GameDay Squad AUS Cricket Qualifier Round Preview: The Brisbane Heat take on the Sydney Sixers in the Qualifier Round of BBL13 in Carrara at Carrara Stadium on Friday the 19th of January.
Here's everything you need to know ....
Predicted Teams
Brisbane Heat: 1. Josh Brown, 2. Jimmy Peirson, 3. Nathan McSweeney, 4. Matt Renshaw, 5. Max Bryant, 6. Paul Walter, 7. Michael Neser, 8. Xavier Bartlett, 9. Spencer Johnson, 10. Mitchell Swepson, 11. Matthew Kuhnemann
Sydney Sixers: 1. Daniel Hughes, 2. Josh Philippe, 3. Kurtis Patterson, 4. Moises Henriques, 5. Jordan Silk, 6. Jack Edwards, 7. Hayden Kerr, 8. Ben Dwarshuis, 9. Sean Abbott, 10. Jackson Bird, 11. Steve O'Keefe
Start Vs Sit
All-rounder - Moises Henriques vs Sean Abbott
Both of these players have had their moments in BBL13 and it's a coin flip on who to start. In the all-rounder ranks for AUS Cricket, Henriques is ranked 17th with an average of 34 points and Abbott is ranked 21st with an average of 32 points. Henriques has ranked as one of the top four all-rounders in a match in five of his eight matches. Abbott has ranked as one of the top four all-rounders in a match in five of his six matches. As you can see, there isn't really anything separating these two all-rounders. Even though Abbott hasn't lived up to many GDS coaches expectations, I'm leaning towards starting him ahead of Henriques. The main reason for this is because I can't see Henriques featuring with the ball in this match. Henriques hasn't had a bowl in his last five matches and in these matches he has ranked as one of the top four all-rounders twice, with an average of 25 points. Don't get me wrong, he could score 50+ runs and Abbott might not pick up any wickets. I just think there is more of a chance for Abbott to outscore Henriques.
Start: Sean Abbott
Bowler - Spencer Johnson vs Ben Dwarshuis
After reviewing the below matchup and ground matrixes, I'm going to be fading spin bowlers for this match. That leave's Johnson and Dwarshuis battling out for the third spot in the GDS starting XI. In the bowler ranks for AUS Cricket, Johnson is ranked 14th with an average of 35 points and Dwarshuis is ranked 12th with an average of 37 points. Johnson has ranked as one of the top three bowlers in a match in three of his eight matches. Dwarshuis has ranked as one of the top three bowlers in a match in five of his eight matches. As you can see, there isn't really anything separating these two bowlers. When the Heat and Sixers came up against each other a couple of weeks ago, Dwarshuis scored 42 points and Johnson scored 30 points. Like many of the starting decisions in this match, this is another tough one. I am leaning towards Dwarshuis ever so slightly and the reason for this is pace bowlers have averaged five more points against the Heat than they have against the Sixers. However, pace bowlers have had a lot of success at this venue when bowling in the second innings. If the Heat bowl second, I'm probably going to pivot to Johnson.
Start: Whoever bowls in the second innings out of Spencer Johnson and Ben Dwarshuis.
Matchup Matrix
Key Takeaways:
Opening and middle order batsmen haven't scored well against the Heat
Pace bowlers have scored well against the Heat
Lower order batsmen have had success against the Sixers
Ground Matrix
Key Takeaways:
Opening batsmen in the second innings can score well here
Middle and lower batsmen haven't scored well in the second innings
Pace bowlers in the second innings can score well here
Hot Take
Jackson Bird will take 3+ wickets as he helps the Sixers win and secure a spot in the Final.
Who to play in your GDS starting XI
BAT - Daniel Hughes
BAT - Josh Brown
BAT - Jordan Silk
ALL - Paul Walter
ALL - Michael Neser
ALL - Hayden Kerr
ALL - Sean Abbott
WK - Josh Philippe
BWL - Xavier Bartlett
BWL - Jackson Bird
BWL - Spencer Johnson / Ben Dwarshuis
