GameDay Squad AUS Cricket Round 25 Preview: The Brisbane Heat take on the Hobart Hurricanes in the 29th match of BBL13 in Brisbane at the GABBA on Sunday the 7th of January.
Here's everything you need to know ....
Predicted Teams
Brisbane Heat: 1. Josh Brown, 2. Colin Munro, 3. Nathan McSweeney, 4. Matt Renshaw, 5. Sam Billings, 6. Paul Walter, 7. Xavier Bartlett, 8. Michael Neser, 9. Spencer Johnson, 10. Mitchell Swepson, 11. Matthew Kuhnemann
Hobart Hurricanes: 1. Matthew Wade, 2. Caleb Jewell, 3. Ben McDermott, 4. Macalister Wright, 5. Sam Hain, 6. Tim David, 7. Corey Anderson, 8. Chris Jordan, 9. Patrick Dooley, 10. Nathan Ellis, 11. Riley Meredith
Start Vs Sit
Batters - Josh Brown vs Ben McDermott
After a quiet start to the Heat's BBL13 campaign, Brown has had two 30+ scores in his last two matches and averages 41 points for the season. McDermott has been following the same script as Brown, quite over the first couple of matches but has put a couple of nice innings together in the last two matches. There isn't much separating these two players but I'm leaning towards McDermott. I think the matchup against the Heat suits him better and he might also be keeping if Wade misses a second match due to a back complaint.
Start: Ben McDermott
All-Rounder - Michael Neser vs Corey Anderson
Neser hasn't lived up to my preseason expectations as one of the top all-rounders and this is due to him only bowling ten overs across his five matches. Only once has he bowled 3+ overs and this isn't what we want to see as fantasy coaches from a bowling all-rounder. However, he still averages 36 points and this is impressive based on his limited opportunities to score points. I think Anderson is a riskier option as he has only had three innings where he has made it to double digits and averages 30 points. Who to start all comes down to who is in the Hurricanes starting XI. At this stage I have Wade starting and I think we will see Chaudhary make way for him.
Start: Neser if Chaudary starts, Anderson if Chaudary doesn't start
Bowler - Spencer Johnson vs Matthew Kuhnemann
Johnson came into the season with a lot of expectation surrounding him for fantasy but he hasn't lived up to those expectations so far. Kuhnemann has been bowling really well and has taken seven wickets in his five matches. He also averages eleven points more than Johnson. Who to start is all dependent on what happens at the toss as spin bowlers haven't had a lot of success at the Gabba when bowling in the first innings.
Start: Johnson if the Heat bowl first, Kuhnemann if the Heat bowl second
Matchup Matrix
Key Takeaways:
Opening batsmen haven't scored well against either team
Pace bowlers tend to score well against the Hurricanes
Lower Order batsmen haven't scored well against the Heat
Ground Matrix
Key Takeaways:
Middle and lower order batsmen have scored well here
Avoid spin bowlers bowling in the first innings
Opening batsmen have struggled to score here in the second innings
Hot Take
Riley Meredith will clean up the Heat's lower order and take four wickets on the way to being to top scoring player of this match.
Who to play in your GDS starting XI
BAT - Macalister Wright
BAT - Colin Munro
BAT - Ben McDermott
ALL - Paul Walter
ALL - Nathan McSweeney
ALL - Matt Renshaw
ALL - Michael Neser / Corey Anderson
WK - Matthew Wade
BWL - Xavier Bartlett
BWL - Riley Meredith
BWL - Spencer Johnson / Matthew Kuhnemann