Top four spots are on the line as Sydney Thunder host Perth Scorchers at ENGIE Stadium
Sydney Thunder v Perth Scorchers: match preview
Match facts
Who: Sydney Thunder v Perth Scorchers
What: Match 33, KFC BBL|14
Where: ENGIE, Sydney
When: Monday, January 13. Bat flip at 6.45pm AEDT, first ball at 7.30pm AEDT
How to watch: Channel Seven, 7plus, Fox Cricket, Kayo Sports
Buy tickets: Tickets are on sale here
Live scores: Match Centre
Highlights, news and reactions after the match: cricket.com.au, the CA Live and Big Bash apps
Officials: Mike Graham-Smith and David Taylor, Troy Penman (third), Mitchell Claydon (fourth), Steve Davis (match referee)
Match squads
Sydney Thunder: David Warner (C), Tom Andrews, Sam Billings, Dan Christian, Ollie Davies, George Garton, Matt Gilkes, Chris Green, Liam Hatcher, Muhammad Hasnain, Nathan McAndrew, Tanveer Sangha, Sam Konstas, Hugh Weibgen
In: Tanveer Sangha. Out: Wes Agar
Leg spinner Tanveer Sangha returns from a side-strain injury with quick bowler Wes Agar making way.
The Thunder have three spinners to pick from with Sangha joining Tom Andrews and Chris Green in the 14-player squad.
Perth Scorchers: Ashton Turner (c), Ashton Agar, Finn Allen, Mahli Beardman, Jason Behrendorff, Cooper Connolly, Sam Fanning, Aaron Hardie, Nick Hobson, Matthew Hurst (England), Bryce Jackson, Lance Morris, Matthew Spoors, Andrew Tye
Ins: Mahli Beardman, Matthew Hurst, Bryce Jackson. Outs: Mitch Marsh (rested), Matt Kelly (omitted), Jhye Richardson (surgery)
The Scorchers have made two changes for a two-game trip to Sydney having already faced the Sixers on Saturday and now Thunder on Monday night. Another late change has also come up with Jhye Richardson electing to have season-ending surgery this week to stabilise his right shoulder after a dislocation in late November. Bryce Jackson has come in for the quick.
Teenage pace sensation Mahli Beardman joins the 14-player squad at the expense of Matt Kelly who has been omitted, with the 19-year-old in line for a BBL debut if selected in the final XI.
Star allrounder Mitch Marsh has been rested to spend time at home in Perth with his young family, with English import Matthew Hurst coming back into the squad, offering another batting and wicketkeeping option for coach Adam Voges.
The Scorchers said Marsh's availability for their final home game against the Strikers on December 18 would be determined in due course.
Club news
Sydney Thunder
Perth Scorchers
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Top performers
Most Runs
BBL|14 BKT Golden Bat
| Player | Total |
|---|---|
1
David Warner
D Warner
|
316 |
|
2
Cooper Connolly
C Connolly
|
305 |
|
3
Marcus Stoinis
M Stoinis
|
246 |
|
4
Max Bryant
M Bryant
|
243 |
|
5
Chris Lynn
C Lynn
|
230 |
|
6
James Vince
J Vince
|
228 |
|
7
Ben Duckett
B Duckett
|
222 |
|
8
Ashton Turner
A Turner
|
215 |
Most Wickets
BBL|14 BKT Golden Arm
| Player | Total |
|---|---|
|
1
Tom Rogers
T Rogers
|
13 |
|
2
Lloyd Pope
L Pope
|
13 |
|
3
Jason Behrendorff
J Behrendorff
|
13 |
|
4
Ben Dwarshuis
B Dwarshuis
|
11 |
|
5
Henry Thornton
H Thornton
|
11 |
|
6
Sean Abbott
S Abbott
|
10 |
|
7
Lance Morris
L Morris
|
10 |
|
8
Xavier Bartlett
X Bartlett
|
10 |
Most sixes scored
BBL|14
| Player | Total |
|---|---|
|
1
Cooper Connolly
C Connolly
|
15 |
|
2
Max Bryant
M Bryant
|
14 |
|
3
Tim David
T David
|
14 |
|
4
Chris Lynn
C Lynn
|
12 |
|
5
Matthew Renshaw
M Renshaw
|
12 |
|
6
Matt Short
M Short
|
12 |
|
7
Mitchell Owen
M Owen
|
11 |
|
8
Finn Allen
F Allen
|
10 |
Local knowledge
Rapid stats
- Perth Scorchers have won their past two games against Sydney Thunder at ENGIE Stadium, but the Thunder won their previous match earlier this season in a final ball thriller at Optus Stadium.
- Sydney Thunder's Daniel Christian (94) is six away from reaching 100 wickets in the Big Bash League.
- Matthew Gilkes (49) will bring up 50 appearances for Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League if selected in the final XI to face the Scorchers.
What's on the line?
With the Scorchers sitting just outside the top four, a win will be vital in keeping their finals chances alive, although a loss would just about rule them out of finals contention.
The Thunder are on four wins (one more than the Scorchers) in third position and will all but secure a finals spot with a win.
KFC BBL|14 standings
| Team | M | W | L | T | N/R | NRR | Ded. | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
SIX
|
8 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0.156 | 0 | 11 |
|
2
HUR
|
7 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.104 | 0 | 11 |
|
3
THU
|
8 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | -0.062 | 0 | 9 |
|
4
HEA
|
8 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | -0.863 | 0 | 7 |
|
5
SCO
|
8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.467 | 0 | 6 |
|
6
REN
|
7 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.392 | 0 | 6 |
|
7
STR
|
8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.092 | 0 | 6 |
|
8
STA
|
8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | -0.356 | 0 | 6 |
M: Matches played
W: Wins
L: Losses
T: Ties
N/R: No results
NRR: Net Run Rate
Ded.: Deductions
PTS: Total points