BBL08 GAMES 50 & 51: Sunday Double Header
Renshaw’s spin could be used here again tonight which makes him a cheap all-rounder option to plug in against the Strikers.
The Re-cap
We are officially in the home stretch of this marathon BBL season which means we have some work to do to get back in the black after horrible finishes in the last two games. Nothing like a double header to turn things around!
Likely XI’s
Game 50: Strikers v Heat @ Adelaide Oval
Strikers – Carey, Weatherald, Lehman, Ingram, Wells, Nielsen, Khan, Neser, Siddle Laughlin, O’Connor (Valente, Agar)
- Siddle returns for Stanlake, expect the Strikers to take in a second spinner tonight against the Heat who have struggled with the slow stuff ( slightly more than they have struggled with everything else).
Heat – McCullum, Bryant, Lynn, Renshaw, Alex Ross, Pierson, Cutting, Swepson, Lalor, Kuhnemann, Prestwidge (Heazlett, Steketee)
- Mujeeb is out which makes it likely they will play both Swepson and Kuhnemann. Prestwidge should edge out Steketee for the third seamer spot. Could possibly play both seamers and rely on Renshaw’s part time spin and sit Swepson out, for some reason he seems to be on the outer up there. Watch for final XI news.
Game 51: Scorchers v Stars @ Optus Stadium
Scorchers –Klinger, Bancroft, Inglis, Turner, M. Marsh, Cartwright, Hinchcliff, Coulter-Nile, Kelly, Tye, BehrenDorff, (Hobson, Guthrie)
- Does Klinger get a Perth farewell? With the Scorchers out of the finals you’d have to think he does. Coulter-Nile back in as well, Shaun Marsh exits as does Quadir. Ash Turner could chip in with some spin here.
Stars – Dunk, Stoinis, Handscomb, Maxwell, Maddinson, Bravo, Gulbis Plunkett, Zampa, Bird Coleman (Gotch, Worrall)
- Coleman into the squad and he should play on that pace-friendly Perth deck. Worrall’s swing could be a big factor in Perth so don’t be surprised to see him in there as well. I’d drop Plunkett for this game given the pitch but they may be reluctant to bench the international.
Selection Committee
For the early game we’re going for a full-blown Striker bowlers stack, taking 16 overs with the ball for Adelaide plus Lehmann and Ingram to hopefully get some runs in that middle order. Renshaw’s spin could be used here again tonight which makes him a cheap all-rounder option to plug in.
Team: Renshaw, Lehmann, Neser, Ingram, Siddle, Khan, Laughlin
A more balanced approach in Perth tonight, hoping for mass runs as we’re taking 6 batsman into the contest. Paid up for the two Star superstars in Maxy and Stoinis and have gone back to the well with the Scorcher top order despite their best efforts to make my never-again list.
Team: Bancroft, Turner, Stoinis, Maddinson, Maxwell, Coleman, Marsh
Final Thoughts
It’s very tough to get a proper bead on games that feature teams who can’t make finals, especially when those teams are so badly out of form which is what we have here in both games tonight. Hopefully we can get back into the winners list and finish the season off strong.
BBL08 Balance
Games: 47
Spend: $705
Win: $672.21
Profit: -$32.78