heat really need these two to take ownership of games to put the Heat in a winning position. Can’t be living the mess to journeyman Tom Cooper to win games off the bat.

 

Likely XI: Lynn, Bryant, Duckett, Heazlett, Cooper, Peirson (c,wk), Bazley, Wildermuth, Bartlett, Steketee, Mujeeb

 

Looking for Draftstars scores from previous editions from the BBL? Our Free Players Logs + Ground Fantasy breakdowns are now available in Data Tools

 

Points Against BBL

 

Love It – Rashid Khan $21,700

I reckon Khan will be licking his lips against the prospect of spin amateurs in Lynn and Bryant and it is pretty unlikely that Ben Duckett has faced much of Khan either. Rashid under lights at the Adelaide is always a test for any batsman and despite forgetting how to bat, two fantasy 100+ scores through 4 games demands top salary. Perfect matchup and simply cannot ignore here.

 

Love It – Sam Heazlett $13,000

There is one Heat batsman who values his wicket is Heazlett at a relatively cheap price for his role. Batting at 4, Heazlett has complied Draftstars scores of 42, 57 and 81 in the tournament so far and all these three significant scores have come off excellent strike rate. There are plenty of options in Heazlett’s price range such as Renshaw, Weatherald and Wildermuth which should see his ownership fall a little.  

 

Don’t Love It – Peter Siddle $16,900

The salary is still too high for Sids despite a three-wicket haul in his first match, Siddle just can’t seem to contain the runs off his bowling. 3.2 Overs for 40, 4 overs for 46 and 4 overs for 42 doesn’t score you Draftstars points. However, Siddle can be involved in some junk time wickets if the Strikers can get into the Heat tail.

 

Don’t Love It – Matthew Short $16,600

Not sure if you saw it against the Sixers, but Short was an eye watering 50% owned against a pretty good Sixers side. Of course, Short has been involved at the top of the order and bowling part-time overs but we are not talking about D’Arcy Short here (maybe we should call him K-Mart D’Arcy). I am taking my chances on a fade here as the likes of Bartlett, Bazley and Steketee are good opening bowling options.

 

Who Knows – Jack Wildermuth $12,900

The Australian representative has not had the ideal start to BBL11 with back issues forcing him on the sidelines. Anything to do with a back injury means bowling first up is not on the agenda. If selected however, Wildermuth does provide good salary relief for a player who could be involved in the game. One to keep an eye on at the Bat Flip.  

 

Suggested Draftstars Lineup     

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