Big Bash 2021-22 match preview: Adelaide Strikers v Brisbane Heat

Team news, key match-ups, TV and streaming information, weather forecast, odds, form rundown, umpire appointments, start times, venue and squad lists for the 18th game of BBL11

What's the match?

Adelaide Strikers face Brisbane Heat in the 18th game of the 2021-22 Big Bash.

When is it taking place?

The game is set for Thursday, December 23. The first ball will be bowled at 6.45pm local time (8.15am GMT).

Where is the match being played?

The game will be held at the Adelaide Oval

Who's got the form?

Two sides with identical records but in vastly different positions in the table.

Both have won just one of their four games, losing the other three.

Strikers, however, are inside the playoff positions having picked up four bonus points.

Heat only have one so sit in seventh after four matches.

Beaten twice by Sydney Thunder and once by table-toppers Perth Scorchers, the Heat's only win came against Melbourne Renegades in their second game.

Last time out they were beaten soundly for a second time by Thunder, failing to chase 197 to win at The Gabba.

Saqib Mahmood was the hero of the day with 4 for 22 on his BBL debut.

Like Heat, the Strikers' only victory came against Renegades, a 49-run win after they'd lost the reverse fixture in their opening game.

But having been ahead at the halfway stage in all four of their matches, they have collected seven points from their four games and sit fourth in the standings.

They almost upset defending champions Sydney Sixers in their last game, setting 148 to win and reducing their opponents to 115 for 5 in the 17th over.

But Jordan Silk's 36 and an unbeaten 19 from Sean Abbott secured victory with four balls to spare.

Ben Duckett x sweep (Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

What's the key match-up?

Two English lefties are set to come together at the Adelaide Oval having endured contrasting starts to the competition.

Since hitting 46 on his Heat debut in Perth, Ben Duckett has gone 1, 11, 2 in his next three innings.

That is how T20 can go but he'll be keen to justify his much-hyped arrival in Australia.

Among those looking to knock him over - he fell to fellow-countryman Mahmood in defeat to Thunder - is another player embarking on a maiden BBL campaign in George Garton.

The 24-year-old has picked up five wickets in three appearances for Strikers, where is under the wing of former Sussex coach Jason Gillespie.

Deployed at both ends of the innings, Garton had a canny knack of picking up new-ball wickets in the men's Hundred and got Josh Philippe in the eventual loss to the Sixers last time out.

Who are the umpires?

Nathan Johnstone and Bruce Oxenford are the men in the middle for this one.

What's the weather forecast?

It will be positively balmy in Adelaide for this one, with temperatures staying in the late 20s for the start of play.

What are the squads?

Adelaide Strikers: Wes Agar, Fawad Ahmed, Alex Carey, Harry Conway, George Garton, Ryan Gibson, Travis Head, Spencer Johnson, Rashid Khan, Harry Nielsen, Liam O’Connor, Matthew Renshaw, Liam Scott, Matt Short, Peter Siddle, Jake Weatherald, Jon Wells, Daniel Worrall

Brisbane Heat: Tom Abell, Xavier Bartlett, James Bazley, Max Bryant, Tom Cooper, Ben Duckett, Liam Guthrie, Sam Heazlett, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne (Nathan McSweeney), Chris Lynn, Michael Neser (Cameron Gannon), Jimmy Pierson, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Will Prestwidge, Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson (Hugo Burdon), Jack Wildermuth

^{Celebration time for George Garton (Mark Koplbe/Getty Images)}

What are the possible starting XIs?

Adelaide Strikers: Jake Weatherald, Matt Short, Matt Renshaw, Jonathan Wells, Thomas Kelly, Harry Nielsen, George Garton, Rashid Khan, Fawad Ahmed, Wes Agar, Peter Siddle

Brisbane Heat: Max Bryant, Chris Lynn, Ben Duckett, Sam Heazlett, Tom Cooper, Jimmy Peirson, James Bazley, Xavier Bartlett, Mitchell Swepson, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Mark Steketee

What are the odds?

The Strikers start this one as favourites, with the bookies offering odds of 8/13 for them to prevail. Heat can be back at 5/4.

What's the prediction?

Strikers carry more scar tissue into this game having three times failed to get over the line. But they possess the stronger of the two bowling attacks and should have too much for the out-of-form Heat.

Where can I watch the game?

Sky Sports have bought the rights for the competition through to 2025, and they will broadcast all 61 games in the UK.

Fox Sports and Seven Network both have television rights in Australia: subscription broadcaster Fox show every game, while free-to-air Seven will simulcast 45 matches.

BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra will have ball-by-ball radio coverage of the tournament for UK listeners.

Where can I watch the competition elsewhere in the world?

North America: Willow

MENA: beIN Sports

Sub Saharan Africa: SuperSport

Indian Subcontinent: Sony

New Zealand: Sky Sport

BIG BASH TEAM GUIDES (open in external window in app)

Adelaide Strikers

Brisbane Heat

Hobart Hurricanes

Melbourne Renegades

Melbourne Stars

Perth Scorchers

Sydney Sixers

Sydney Thunder

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