BBL08 GAME 27: STRIKERS v STARS
I expect the Strikers to be dominant so I’ve taken 16 overs of bowling & two top order batsman tonight
The Re-cap
We did almost everything right last night. Lynn went cheaply, McCullum got runs, Cutting got runs. But when they both spooned shots to cow corner AND came out of the break unable to catch a ball it was all over for us. Bounce-back game tonight, value galore!
Likely XI’s
Game 27: Strikers v Stars @ Adelaide Oval
Strikers – Weatherald, Head, Ingram, Short, Wells, Nielsen, Neser, Khan, Laughlin, O’Connor, Agar (Valente, Lehman)
- Three changes with 8 overs (Siddle/Stanlake) and an opening bat (Carey) coming straight out of the side. Expect Head to open. Wells is one who could come up the order but they love the job he is doing at #5. Nielsen to get the gloves and probably bat #6. Agar likely to come in as no one else in this squad bowls over 130km!
Stars – Dunk, Gulbis, Larkin, Maddinson, Gotch, Bravo, Merlo, Plunkett, Boland, Beer, Bowe (Morris, Bird)
- Morris into the squad but will be tough to crack into the XI. He could come in at the expense of Merlo if the Stars want to stack their bowling tonight but think they stick to the winning lineup from last start.
Selection Committee
A strikers-stack makes sense for plenty of reasons tonight. First, the Strikers do like to bat first at home and I can’t see that depleted Stars unit wanting to go out and post a total first up so it’s a decent bet the Stars bowl first which plays right into the Strikers stack. Really wanted Larkin to anchor the Stars innings. Expect him to bat #3 regardless tonight. Settled for Gotch though, he should be under-owned once again. Taken 16 overs of Strikers and two top order batsmen.
Selection
Jake Weatherald ($17,000): Has started to hit some fantasy form now and with Carey away he should place a higher price on his wicket tonight. Of course, BBL players SHOULD be able to catch but don’t always get what we should in this game. Still I think with Khan and Bravo in the side, and Head also expensive, Weatherald could be that star player that many miss tonight to bring him into high 30’s ownership.
Colin Ingram ($14,800): No captaincy duties for Ingram tonight, just see ball smash ball. Should still bat #3 and if he can survive Bowe who can be tricky for left-handers, I don’t see anyone else in that Stars bowling attack who will concern him.
Seb Gotch ($10,400): if our Strikers bowling stack is going to be effective we will be looking to the lower end of that Stars middle order for some solid runs and Gotch fits the bill nicely. Usually goes very unnoticed at selection and if Khan and co can impact the Stars top order Gotch could get 8-10 overs tonight.
Michael Neser ($12,000): The ideas behind taking a whole bowling unit, or most of one, is that they help each other to keep pressure on batsman. So when Rashid Khan goes for just 2 runs I his first over, chances are Neser can pick up the wicket as the batsman look to be overly aggressive. I don’t like Neser and he has not performed on the Adelaide pitch yet this BBL, but he can swing it early and should be utilized late as well. Many will pick Gulbis here for $100 less but if I’m playing two sides I’m probably taking Larkin in this spot.
Rashid Khan ($22,300): His 88pt average looks supreme but he is scoring just 65pts / game in three games at the Adelaide Oval this season. Still, against this lesser Stars batting order I can’t see how he fails, so he goes straight in here. 2/20ish return very likely.
Liam O’Connor ($11,200): Copped it abit second up (9.25 economy) but he is pretty locked into his 4 overs and again, against this Stars attack that has not played spin overly well all season, I am inclined to expect a 50+ return from O’Connor here. Hopefully he will go overlooked again.
Ben Laughlin ($10,400): Could this be his return to form game? That Stars tail is long and if Laughlin gets a look at it, the fantasy ton could be in real trouble. Absolutely due for a solid game and has not climbed up past 25% ownership yet so you are getting a death bowler in a dominant side at sensational ownership.
Final Thought
I expect the Strikers to be pretty dominant here so I’ve taken 16 overs of their bowling and two of their best batsman. Unlucky players to miss were Liam Bowe who I really like. I don’t mind pairing Bowe with say Jono Wells and hoping the Stars spinner takes a few wickets after the power play. Larkin is the other guy I was reluctant to leave out. More than happy to fade Gulbis who will be very popular again if named to open. If I’m playing a more balanced side I’m probably swapping Neser/Laughlin/Ingram with Larkin/Wells/Bowe.
BBL08 Balance
Games: 26
Spend: $390
Win: $428.77
Profit: +$38.77