BIG BASH PREVIEW 2018/19: Can the Sydney Thunder live up to the billing?

Ahead of the Big Bash 2018/19 season, The Cricketer previews the SydneyThunder and considers whether their strong squad can perform to the standard expected of them...

Information:

Captain: Shane Watson
Coach: Shane Bond
Overseas Player: Jos Buttler, Joe Root, Anton Devchich (replacement), Chris Jordan (replacement)
Titles: 1 (2015/16)
17/18 Performance: Finished 6th
Best-ever performance: Winner
In: Joe Root (England), Sam Rainbird (Hurricanes), Daniel Sams (Sixers), Jason Sangha
Out: Aiden Blizzard (retired), Andrew Fekete, Mitch McClenaghan, Clint McKay (retired), Ben Rohrer (retired)

Form:

Despite boasting a strong team on paper, the Sydney Thunder were disappointing last year as they failed to live up to the billing, finishing 6th and failing to make the playoffs. Shane Watson enjoyed a strong season and received some good support from Jos Buttler, but it was lacking elsewhere. Their bowling was solid if uninspiring, with Fawad Ahmed enjoying a good season last year taking 12 wickets at 20.41.

Star Player:

Shane Watson

T20 Player Index Stats
Position: 5
Points: 777

It is easy to forget that Shane Watson is actually an allrounder, mainly because he essentially gave up bowling in Test cricket to become just an opening batsman. He does, however, still bowl, and is actually still very good at it when it comes to T20 cricket.

Watson played a massive role in the Chennai Super Kings IPL title win in 2018 and saw himself rise into the top 10. Though he has one of the lower win percentages in the top 10, significantly he has still won three tournaments over the past three years, which reflects that the teams he is part of are able to win when it matters most – namely the knockout rounds.

^{Shane Watson will be hoping to repeat his heroics for the Chennai Super Kings during the IPL for the Thunder}

Biggest loss:

Mitch McClenaghan

The experienced seamer actually finished as the Thunder’s second-highest wicket-taker by the end of the 2017/18 Big Bash season, but he conceded more runs for those wickets than he would have liked.

With the Thunder relying mainly on spinners on the slow Spotless Stadium surface, his ability to offer variety could well be missed if new boys Sam Rainbird and Daniel Sams do not step up as the Thunder hope.

^{Mitch McClenaghan was the Thunder's second-highest wicket taker in the 2017/18 Big Bash season}

Something to prove:

Daniel Sams

Coming from rivals the Sydney Sixers, Sams has more than just something to prove to the Sydney Thunder faithful and he will be wanting to show the Sixers what they are missing.

The 26-year-old had an impressive debut Big Bash season, taking seven wickets in six games, including a fantastic 4-14 on debut against the Sydney Thunder. If he can continue that sort of form, he could be a big boost for the Sydney Thunder.

^{Daniel Sams took 4-14 for the Sydney Sixers against the Sydney Thunder last year}

Strengths:

Boasting the likes of Shane Watson, Jos Buttler and Joe Root the Thunder’s batting lineup should, at least for the time that they have Buttler and Root, be one of the more dangerous in the tournament.

The addition of exciting 19-year-old batsman Jason Sangha also brings important depth. However, once Buttler and Root depart, the Thunder’s batting could become overly-reliant on Watson, as it did last year.

Weaknesses:

The Thunder’s bowling attack does not look much stronger than it did in 2017/18. Fawad Ahmed emerged as one of the best spinners in the competition, and Arjun Nair impressed as well, but they lack a hallmark player to lead their attack.

Though Pat Cummins is in their squad, he is unlikely to feature often due to international commitments. They will be hoping that Daniel Sams can build on an impressive debut season with their rivals the Sydney Sixers.

Squad:

Fawad Ahmed, Jos Buttler, Pat Cummins, Anton Devcich (replacement), Callum Ferguson, Ryan Gibson, Chris Green, Liam Hatcher, Chris Jordan (replacement), Usman Khawaja, Jay Lenton, Nathan McAndrew, Arjun Nair, Kurtis Patterson, Sam Rainbird, Joe Root, Daniel Sams, Gurinder Sandhu, Jason Sangha, Shane Watson

BIG BASH SQUADS

Prediction:

Group stage

Fixtures:

Dec 21: Melbourne Stars (H)
Dec 24: Sydney Sixers (H)
Dec 28: Hobart Hurricanes (A)
Dec 31: Adelaide Strikers (A)
Jan 02: Perth Scorchers (H)
Jan 05: Melbourne Stars (A)
Jan 08: Brisbane Heat (H)
Jan 13: Adelaide Strikers (H)
Jan 17: Brisbane Heat (A)
Jan 22: Melbourne Renegades (H)
Jan 24: Perth Scorchers (A)
Jan 30: Melbourne Renegades (A)
Feb 02: Sydney Sixers (A)
Feb 09: Hobart Hurricanes (H)

BIG BASH SCHEDULE