There is one match in the Big Bash League on Monday and it sees the tournament heading back to the capital of Canberra where the Sydney Thunder take on the Brisbane Heat at the Manuka Oval in a big game for both teams.
This is the second match of the season for both sides and after they both lost their opening game to the Melbourne Stars, they will each be keen to avoid a second successive loss which will leave them under early pressure in the event.
Sydney Thunder
There was a fair bit of optimism around the Sydney Thunder heading into the tournament but the air sort of went out of that balloon with them suffering a pretty tame defeat, although for a lot of their run chase they were in with a chance to running the Stars close only to suffer the sort of collapse in the last six or seven overs that you hope will not leave too many scars moving forward in the competition. It will take some strong minds to avoid that being the case.
The Thunder didn’t do too badly with the ball in their opening match, although there is still a bit of natural improvement to come from them in that discipline of the game. What they need to ensure they do not do is fall into that trap that cost them in the last game where the situation became their focus rather than getting players in and building partnerships which could still have got them home. This competition is about learning fast and it will be interesting to see if they do that.
Brisbane Heat
I think of all the eight sides in the competition the worse performance in the opening game came from the Brisbane Heat. Their batting was just clueless. It has to be said that their batting order didn’t look deep enough to begin with but not utilising the reduced powerplay with the Chris Lynn power felt like a mistake and proved to be exactly that. It didn’t get a whole lot better from there it has to be said and the Heat never really gave themselves a chance.
To be fair to Brisbane they did at least take a few scalps with them when it came to having their go with the ball but their bowling attack performed like it looked – green and very inexperienced. You get the feeling that if the Heat are going to do anything in this competition then their batsmen are going to have to do a lot of the job. They are a side who are crying out for their full overseas contingent to arrive and be ready to play.
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Team News
Shane Bond has again named Adam Milne in the squad for this match but has suggested that he won’t be available until their next match so the Sydney Thunder could be unchanged barring any late unforeseen injury news.
Brisbane Heat will be delighted that Mujeeb Ur Rahman has joined up with the squad and will join Dan Lawrence as an overseas player. Jack Wildermuth and Mark Steketee are both back from Australia A duty but there is still no Joe Burns, Marnus Labuschagne or Mitch Swepson.
Betting
The Sydney Thunder might be a bit of a tight price for this match but they are the team I expect to win it so I’m happy to back them accordingly in this match. I think they have by far the better and deeper batting line up, which with the change in rules is something I’m keen to keep on side, and their bowling options are probably better in this format of the game and on this ground as well despite not showing their best in the opening game.
The beating that the Brisbane Heat took in their first match after a pretty ordinary campaign last term will not have done a lot for their confidence and while they get three big players back, their batting still has a very light look to it which is a concern. Even with the players they have back switching from red ball to white ball is sometimes an adjustment that takes a while. I think the Thunder have more going for them here and I expect them to have too much in the match.
Tips
WON – Back Sydney Thunder to beat Brisbane Heat for a 3/10 stake at 1.73 with Coral
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