BBL 2023-24, HUR vs STR | Impact Performer - Jake Weatherald
South Australia batter Jake Weatherald takes break from cricket
BBL 12: Sydney Thunder vs Adelaide Strikers: The Numbers that matter
Adelaide Strikers vs Sydney Sixers: The Numbers that Matter
Who will be the key players in the second match of the Big Bash League 2022? What does stats and numbers say?
BBL 2022-23 | Adelaide Strikers vs Sydney Sixers: Fantasy Tips
The fantasy tips for the match between Adelaide Strikers and Sydney Sixers.
Can Adelaide Strikers repeat their run from 4 years earlier?
Let us have a deeper look at the Adelaide Strikers' squad for the BBL 12.
Watch | Melbourne Renegades’ Jake Fraser-McGurk plucks a blinder on the boundary in BBL 11
The Big Bash League is known for its unbelievably stupendous catches and over the years has built a cult fan following among cricket lovers for its insane fielding standards. Just on the third day of the 11th season of the league, it showed exactly why the fielding in the Australian premier domestic T20 tournament is rated so highly. Jake Fraser-McGurk of the Melbourne Renegades picked up a blinder at the mid-wicket boundary against Adelaide Strikers in the third match being played between the two sides at Docklands Stadium in Melbourne. Fraser-McGurk’s catch in which he jumped backwards and grabbed the ball which was almost into the boundary, headed for six, dismissed Jake Weatherald, the Strikers opener who was striking it real hard. Zahir Khan, the Afghan chinaman bowler picked up his second wicket courtesy of this catch. As far as the game is concerned, Strikers were 100/4 chasing 154 with two new men in Ryan Gibson and Daniel Drew at the crease. They needed 54 to win from 37 balls.
PSL 6: Wildermuth, Weatherald, Faulkner and Ferguson among eight Aussies heading for UAE
After a great deal of work done by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), finally, the twenty remaining games of the Pakistan Super League will be played at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in UAE. To participate in that a group of eight Australian players including Jack Wildermuth, Jake Weatherald, Callum Ferguson and James Faulkner will travel to the UAE. Since the tournament had to be rescheduled twice and it clashed with theT20 Blast and the international series of South Africa and West Indies and also England and New Zealand, many of the players who had committed to play for the six franchises of the PSL, moved out and new layers through two separate drafts were pulled in. While Ben Cutting, Joe Burns, Dan Christian and Chris Lynn were the four Aussie players to pull out of the league, Weeatheraldm Wildermuth, Ferguson and Faulkner made up for it. Quetta Gladiators picked up both Adelaide Strikers’ Weatherald and Brisbane Heat’s Wildermuth after Ben Cutting, Faf du Plessis and Chris Gaye were unable to join the side. Lahore Qalandar went on to add Sydney Thunder skipper Callum Ferguson as well as two of Hobart Hurricanes’ members Tim David and James Faulkner. Cutting, 34, who has been in various bubbles ver since November 30, the start of the Big bash League 2020-21, was willing to play his part in the PSL for Quetta. The Brisbane-born had even travelled to UAE after IPL was suspended. Since PCB wasn’t able to make any substantial gain in being able to pull of the league by June 1, as planned, the all-rounder returned home. "I love the PSL and playing for Quetta but in the current climate of bio bubbles and quarantine, it's difficult to do everything," Cutting was quoted as saying to cricket.com.au. "I have come home to refresh, reset and get back into things again at whatever tournament pops up next," he added. Along with the five new recruits, others such as Ben Dunk, Fawad Ahmed and Usman Khawaja will also join their original teams. While the PSL has decreased the number of foreign players required in the XI from three to two, the squad sizes have been increased to 20 players. The league is yet to make an official schedule for the tournament’s training 20 games. Australians in the Pakistan Super League Islamabad United: Fawad Ahmed, Usman Khawaja Lahore Qalandars: Tim David, Ben Dunk, James Faulkner, Callum Ferguson Quetta Gladiators: Jake Weatherald, Jack Wildermuth
There is no end to Renegades' misery as Finch and Co. lose seven in a row
Melbourne Renegades’ miserable BBL 10 campaign continued on its distraught path as Aaron Finch and Co. lost yet another match which they should have won. The Renegades were beaten comprehensively by a huge margin of 60 runs by the Adelaide Strikers, even while chasing a par total of 172 runs at the Adelaide Oval. The match was over in the 10th over Although the scorecard will show that Renegades got out of the reach of the match probably after the power surge, however the match for the Red Machine was lost in the 10th over itself when they needed four runs to get from that over to get the Bash Boost point, but instead of going for those runs, Mohammad Nabi decided to play three balls and got only one run, even as Sam Harper had got out playing a rash short just before him. With one ball in hand, young Mackenzy Harvey needed to score three runs, but of course, he could not as Danny Briggs bowled a brilliant over to defend the four runs, giving away just a solitary single. 'Gades can't seem to get out of the hole The Renegades team got into a hole after that and much like every match, in this game too there was no coming out of it. Even after losing Aaron Finch off the first ball, the ‘Gades had an impressive start courtesy of some cracking shots from two youngsters in Harper and Harvey. They put on 67 runs off 55 balls but most importantly set up a platform for the likes of Nabi, Beau Webster, and Jake Fraser-McGurk to get on with it. But that did not happen as Nabi was choked for the flow of runs and even after playing 16 balls, which included four dots in the power surge, could only score seven runs. Similar was the case for Webster and Imad Wasim who couldn’t just get on with the game. McGurk on the other hand came too late to create any difference. Worst Power Surge ever This was the worst power surge in the history of the BBL as Renegades could only score five runs of the two overs and lost two wickets in the process as well. Firstly Nabi was served four yorkers by Wes Agar, the fourth one getting his wicket, and then in the second over Peter Siddle worked his magic and got rid of Imad Wasim by conceding just three runs. Danny Briggs the game changer The England Pro Briggs was once again at his best throwing in yorkers at will and not letting the run rate. He bowled four overs and gave away just 17 runs for two wickets. At one stage the Sussex man had figures of 1/8 in just three overs. It was he who stopped the flow of runs as Rashid Khan the premium spinner of the Strikers wasn’t at his best today. The Weatherald-Gibson Earlier in the day, Strikers after winning the toss had decided to bat first. But the decision really didn’t go their way as they lost Phil Salt early at the score of 14 runs in the fourth over. After that skipper, Alex Carey and Matt Renshaw built a slow but steady partnership of 54 runs before spinners in Nabi and Imad pulled on their tricks and from 68/1 the Strikers were soon 72/4. But after that Jake Weatherald and Ryan Gibson built a 53 ball 98 run partnership during which they hit Josh Lalor for 23 runs in one over and got a total of 67 runs from their last five, taking the total to 171, which at one point of the time looked impossible. What's Next? Strikers with this victory have now moved on to the fourth position and will take on Renegades in a reverse leg game on 8th January. Renegades on the other hand seemed to have lost any confidence that they might have had coming into this game and would look to play for pride from now onwards.
BBL10 | Adelaide Strikers vs Sydney Sixers: SS make light work of Strikers
The Sydney Sixers romped past Adelaide Strikers in an utterly dominating performance to win the 26th game of the KFC Big Bash League to register their 5th win of the tournament. The Sixers are currently at the top of the table with 21 points looking comfortable to finish in the top three. Despite a brilliant partnership between Jonathan Wells and Jake Weatherald the Strikers could only post 150 on the board and at the end of the day, it didn’t prove to be enough as a solid batting performance from the Sixers saw them overhauling the target with two overs to spare. Chasing the target of 151, the Sixers got off to a perfect stat courtesy a free-flowing partnership between the opening duo Joshua Philippe and Jack Edwards. The duo shared a 47-run stand in 4.1 overs before the dismissal of Jack Edwards. Philippe’s stroke-filled knock was studded with 5 fours and a six which helped them lay the foundation for the run chase. Yet again it was Rashid Khan who wrecked the top order by removing Edwards and Philippe in quick time. The run rate came down a bit but it was well within the reach despite the loss of 3 wickets. The 5th wicket partnership proved to be the final nail in the coffin as far as the Strikers were concerned. James Vince and Jordan Silk shared an unbeaten stand of 71 runs to ensure that they reached the target without any more hiccups. Vince looked in ominous touch from the outset and his unbeaten knock of 45 came in just 33 deliveries including 3 fours and a six while Silk continued his good run in the tournament remaining unbeaten on 38 of 28 deliveries which were laced with 6 classy boundaries. Earlier in the day, it was Sydney Sixers skipper Daniel Hughes who won the toss and put the Strikers in. They were jolted with two early blows in the first two overs as Ben Dwarshuis and Ben Manenti accounted for Philip Salt and Matt Renshaw in their very first overs. With the score reading 7/2, the Strikers needed to steady the ship before going for the big shots. Alex Carey and Jonathan Wells shared a 64 runs stand but were unable to up the scoring rate. Carey departed after scoring a run a ball 31 but the Strikers still needed a big finish to post something substantial. Following the wicket of Carey, Wells was joined by Jack Weatherald and the duo shared an unbeaten 79 runs stand but could only get their side to a score of 150 in their allotted 20 overs. Wells struck the ball well but the fall of wickets in the initial phase didn’t really allow them to press on the accelerator. While Wells scored 66 of 56 deliveries which included 8 fours, Weatherald looked in good touch and eventually remained unbeaten on 34 of 24 deliveries studded with a four and a couple of sixes. Some mighty blows in the final few overs propelled them to a score of 150 but it was always going to be a difficult proposition to defend that total in front of a star-studded Sydney Sixers batting line-up.
BBL | Hobart vs Adelaide: Siddle's first five-for marred by bizzare tactics in team's win
The Adelaide Strikers dominated the reverse fixture against Hobart Hurricanes sealing the victory by five wickets on Tuesday 15 December in the 8th encounter of the Big Bash League. After bowling out Hobart for just 146 runs, courtesy some stunning pace bowling by Peter Siddle, Wes Agar and Daniel Worral, Alex Carey and Jake Weatherald made sure that Strikers complete their victory with sweating too much over it. The match was highlighted by Siddle’s stunning 5-wicket haul, first X-Factor substitution in world cricket, the amount of purchase pacers got on the wicket and some bizarre tactical choices made in the field. Hobart Batting - As messy as it gets Sent to bat first, most teams in the world do not recover after losing their entire top order inside four overs in a T20 game. Hobart didn’t either, but their story was slightly odd. After losing three early wickets against some quality pace bowling by the Strikers, Hobart recovered extremely well, managing to put 89 runs in the first 11 overs, courtesy the counter-attack from Colin Ingram and Ben McDermott. Both batsmen worked very hard to negotiate the early movement and then piling the pressure on spinners to squeeze a comeback out of Hobart. And then Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. Three tactical choices took the game away from Hobart – Subbing off the experienced Johan Botha for rookie Mac Wright, pushing in form Tim David down the order and then, the most important of all, not taking the power surge when their batsmen, Mc Dermott and Ingram looked in great touch. This resulted in an absolute mess, killing the entire momentum of their batting order. While substitute Wright failed to provide momentum, the decisions were especially hard on David, who looked in good nick in the first two matches. Coming into bat in the 16th over, David had nothing but to go after every delivery and managed to score 24 off 16 deliveries, before chopping on a short delivery from Peter Siddle, who registered his best figures in the T20s picking up five wickets for just 16 runs. Hobart lost their last 5 wickets in the final three overs out o which two were of Power Surge. Once that was done, it was just a waiting game, and a miced up Colin Ingram agreed that the bowlers can do very little with so few runs on board. In the end, the Strikers won the game with eight balls to spare, knocking the ball around the ground. Aurora Stadium, Launceston Any wicket that does a bit in the opening overs in a T20 game, is a great leveller. Choosing to bowl first after winning the toss, Strikers ran circles around the Hurricanes batsmen. All three of their fast bowlers, Daniel Worral, Peter Siddle and Wes Agar struck in their opening respective opening overs. The wicket offered pace, bounce and a fair bit of carry, which both teams used to their benefit, but it was the Siddle-led Strikers pace attack that pooled in all their experience to dismiss eight out of possible 10 wickets. The pitch was so pace friendly that Strikers decided to sub off last match hero Danny Briggs to bring in an extra batter, just in case they needed it. In sharp contrast, the spin department failed miserably with both Matt Renshaw and Danny Briggs going for 15 an over giving away 45 runs between them. James Faulkner too earned decent purchase in the second innings coming into bowl the first over. He shaped the ball in with his tweaked action and got two early wickets but failed to capitalise courtesy some good batting by Alex Carey and Jake Weatherald. The Aurora Stadium, if it manages to hold this wicket, will be a big talking point, because the ball will move, and it will put batsmen and the think tanks in trouble. The odd day it does not, the viewers might just be seeing another set off substitutions as well. How not to use a Power Surge Both teams, Strikers and Hurricanes made awful use of the Power Surge. While Hobart did not take theirs when their best batsmen on the day, McDermott and Ingram were batting in full flow, Strikers for some odd reason, kept it on hold with barely any runs to chase. In case of Hobart, not taking the Surge meant that they lost every bit of momentum throughout the second part of the innings, the Strikers, on the other hand, missed a sure shot chance to increase their NRR after conceding the bonus point to the opposition team. Despite an underwhelming encounter, there is a lot to learn from this game. Take for instance the X-Factors, both of them failed, and it only fuels the fire to the opinion that this will be the least popular amongst the innovations brought in by the BBL this season. It has been mentioned above a couple of times now that, it is foolish to save the Power Surge overs waiting for the correct time. A total of four overs were pushed back today and barely any runs came from them. It will be interesting to see in the next couple of games in the ongoing season, especially in this ground, as to how the teams actually go about things, and hopefully, it would take away the spotlight so that spectators can actually enjoy performances like Siddle's every night.