The Perth Scorchers are starting to find their grove. Image Source: cricket.com.au
Its the half way point of of KFC BBL10. The team at The Inner Sanctum have a look at all the teams to the halfway point and assess the performances to date and look ahead to what’s possible for the rest of the season.
Adelaide Strikers
Form (at 6 Jan 2021): 8 matches; 4 wins; 4 losses; 4th on the table
Most Valuable Player:
Rashid Khan: When it comes to naming the Strikers’ most valuable player over the first half of the season it is very hard to go past Afghan spin king Rashid Khan, who has again taken his game to another level in BBL10. Classed as the number one T20 bowler in the world, Khan has used his speed, skill, and changeups to bamboozle opposition batsmen and bring his side back into the game on numerous occasions. Collecting 11 wickets across the first seven games with an economy rate of 7.19, he is beginning to settle into the tournament nicely with his 3/18 against the Sixers two nights ago showcasing his transcendent talent. Along with his feats with the ball in hand, Khan has also had a large impact on matches with the bat as he is able to hit to all areas of the ground and produce outrageously effective stroke play. The newly crowned T20 player of the decade has been one of the very few match-winners for the Strikers in the first half of the season, making his impending departure due to national duties a critical blow to the team’s finals chances.
Best Young Player:
Wes Agar: The biggest surprise packet of BBL10, Wes Agar is experiencing a breakout tournament for the Strikers having been given more responsibility in the fast bowling cartel. In what is now his fifth BBL season with the Adelaide franchise, Agar is beginning to thrive in the T20 format, using his speed, bounce, and subtle change-ups to challenge opposition batsmen and contain big hitters both in the power surge and at the death. Currently sitting at eighth in the competitions wicket tally with 11 scalps with an impressive economy of 8.15, Agar’s increased production has been important to the team’s success and has formed impressive partnerships with fellow fast bowlers Daniel Worrall and Peter Siddle. The 23-year-old is a star on the rise in Australian cricket, with his start to this tournament showing he is one to watch when it comes to future national honours.
The Internationals:
It has been a mixed bag for the Strikers when it comes to the production of their international players, with the form of Rashid Khan masking the inconsistencies of his English counterparts. Returning for his second season in Striker blue, Phil Salt’s start to the season has been a roller coaster, to say the least, with his hit out or get out mentality yielding indifferent results. The best of Salt has been devastating with his 51 off 31 deliveries against the Scorchers on December 28 showcasing his full powerful range of ability. However, there have been too many mediocre scores in between for the Englishmen, whose lowly average of 17.57 isn’t good enough for an overseas import batsman. Danny Briggs has also had his struggles in the tournament thus far, with the early stages in particular seeing the Englishmen subbed out of two games. However, he has settled into his work nicely through the last couple of games with his performance of 2/8 against the Scorchers proving his class as a T20 bowler. With Khan set to depart in the coming week, Briggs will hold more responsibility as he leads the Strikers spinning brigade.
Best Win:
Game 2 vs Hobart Hurricanes: The Strikers found themselves under pressure heading into their return bout against the Hobart Hurricanes in match two, as a poor all-round performance in their season opener had them well and truly on the back foot. Coming up against the same opponent on foreign territory in Launceston, the men in Blue were able to flip the script and put in a complete display of dominant T20 cricket. Beginning with a classy bowling display lead by an outstanding 5/16 by veteran Peter Siddle, the Strikers were brutal in the run chase with top-order Stalwarts Jake Weatherald 68* and Alex Carey 55 putting together a match-winning partnership for the second wicket. Running away five wicked winners, this performance showed the great potential of this side with both bat and ball.
The win(s) that got away:
Game 3 vs Sydney Sixers: Following a big win over the Hobart Hurricanes, the Strikers came into their third match against the Sydney Sixers full of confidence and in top form. They would begin proceedings in a similar way to their previous victory with some masterful powerplay bowling by Daniel Worrall having them firmly in front of the game. Then Dan Christian arrived at the crease and blew the game apart with his 50 off 16 balls flipping the momentum and getting the Sixers up to a match-winning total of 177. Some early fireworks by Phil Salt would give the Strikers an early sniff, however, the consistent loss of wickets through the middle order saw them fall to a lowly 139 and rue a major opportunity lost.
Goals for the second half of the season:
Currently sitting at fifth on the table, the number one goal for the second of the season for the Strikers is to string some wins together and entrench themselves in the top four heading into the finals.
With their batting struggling over the last couple of games, they need the likes of Matthew Renshaw, Jono Wells, and Phil Salt to find some form and take the early pressure off their lower order to increase the run rate over the last five overs.
They will also be looking to get captain Travis Head back into the lineup following the conclusion of the Border-Gavaskar trophy, with his successful implementation back into the middle order critical to the hopes of this team moving forward.
Final comment:
Overall it has been an indifferent first half of the season for the Strikers, who after climbing to equal top of the ladder prior to New Year’s Eve have fallen back out of the top four following two straight losses. With their batting currently struggling to fire with any real fluency or consistency, they have been relying heavily on their excellent bowling attack to bail them out of tough situations. The impending departure of Rashid Khan will pose major problems for the Strikers moving towards the finals, with his X-Factor and match-winning ability critical to the overall gameplan of Jason Gillespie’s side.
If they are to seriously challenge for the top four and beyond, they need a major boost from their top order and the likes of Danny Briggs to step up as a front line spin bowling threat.
Zac Standish
Brisbane Heat
Form (at 6 Jan 2021): 7 matches; 3 wins; 4 losses; 6th on the table
Most Valuable Player:
Mujeeb Ur Rahman: Like an AFL fullback, he may not get fans giddy with excitement but his impact has been enormous. The 19-year-old has gone at an economy rate of 6.2 after missing the first game, allowing Brisbane to largely control the middle overs of an innings, halting the opposition’s momentum. The second-ranked t20I bowler gets just rewards too, picking up 11 wickets from his six matches including a five-wicket haul. Far harder to measure is his excellent partnership bowling that results in wickets from the pressure he’s built up. To emphasize his continual equilibrium of output, he’s bowled his full 4-over allotment each game, going wicketless just once and never conceding more than 27 runs. With Mitch Swepson on test duty, the importance of his performance as the senior spinner is heightened and he’s stepped up magnificently. Unfortunately, he’ll only be able to play until January 14 for Brisbane before departing to represent Afghanistan in a bilateral series against Ireland.
Best Young Player:
James Bazley: Perhaps he isn’t young by age, but he certainly is when it comes to BBL experience. The 25-year-old has been on Brisbane’s and the Hobart Hurricanes rosters in recent seasons but injury has restricted him to just one appearance back in 2014. Came in under pressure in his first two games, but smashed 31 and 49 at a strike rate in excess of 150, an explosive late order hitter for a team often faltering. Has had the limited opportunity since, but also contributes with handy medium pacers, so as his confidence continues to grow he’ll become a handy package for the Heat.
The Internationals:
Have generally done well. Mujeeb ur Rahmann has been superb, while their trio of Englishmen, overall, have contributed. Dan Lawrence was disappointing scoring only 41 runs at a paltry strike rate of 93 and engaged in a bubble breach attracting negative headlines. All-rounder Lewis Gregory has proven to be a handy pickup from England. played an explosive cameo with the bat to see Brisbane over the line against the Sixers and claimed three wickets in his first match against the Hurricanes but his medium pacers have otherwise been a touch expensive. Fellow Englishman Joe Denly has arrived for Brisbane’s January games, as a replacement for late withdrawal Tom Banton and made an impact in his second game, his fifty against the Thunder anchoring their successful chase.
Best Win:
Brisbane’s 7th game of the season v Thunder: Their win against the Thunder meant they have now recorded victories against both the table-topping Sydney teams in their last two matches. The win was important because, despite being on top for much of the run chase, the Thunder took it deep, with Brisbane’s ability to hang on likely giving them plenty of confidence having surrendered similar games earlier in the season (see below). It also saw Chris Lynn return as an X-Factor substitute for his first game after an injury layoff and Joe Denly find some form with a guiding 50. Joe Burns’ also passed 50 in a return to form which was heartening for Gabba onlookers and Australian cricket fans more broadly. It could be the perfect launchpad for the remainder of the season.
The win(s) that got away:
The Brisbane Heat could have themselves entrenched in the top five, if not for a couple of final over losses. The first of the two was a pre-Christmas match against Adelaide. While they needed 83 off 40 with two wickets in hand, Jimmy Peirson got it down to the last ball with a quickfire 69. They were ultimately left to rue the failures of their top order with the target just 151. The second- against the Hurricanes- saw them chasing the same target but this time it was James Bazley steering the ship with 49 off 31. He was starved of the strike late though, with tailender Mark Steketee facing seven of the last nine deliveries leaving one run needed off the last ball to force a super over. Hurricanes international Colin Ingram prevented that drama with a direct hit run out to once again catch Brisbane short of the total.
Goals for the second half of the season:
The Brisbane Heat batsmen will hope to put a higher price on their wicket in the second half of the season. It was the talk of the preseason after an all-or-nothing – and more often nothing – BBL| 09 but it’s again been a dire consequence of their helter-skelter approach. Partnership building will be something the Heat will hope to see more of, with only the out-of-sorts Melbourne Renegades averaging more wickets lost per game. Perhaps it’s a symptom of a lack of stability with 12 different batsmen thrown around their top seven, mostly circumstantially. But with Joe Burns back from test duty, Chris Lynn returning from injury, and their internationals steady, they have an opportunity to settle on their best lineup and stick to it leading into finals- should they progress.
A key to their progression will be when they finally get Morne Morkel on the park. After securing him in the preseason as a local player, he hasn’t been able to get on the park due to an injury, then quarantine requirements. His steepling bounce will be crucial to add venom to an attack that will soon be without consistent weapon Ur Rahman.
Final comment:
Some players in the first half of the season have shown promising signs they’ll hope to carry into the latter stages. Jimmy Peirson has shown himself to be an important anchor and can accelerate, Jack Wildermuth has looked excellent with the ball and had two solid batting performances while James Bazley has been a surprise packet. Mark Steketee, too, has exceeded expectations, so the return of Chris Lynn after back-to-back wins will rightly have Brisbane fans optimistic. As their batting order settles, and the bowling order strengthens with the inclusions of Morkel and Swepson, the firepower should extend beyond Lynn which is exciting for Brisbane. With four of their last seven matches against the struggling Renegades and Scorchers, they’re well poised to build momentum and confidence, so should make the top five… but Heat fans know not to take anything for granted.
Jonty Ralphsmith
Hobart Hurricanes
Form (at 6 Jan 2021): 8 matches; 5 wins; 3 losses; 3rd on the table
Most Valuable Player:
Ben McDermott: Holding the golden cap as the league’s highest run-scorer (currently 277), McDermott is an integral part of the Hurricanes’ top order. With a strike rate of 136.45, McDermott is one of the most reliable with the bat in BBL10, producing runs regularly and quickly. Onfield, McDermott has also managed six catches this season proving his versatility as a player. There is no doubt that he won’t continue to perform similarly for the remainder of the season.
Best Young Player:
Riley Meredith: The 24-year-old is comfortably amongst the mix for the golden arm this season, taking 12 wickets so far, in a tie with teammate Nathan Ellis and only two behind current leader, Wes Agar who sits on 14. His best was 3-21 against the Heat in match 20 taking the pivotal wicket in Jack Wildermuth for a duck, following it with only allowing a single for Tom Cooper and a short stint for Lewis Gregory.
The Internationals:
Colin Ingram and Dawid Malan are proving handy with the bat for the Hurricanes, scoring 155 and 228 respectively so far. Will Jacks has made a couple of appearances in the opening partnership, however, his best only 34 against the Strikers in match five was overshadowed by his two occasions having to depart on a duck.
Making his first appearance for BBL10 in the first encounter against the Stars due to recovering and isolating from COVID-19, Sandeep Lamichhane has cemented his position in the bowling order early on. In his two games, Lamichanne has managed three wickets against his old side.
Keemo Paul has only kitted up twice for the Hurricanes and hasn’t been able to contribute too much for his side. In match 20 against the Heat, Paul conceded quite a few runs, despite making a wicket, finishing on 1-41. His other appearance against the Hurricanes saw him allow 27 runs without any wickets,
Best Win:
Match 23 vs Melbourne Stars at Blundstone Arena: Batting first, the Hurricane’s finished their innings on 5/164, with Malan claiming his maiden BBL half-century with 75 of 56. The Hurricanes’ bowlers allowed the Stars skipper Glen Maxwell to finish his innings with 70 off 37, making it look all too easy for his side to take the win. The fall of Maxwell’s wicket began the downward spiral for the rest of the Stars order, who were all out 6/26. The Hurricane’s secured a win of 21 runs after the Stars finished all out for 143.
The win(s) that got away:
Match 27 vs Melbourne Stars at Blundstone Arena: Hailed as potentially the game of the season for BBL10, the Hurricanes and Stars played their second encounter only two days after their first meeting. McDermott again starred, scoring 91 off 58 to match a performance similar to the Stars Marcus Stoinis who scored 97* – who tried to search for his tonne on his last ball, just falling short. Stars international recruit, West Indies Andre Fletcher was the man who helped his team level the wins between the two sides, taking two imperative and quite entertaining catches; making Ingram and McDermott walk off the pitch. McDermott’s departure left the Hurricanes needing 21 off the last over, which would have looked possible if the batsman wasn’t caught. Ultimately, the Hurricanes fell short 11 runs in a game that could have been theirs for the taking.
Goals for the second half of the season:
The Hurricanes have not had a consistent opening partnership this season, with on many occasions the batsmen having to leave the field on a duck. The side has tried a combination of D’Arcy Short, McDermott, and Jacks. Whilst on individual occasions, each have performed, it has only been in two games – match 27 against the Stars and match 5 against the Strikers. The Hurricanes should aim to find a reliable partner for D’Arcy Short, allowing McDermott to do his thing at number three. Although the opening partnership proved not to be too much of an issue, those close calls games could have easily been theres for the taking.
Final comment:
The men in Purple have to face current top of the table positioned Sydney Sixers, as well the Sydney Thunder twice who are second by NRR. As it comes to the latter part of the season, the Hurricanes will need to secure a win or two in these games to prove not only the side are contenders this year to take out the league but to remain in the top four.
Tricia Mifsud
Melbourne Renegades
Form (at 6 Jan 2021): 8 matches; 1 win; 7 losses; 8th on the table
Most Valuable Player:
Shaun Marsh: Often relied on for the Renegades with the bat, Marsh has three 50’s to his name including a whopping 87 against the Thunder. The 37-year-old is getting better with age and is currently 4th in the BBL golden bat race at the halfway mark of the season with 247 runs.
Best Young Player:
Peter Hatzoglou: A spinner who has turned the ball and heads already this season, has been a diamond in the rough for the Renegades taking seven wickets at an average of 28.14. He took 2-29 on debut against the Perth Scorchers, trapping Cameron Bancroft and Mitch Marsh LBW, and has been solid in every game since.
The Internationals:
Like most of the Renegades side, they haven’t delivered enough. Rilee Roussouw scored a brilliant 59 against the Hurricanes but hasn’t done much since while Mohammed Nabi has been serviceable without being great with both bat and ball. Imad Wasim and Noor Ahmad have had opportunities and have looked promising, all would hope for a good second half.
Best Win:
First game against the Scorchers in Hobart: The Renegades started their season off in style, defeating the Scorchers by 6 wickets with just under four overs to spare. Josh Lalor was awarded MOTM in his Renegades debut with three wickets while Shaun Marsh was dominant with the bat, scoring 62 runs at a strike rate of 131.91.
The win(s) that got away:
Vs Thunder at Metricon. The Renegades scored a whopping 6-166 in 17 overs on a wet night at Metricon Stadium. Shaun Marsh turned back the clock with a superb 87 off 48 balls whilst ‘The President’ Mohammed Nabi provided a cameo with a knock of 33. As the rain started to tumble, so did the Renegades.
A poor bowling performance saw the Thunder score 117 off 12 overs to be ahead of the D/L par score when the game was called off due to heavy rain.
Goals for the second half of the season:
Find a couple of wins: The Renegades finals hopes are already done. The Gades’ has had some of its worst losses in history this season and will be out to gain some respect and honor. Consistency is needed as they often find themselves
Final comment:
It’s been a tough time for the men in Red since their triumphant BBL08 victory. The Renegades are just 4-18 (W/L) since then and are becoming the easy beats for the rest of the competition. Their bowling has been inconsistent and without big scores from captain Aaron Finch and the ageing Shaun Marsh, the Gades’ struggle to make competitive totals with the bat.
James Strebinos
Melbourne Stars
Form line (at 6 Jan 2021): 7 matches; 3 wins; 3 losses; 1 no result; 5th on the table
Most Valuable Player:
Glenn Maxwell: Maxwell’s form from the international white-ball matches has undoubtedly continued into the BBL. He’s led the way for the Stars with the bat and is currently third in the race for the Golden Cap, with 255 runs at a strike rate of 153.6. Innings of 71* and 70 highlight Maxwell’s importance to the Stars’ lineup, Maxwell top-scoring in both instances. Among Maxwell’s other scores are contributions of 46 and 39, both key knocks in the Stars’ first two matches.
Best Young Player:
Liam Hatcher: Hatcher has tackled his role in the Stars’ bowling lineup with aplomb. Having never played a BBL game before this season, he impressed with 3/28 on debut against the Thunder, taking the wickets of Callum Ferguson, Ben Cutting, and Daniel Sams. Hatcher has gone wicketless in just one of his six BBL games to date, with figures of 2/17 against the Scorchers and 3/33 against the Sixers two more impressive showings. In Nathan Coulter-Nile’s absence, Hatcher will have plenty more opportunity to impress for the Stars.
The Internationals:
While new cult hero Andre ‘The Spiceman’ Fletcher hasn’t achieved much for the Stars at the top of the order, he’s certainly been an entertainer. Fletcher will have a couple of big sixes to add to his highlight reel, as well as two stunning catches in the same match against the Hobart Hurricanes. The Stars will be hoping to get some more contribution with the bat from Fletcher, however, if they are to claim their first BBL title.
Nicholas Pooran stole the headlines following his innings of 65 from 26 balls against the Sydney Sixers. While he hasn’t maintained that form with the bat, Pooran definitely displayed his middle-order proficiency. The Stars will be hoping he can produce more blistering innings like that, particularly given their recent middle-order woes.
The Stars also poached Zahir Khan from the Brisbane Heat, though the left-arm wrist-spinner has not yet taken a wicket for his new side. Pakistani fast bowler Dilbar Hussain played two games for the Stars, before injuring his hamstring and returning home.
Best Win:
v Hobart Hurricanes, Blundstone Arena: Slumping to 3/49 inside eight overs, the Stars’ fate was left in the hands of Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran, and Hilton Cartwright. A contribution of 26 from Pooran steadied the innings as he and Stoinis put on 60 runs for the fourth wicket before Cartwright and Stoinis added another 54 runs. With Cartwright dismissed, Stoinis needed 21 from the last over to reach a second BBL hundred but fell just short, finishing on 97*.
Sam Rainbird’s wicket of D’Arcy Short in the fifth over was what the Stars needed to get on a roll, however, Ben McDermott proved to be the thorn in the Stars’ side, racing his way to 91 from 54 balls before an incredible catch from Andre Fletcher saw the end of the Hurricanes opener. With 20 still needed from the final over, the Hurricanes managed 10, handing the Stars a close and entertaining ten-run win.
The win(s) that got away:
v Sydney Sixers, Metricon Stadium: The Stars were on the wrong end of arguably the most exciting game of BBL|10 so far, and even the history of the BBL. After posting 5/193 thanks to a 125-run partnership from Glenn Maxwell and Nicholas Pooran, the Stars were well placed to take a stranglehold on the match, having also reduced the Sixers to 2/5 inside the second over.
However, a stunning knock of 96 from 51 from Sixers skipper Daniel Hughes led the way for the Stars’ opposition, assisted by a few lower-order contributions. Needing 20 to win with Maxwell bowling the final over, Hughes had reduced the required total to four by the time he was dismissed with three balls left. With two new batsmen at the crease and still four runs to win, Steve O’Keefe was hit on the pads by a full-toss, which unfortunately for the Stars, trickled away to the third man boundary to snatch victory from the Stars.
Goals for the second half of the season:
The Stars’ most glaring issue at the moment is perhaps their middle order, with inconsistent contributions from all except Maxwell a particular burden on the Stars’ competitiveness. Consistency from the likes of Pooran and Cartwright, as well as solid foundations from Stoinis and Fletcher at the top of the order, to accompany Maxwell’s power-hitting, will be key for the Stars’ tilt towards a first BBL title. With such firepower in their batting lineup, the Stars will hope for cohesive and consistent performances from their top six, enabling them to reach scores of 170+ on a consistent basis.
Final comment:
The injury to Nathan Coulter – Nile is an untimely one. His bowling skill and capable lower-order power hitting has been particularly hard for the Stars to replace. The batting lineup is strong on paper, so it’s a matter of living up to that for the Stars, and backing it up with the ball – and a relatively inexperienced fast-bowling lineup – will be a key focus as the Stars chase their elusive first BBL title.
Will Cuckson
Perth Scorchers
Form (at 6 Jan 2021): 6 matches; 2 wins; 3 losses; 1 no result; 7th on the table
Most Valuable Player:
Jhye Richardson: the fit-again young tearaway is steaming in and pushing the speed gun at the top of the bowling innings for the men in Orange. 9 wickets in 6 games, including two 3fa’s against the Adelaide Strikers, has set himself up for a strong finish to the tournament as he pushes for higher honors in Cricket in 2021. A strike bowler who does most of his damage with the new ball in the powerplay making him such a threat to opposition top orders with his pace and swing.
Best Young Player:
Josh Inglis: a much more settled and experienced Perth Scorchers lineup this year has allowed Josh Inglis time to slowly build into the tournament and find his groove both with bat in hand and behind the stumps. Recent standout performances after dropping back down the order have helped the young keeper, dubbed “Baby Baz” in comparison to former New Zealand striker Brendon McCullum, playing in the same swashbuckling manner. Recent contributions for 44* on New Years eve helped net the Scorcher their first win of the season before returning to Optus Stadium with 72* off 41 balls, hitting them everywhere. One would suspect he is tuning up for a big back end of the season.
The Internationals:
The Scorchers went for flair and power at the top from their overseas players which have been hit and miss across the early rounds of the season. Big-hitting Kiwi, Colin Munro has played all 6 games and netted two scores of substance with 49 against the Stars in Launceston and 52 against the Renegades more recently at Optus Stadium. A top-order batsman who has dropped down the order to accommodate the likes of Inglis and fellow internationals, English duo Jason Roy & Liam Livingstone who have both recently joined the squad following their quarantine on arrival. Roy has made contributions at the top of the order, tasked with playing his natural game and getting the team off to a flying start while Livingstone has made small impacts with the bat and ball without a massive contribution with the bat as he did last year.
Best Win:
Adelaide Strikers – New Year’s Eve: for a team who relishes their home advantage and support like no other, it was important for them to bag a win before returning to Perth for a run of games at home at Optus Stadium. There was no bigger occasion to secure their first win of the season than New Year’s Eve at the Adelaide Oval against the in-form Strikers. The seamers, led by Jhye Richardson didn’t let the Strikers get away before Jason Roy and Mitchell Marsh steered the chase home for the visitors and kick-started their season.
The win(s) that got away:
Melbourne Stars. Launceston: Beaten by the rain and robbed of a chance to kickstart their tournament early and forced to split the points. They will be cursing the weather gods in Launceston.
Goals for the second half of the season:
With a stretch of games at Optus Stadium before hitting the road again, the Scorchers will be looking to bank more wins and build momentum as the tournament reaches its business end. With a healthy squad, players available and good depth, the Scorchers will be wanting their batsman, particularly their international and Australian playing superstars to continue to fire and build form before getting back on the road charging towards another Finals berth.
Final comment:
They might have started slowly out of the gate with a number of big defeats but a team like the Perth Scorchers will never be down for too long. They have a good list and have started to get some wins on the board. Now with a stretch of games at Optus Stadium, they are a team to watch as we move into the next part of the BBL season.
Jono Baruch
Sydney Sixers
Form (at 6 Jan 2021): 7 matches; 5 wins; 2 losses; 1st on the table
Most Valuable Player & Best Young Player:
Josh Philippe: Philippe has been a revelation since joining the Sixers in BBL|07, and despite only being 23, has easily been their best and most consistent performer in BBL|10.
The entertaining opener has scored 261 runs from his seven innings, with his innings of 95 a highlight. His ball-striking ability, evidenced in his batting strike rate of 144.1, is also key at the top of the Sixers’ order, while his ability to wicket-keep also provides the Sixers lineup with plenty of versatility.
The Internationals:
Carlos Brathwaite has been handy for the Sixers, with a couple of nice cameos with the bat and a few good outings with the ball. He’s recorded three two-wicket hauls with the ball and has seven wickets in total for the tournament, going at a tidy economy of 7.7 with an average of 22 runs per wicket.
James Vince has played a couple of nice innings with the bat, scores of 67 against the Hurricanes and 45* against the Strikers the highlights. Batting at 3, the Sixers will be hoping for a few more innings like these from Vince, particularly due to his ability to play an anchor role in the middle order but still score quickly.
Jason Holder left his mark on the BBL with a match-winning 33* from 18 balls against the Renegades, a knock which saw him hit 16 runs from the final over to single-handedly win the match. Holder may still be on standby for the Sixers, as he opted not to travel Bangladesh for the West Indies’ test series due to COVID-19 concerns.
Holder’s replacement player, Englishman Jake Ball, who was the leading wicket-taker in the 2020 Vitality Blast in England, and has played just one game for the Sixers. His new team will be hoping he can replicate his death bowling skill during his time in Australia.
Best Win:
Melbourne Stars, Metricon Stadium: After Glenn Maxwell and Nicholas Pooran recorded a 125-run partnership to propel the Stars to 5/193, the Sixers were on the back foot early, having been 2/5 in the second over.
A stunning knock of 96 from 51 from skipper Daniel Hughes led the way for the Sixers, an innings featuring six fours and seven sixes. Assisted by lower-order contributions from veteran Dan Christian and internationals Holder and Brathwaite, the Sixers needed a very reasonable 23 of 12 for victory.
However, an excellent death over from Liam Hatcher, which yielded just three runs for the batting side, left the Sixers needing 20 to win with Glenn Maxwell bowling the final over. Hughes hit 16 from the first three balls of the over, before falling agonizingly short of a maiden BBL ton with three balls and four runs remaining.
With two new batsmen at the crease, four runs to win, and two balls remaining, Steve O’Keefe was hit on the pads by a full-toss, which trickled away to the third man boundary to secure a famous victory for the Sixers, and certainly the most exciting of BBL|10 thus far.
The win(s) that got away:
Brisbane Heat, Gabba: The Sixers posted a reasonable 8/165 in the first innings, thanks to contributions of 48 from Josh Philippe and 43 from Jordan Silk. With the Heat having only won one game before this matchup, the Sixers would have been confident in their ability to defend their first-innings score.
The Sixers defended well, to begin with, claiming the Bash Boost point with the Heat 3/78 after 10 overs. The Sixers were well-placed to take a full hold on the game up until the 17th over, with Carlos Brathwaite conceding 14 runs as the Heat began to accelerate.
With the Heat needing 14 from the final two overs of their innings, it was still anyone’s game, but some clean and powerful striking from Lewis Gregory and Jack Wildermuth saw the Heat power to a comfortable 4-wicket victory with seven balls to spare.
Goals for the second half of the season:
Placed on top of the table after seven games, there isn’t much the Sixers need to drastically change. The Inner Sanctum’s pre-season analysis of the Sixers outlined a potential lack of quick scoring in the middle order, marking it as an area for improvement, however they’ve well and truly delivered what was needed. Jordan Silk (SR of 151.56) and Dan Christian (SR of 215.21) have been excellent at this, but the Sixers will certainly hope they’ll be able to continue this form.
Perhaps another area for the Sixers to identify will be getting the most out of some more of their recruits, particularly their internationals. More consistency from James Vince and Carlos Brathwaite, as well as some good performances from Jake Ball, will be what the Sixers are after. Jack Edwards has also impressed on occasion in his opening role alongside Josh Philippe, though the Sixers will be hoping for a few more handy innings from the young gun.
Final comment:
With key cogs in the team performing strongly and consistently, the Sixers are undoubtedly one of the most formidable teams in BBL|10. Continued consistency from these players, as well as good supporting performances from others, will make the Sixers a scary team to face come the finals as they chase their second title in as many years.
Will Cuckson
Sydney Thunder
Form (at 6 Jan 2021): 7 matches; 5 wins; 2 losses; 2nd on the table
Most Valuable Player:
Alex Hales: Hales Is currently tied with skipper Callum Ferguson for most runs for the Thunder with 243. The Englishmen is averaging 34.71 and is providing all the flair when opening alongside Usman Khwaja at the top of the order.
Best Young Player
Tanveer Sangha : the teenage leg spinner is the current golden arm and is spinning a web across this competition, dismissing some of the best batsman in the competition. After a standout performance for Australia at the u19 World Cup in January 2020, the younger brother of Thunder listed batsman Jason has taken his opportunity with both hands and has been one of the finds of the tournament to date.
The Internationals:
Englishman Alex Hales started the season off strongly, scoring 46 in the Thunder’s first game. Back-to-back golden ducks would have been concerning, however, Hales has since posted scores of 35, 71, 45 and 46, and sits equal fifth on the Golden Cap leaderboard with 243 runs at a strike rate of 176.
Adam Milne has taken just two wickets in his four Thunder games so far, but continues to impress and threaten with his pace. Sam Billings has played three matches, taking the gloves for the Thunder on each occasion, but hasn’t done a whole lot with the bat.
Best Win:
Melbourne Stars at Manuka: The Thunder dominated with both bat and ball, scoring 7-219 before bowling the Stars out for 144. Alex Hales was MOTM with 71 off 29 including five 6’s and eight 4’s. Chris Green got 4 wickets which included the dismissals of both openers, Stoinis and Fletcher.
The win that got away:
The Thunder have only lost two games but the game against the Heat was definitely winnable. The men in green were serviceable with the bat without being great. Alex Hales fell four runs short of a 50 but put on a 77 run partnership with captain Callum Ferguson. Daniel Sams (37) tormented the Heat for the second time in three weeks, joining former Heat all-rounder Ben Cutting (24) to boost the Thunder’s total to a competitive 8-174.
It was never enough as Chris Lynn’s 16-ball 30 and Joe Denly’s 36-ball 50 helped Burns who regained form with 52 to guide the Heat home.
Goals for the second half of the season:
Simple. Keep winning. The Thunder have the batters and the squad depth to go all the way and with the rise of spinner Tanveer Sangha, their bowling is complimenting their batting nicely. Pending on COVID, the Thunder will have a stretch of games at their home Sydney Showgrounds Stadium to finish the season. Winning those games and continuing their momentum will be important in the race for the finals.
Final comment:
The Thunder have set up their campaign nicely with wins at the start of the competition and have put in good performances throughout the competition thus far. With games coming up at home and with players in form, they are primed to make a good run at it.
James Strebinos
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