BBL 7, Match 37, Preview: Manuka hosts Melbourne Renegades and Sydney Thunder in a crucial game

It’s the first and only game of this year’s BBL that will be hosted at the Manuka Oval and one can expect a big crowd even though it’s a working day.

Published - 24 Jan 2018, 00:42 IST | Updated - 24 Jan 2018, 00:42 IST

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The Sydney Thunder and the Melbourne Renegades will take each other on in Match 37 of the Big Bash League (BBL) 7 in Canberra tomorrow. It’s the first and only game of this year’s BBL that will be hosted at the Manuka Oval and one can expect a big crowd even though it’s a working day. This is a crunch game as both the teams are still in contention for the semi-finals.

For Thunder, this is their last game, they need to win it to keep themselves alive. A win by no means will secure their semi-final spot, but if they win, they will be in there with an outside chance depending on some other results. The Renegades, on the other hand, have their fate in their own hands. They have won 4 out of their 8 games and if they win their remaining 2 as well, they will make it to the top 4 without needing any favour from the other teams.

Playing Combination

Melbourne Renegades

The Renegades will be playing under Brad Hodge tomorrow. It’s been quite an interesting scenario with regards to captaincy in the Renegades’ camp. When the regular captain Aaron Finch and Cameron White were called up for the national duty and Brad Hodge was injured, Dwayne Bravo captained the side. Then White and Hodge re-joined the squad for the next game and it’s White who captained the side and now with White back on national duty, the captaincy responsibilities are on Hodge’s shoulders.

Matthew Short will replace White in the XI, but it will be interesting to see if he bats at 3 or Hodge himself decides to bat up the order. The veteran has been batting at 5 or 6 right through the tournament without much success.

Predicted XI: Brad Hodge (C), Dwayne Bravo, Tom Cooper, Brad Hogg, Tim Ludeman, Kieron Pollard, Kane Richardson, Matthew Short, Chris Tremain, Jack Wildermuth, Beau Webster

Sydney Thunder

The Thunder have received a major blow ahead of the game as one of their premier players Usman Khawaja has been ruled out of the game with an injury. Callum Ferguson has also done a bit of damage to his hamstring and he will not be available for tomorrow’s game either. Aiden Blizzard and Ed Cowan have replaced the duo and the two left-handers are expected to walk straight into the XI. While Cowan will be opening the batting with the overseas signing James Vince, Blizzard, in all likelihood, will be slotted in the middle order and will bat 5 or 6. Other than that, the XI should remain the same.

Predicted XI: Shane Watson (C), Fawad Ahmed, Aiden Blizzard, Ed Cowan, Andrew Fekete, Chris Green, Mitch McLenaghan, Kurtis Patterson, Arjun Nair, James Vince, Gurinder Sandhu

Focus will be on

Brad Hodge (Melbourne Renegades)

Brad Hodge is one of the most senior players in the Renegades squad and is reputed as an efficient finisher in the shortest format of the game, but this season he hasn’t managed to flourish in his role. He has shown the glimpses of his own self in a couple of games, but that’s about it. He hasn’t played any substantial knock. Now that he is the captain of the side as well, he will want to lead from the front and make an impact with the bat tomorrow.

Chris Green (Sydney Thunder)

Chris Green has been pretty effective with the ball for the Thunder this year. He is not a big turner of the ball, but he has been deceiving the batsman with his pace variations and the subtle change in lengths. Also, he has used the crease well and worked out different angles to make sure he is always throwing a new challenge to the batsmen even though he is not imparting a whole lot of spin on the ball. He has bowled brilliantly within his limitations.