SYDNEY THUNDER
AZZA AND DAMO’S PREDICTED XI
Alex Hales
Matthew Gilkes
Jason Sangha
Rilee Rossouw
Alex Ross
Oliver Davies
Ben Cutting
Nathan McAndrew
Gurinder Sandhu
Chris Green
Fazalhaq Farooqi
THE BIG QUESTION: Fazalhaq Farooqi or Usman Qadir? The pair are unlikely to be seen in the same line-up as teams can only play 3 internationals at once, so it will likely become a game-by-game decision.
TIM MICHELL SAYS: So much rests on the fitness of Daniel Sams who remains under a cloud days out from BBL12. If he doesn’t come up for the opening game, veteran Ben Cutting becomes crucial to the Thunder’s structure. If Sams plays, I don’t even know if Cutting is in the XI. That’s how important that fitness call could be. The main batting question mark is if Matt Gilkes opens with Alex Hales or bats middle-order. I have Gilkes and Hales opening, Jason Sangha at three and Rilee Rossouw at four. But at the same time Hales could open with Russouw, Sangha could stay at three at Gilkes could slot in anywhere from 4-6. Expect the Thunder to rotate their quicks early as they play four games in eight days to start BBL12. I think Sandhu, Farooqi, McAndrew and Doggett will likely play a maximum of three of those four matches. Tanveer Sangha is still out injured so Chris Green will be the main spinner. The potential bolter is emerging all-rounder Joel Davies, the brother of big hitter Oliver. He was a standout in a practice match against the Sixers and could even fill the all-rounder role if Sams is ruled out.