GameDay Squad AUS Cricket Round 18 Preview: The Adelaide Strikers take on the Melbourne Stars in the 20th match of BBL13 in Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday the 31st of December.
Here's everything you need to know ....
Predicted Teams
Adelaide Strikers: 1. Matt Short, 2. D'Arcy Short, 3. Chris Lynn, 4. Jake Weatherald, 5. Adam Hose, 6. Jamie Overton, 7. James Bazley, 8. Harry Nielsen, 9. Wes Agar, 10. Cameron Boyce,11. David Payne
Melbourne Stars: 1. Tom Rogers, 2. Sam Harper, 3. Beau Webster, 4. Dan Lawrence, 5. Glenn Maxwell, 6. Marcus Stoinis, 7. Hilton Cartwright, 8. Imad Wasim, 9. Joel Paris, 10. Mark Steketee, 11. Brody Couch
Start Vs Sit
Batters - Jake Weatherald vs Adam Hose
It hasn't been pretty reading for either of these batsmen this season. Collectively there has only been one score in their six innings that has made it into double digits and that was Hose's match winning innings against the Thunder. I'm leaning towards Hose as my third batsmen as he seems to be more of a T20 specialist and he did average 25 points more than Weatherald in BBL12. The below matchup and ground matrixes do indicate that this is a better matchup for Weatherald than Hose but Weatherald hasn't shown any indication that he's in any form with the bat.
Start: Adam Hose
All-Rounder - Beau Webster vs D'Arcy Short
We are spoilt for talent at the all-rounder position this match and it's a battle between these two players for my fourth all-rounder starting spot. I'm leaning towards Webster as he tends to bat and bowl in most matches. Short has scored two fifties in his last three matches but he hasn't looked all that comfortable at the crease. I have a feeling Short is going to be the sort of player that will be either rocks or diamonds this season and I believe he can be a great POD option for this match. In my opinion, Webster offers a safer floor and higher ceiling.
Start: Beau Webster
Bowler - Cameron Boyce vs Mark Steketee
It sounds like Rauf and Mir have played their last match for the Stars. It's expected that they will fly back home and join up with the Pakistan T20 squad for the upcoming tour of New Zealand. With Rauf and Mir likely to be unavailable, there aren't really many options at the bowler position for this match. I'm expecting Steketee to come into the Stars starting XI and it's a toss up between him and Boyce for my third bowler. As Steketee has only played the one match and this matchup being favourable for Boyce, I'm leaning towards Boyce as my third bowler. Depending on what starting XI the Stars put out, I might pivot to another bowler as I'm not really keen to start either Boyce or Steketee.
Start: Cameron Boyce
Matchup Matrix
Key Takeaways:
Openers have scored well against the Stars
Pace bowlers haven't scored well against the Strikers
Both pace and spin bowlers have scored well against the Stars
Ground Matrix
Key Takeaways:
Opening batsmen have scored well here
Avoid pace bowlers in the first innings
Avoid lower order batsmen
Hot Take
All the all-rounders in the suggested GDS starting XI will score 50+ points.
Who to play in your GDS starting XI
BAT - Chris Lynn
BAT - Tom Rogers
BAT - Adam Hose
ALL - Matt Short
ALL - Jamie Overton
ALL - Glenn Maxwell
ALL - Beau Webster
WK - Sam Harper
BWL - Wes Agar
BWL - Joel Paris
BWL - Cameron Boyce