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
Sydney Thunder take on Hobart Hurricanes in match 22 of the 2022/23 Big Bash, the 12th edition of the tournament.
The game is scheduled to start at 3:30pm local time (4:30am GMT) on Saturday, December 31.
The game will be played in Lavington Sports Ground, Albury.
Thunder come into the game off the back of successive victories for the first time this season.
They have won twice since the Christmas break, starting with victory over Brisbane Heat by 10 wickets.
And they completed the double over Heat with an 11-run success at Carrara Oval despite a 98 from Colin Munro.
Hurricanes sit two points back having played two matches fewer after starting their campaign with a pair of victories and defeats.
A fine death-bowling performance was enough to defeat Melbourne Renegades on Christmas Eve.
Daniel Sams (Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
Matthew Wade returning to the Hurricanes' side will give the visitors get punch in the powerplay. The Australian had struck 101 runs in his first three tournament innings. His return is expected to see Jimmy Neesham shuffle down the order once again.
The Thunder new ball battery will have to be at its best to nullify the Australia international. The absence of Gurinder Sandhu is a blow, so the likes of Daniel Sams and Nathan McAndrew are key to defending the opening four-over powerplay.
Sams had a mixed first over last time out against Heat. A set lasting nine deliveries didn't go for a single boundary and captured the wicket of Matt Renshaw but included several wides as he attempting to keep the runs down.
There is a 60 per cent chance of rain on New Years' Eve in Albury. Though just five millimetres is expected, mostly in the morning.
Thunder are without Gurinder Sandhu due to a left calf injury, keeping him on the Gold Coast for further inspection. Joel Davies has been added to the squad.
Hurricanes have Australia batter Wade back available after a one-match ban.
Ben McDermott is missing due to a hamstring injury that forced him to miss the victory over Melbourne Renegades.
Wil Parker has been left out while Billy Stanlake continued to struggle with a hamstring injury of his own.
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, contract terminated on December 23), Ben Cutting, Usman Qadir, Gurinder Sandhu, Sam Whiteman, Joel Davies
Hobart Hurricanes: Asif Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Caleb Jewell, Shadab Khan, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Mitch Owen, Joel Paris, Wil Parker, D'Arcy Short, Matthew Wade, Billy Stanlake, Paddy Dooley, Chris Tremain, Mac Wright, Zak Crawley (overseas replacement for Shadab Khan), Jimmy Neesham (overseas replacement)
*Squads are for the whole BBL and not specific to this match
Sydney Thunder: Alex Hales, Matthew Gilkes, Rilee Rossouw, Oliver Davies, Daniel Sams, Alex Ross, Ben Cutting, Nathan McAndrew, Chris Green, Brendan Doggett, Usman Qadir
Hobart Hurricanes: Matthew Wade, D'Arcy Short, Caleb Jewell, Shadab Khan, Tim David, Jimmy Neesham, Asif Ali, Joel Paris, Nathan Ellis, Patrick Dooley, Riley Meredith
Matthew Wade (Simon Sturzaker/Getty Images)
Hurricanes start the match as 4/5 favourites with most of the booked, while Thunder are available at evens.
Hurricanes are close to being back to full strength and have proven themselves to be canny with the ball. Thunder may not have enough.
Tickets are available via Ticketmaster, with adult tickets priced between $25 and $50. Junior tickets (5-16) start at $5.
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.
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