Sydney Thunder vs Melbourne Renegades Prediction

SYT Team News

Usman Khawaja and Pat Cummins continue in the Australian test squad, with neither having featured so far this season. With Jos Buttler and Joe Root leaving to join the England squad, the Thunder have turned to Anton Devcich and Chris Jordan as their overseas players and both have made strong starts. Their main selection decision for this game of Big Bash League 2018/19 will be whether to retain Jonathan Cook, who bowled a maiden in his only over last time out or recall Jason Sangha, who is back from Australia A duty. It is likely to be the latter.

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When Jos Buttler departed for England duty, captain Shane Watson seems to have taken that as his cue to shine. He scored 68 in the win against Adelaide Strikers and followed that up with a century from 62 balls in the game against Brisbane Heat.

Anton Devcich has slotted straight in at the top of the order alongside him, and he has scored 21 and 26 in his two innings so far in two useful opening stands. He was previously in good form with the ball for the Northern Knights in the Super Smash in New Zealand.

Chris Jordan was also playing for the Northern Knights before heading to Sydney, but he claimed 1-23 in his first Thunder appearance and then took a wicket in his only over before the power went out last time.

Daniel Sams is their leading wicket taker, meanwhile, with 11 to his name so far. He claimed 1-8 against Adelaide Strikers, from ten balls, but the stand-out performance belonged to Arjun Nair, who took 3-12 from three overs.

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Sydney Thunder have combatted the loss of Jos Buttler with two strong performances since his departure – having lost their last two of the big-hitting English batsman’s stint Down Under.

Buttler (and England test captain Joe Root)’s final game was against Brisbane Heat, when the Thunder conceded 186/8 and were 34/2 from 5.3 overs – well short of the DLS target – when rain curtailed their innings.

They bounced back well, however, stuffing Adelaide Strikers at the Spotless Stadium. Shane Watson scored 68 from 40 balls in a total of 168/6, and Arjun Nair led the bowling with 3-12 from three overs as the Strikers were dismissed for 97 in 17.4 overs.

Sydney Thunder were well set in the reverse fixture against Brisbane Heat too, at the Gabba, after Shane Watson’s 100 from 62 balls. They had the heat 10/2 from three overs in reply, with the Bash Brothers both back in the hutch, but a power failure in Brisbane meant the innings was curtailed too early for a result to stand and the Thunder were denied.