Big Bash 2022-23 match preview: Sydney Thunder v Adelaide Strikers

Key match-ups, analysis, form, team news, weather forecast, tickets, TV and streaming information, odds, predictions and more ahead of the latest encounter in the 2022/23 Big Bash

What's the match?

Sydney Thunder host Adelaide Strikers in match five of the 2022/23 Big Bash, the 12th edition of the tournament.

When is it taking place?

The game is scheduled to start at 7.15pm local time (9.15am GMT) on Friday, December 16.

Where is the match being played?

The game will be played in Sydney at the Sydney Showground.

Who's got the form?

Sydney Thunder started their tournament with a win over Melbourne Stars, although they rather laboured in their chase of 123. Sydney put on a great bowling performance led by Gurinder Sandhu (2 for 23). He then carried his side over the line with a knock of 20 not out at No.9. 

Adelaide Strikers, meanwhile, put in a dominant performance against Sydney Sixers in their tournament opener, winning by 51 runs. Getting their campaign off to a flyer the Strikers showed off their sharp bowling attack while also displaying how dominant their batting line up could be throughout BBL12.

These two sides met in the BBL play-offs in last year's tournament with the Strikers emerging victorious.

The head-to-head record confirms the rivalry between the two sides: in 17 games, the Strikers have won eight while Thunder have triumphed on nine occasions.

^{Gurinder Sandhu rescued Sydney Thunder against Melbourne Stars [Mark Nolan/Getty Images]}

What's the key match-up?

Adelaide Strikers' top five did the damage during their clash with Sydney Sixers, more specifically opener Matt Short. He scored 84 off 53 balls as the Strikers posted a score of 184. In 54 T20s, he has scored 1,035 runs at a strike rate of 134.07.

Sandhu, who excelled with the new ball against Sydney Sixers, will be tasked with removing Short but will certainly have his hands full against a batting line-up including Chris Lynn, Adam Hose and Colin de Grandhomme.

What's the weather forecast?

No rain is expected in Sydney while temperatures are set to hover around 16 degrees Celsius.

What is the team news?

Adelaide Strikers will be led by Australian veteran Peter Siddle and the Aussie pace bowler will hope the likes of Rashid Khan and Henry Thornton continue their good form - the pair took seven wickets between them against the Sixers. 

The Strikers will be without spinner Cameron Boyce, who sustained a calf injury in training earlier this week.

Hot prospect Toby Gray joined Thunder as a local replacement player and the spinner is in contention to make Friday's squad after impressing for New South Wales.

Thunder will hope England opener Alex Hales returns to his World Cup-winning form after struggling against Melbourne Stars.

What are the squads?

Sydney Thunder: Oliver Davies, Brendan Doggett, Matthew Gilkes, Chris Green, Alex Hales, Baxter Holt, Nathan McAndrew, Alex Ross, Rilee Rossouw, Daniel Sams, Jason Sangha (c), Tanveer Sangha, David Warner, David Willey (withdrawn), Fazalhaq Farooqi (replacing David Willey, first nine matches only), Ben Cutting, Usman Qadir, Gurinder Sandhu, Sam Whiteman

Adelaide Strikers: Wes Agar, Cameron Boyce, Alex Carey, Harry Conway, Colin de Grandhomme, Ryan Gibson, Travis Head, Adam Hose, Henry Hunt, Thomas Kelly, Rashid Khan, Chris Lynn, Harry Nielsen, Matt Short, Jake Weatherald, Henry Thorton, Peter Siddle, Ben Manenti, Jordan Buckingham (local replacement player)

*Squads are for the whole BBL and not specific to this match

What are the possible starting XIs?

Sydney Thunder: Alex Hales, Matthew Gilkes (wk), Rilee Roussouw Jason Sangha (c), Daniel Sams, Alex Ross, Oliver Davies, Chris Green, Gurinder Sandhu, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Brendan Doggett

Adelaide Strikers: Jake Weatherald, Matthew Short, Chris Lynn, Adam Hose, Colin de Grandhomme, Thomas Kelly, Harry Nielsen (wk), Rashid Khan, Wes Agar, Henry Thornton, Peter Siddle (c)

Henry Thornton impressed with the ball against Sydney Sixers [Mark Brake/Getty Images]

What are the odds?

Thunder are available at 5/6 while the Strikers are at 10/11.

What's the prediction?

Both sides go into the game off the back of wins. However, while Thunder made a mess of what should have been an easy run chase, Adelaide Strikers made light work of the Sixers and showed real intent.

The Strikers were fantastic with both bat and ball and should be too much for Thunder. Strikers win.

Are tickets available?

Tickets are available via Ticketmaster, with tickets ranging from $3 to $100.

Where can I watch the game?

Sky Sports hold the UK rights for the BBL, with coverage split between Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Mix.

Ball-by-ball radio commentary will also be available via BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra and BBC Sounds for selected matches.

Fox Sports and Seven Network both have television rights in Australia while coverage will also be available via streaming service Kayo. Fox will show every game while 45 matches, including the knockout stages, will be shown free-to-air on Channel Seven.