Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Thunder Prediction: Sydney have better batting lineup

Hobart Hurricanes and Sydney Thunder are going head to head in the 21st Match of Big Bash League at Blundstone Arena, Australia on 01 Jan 2024. Sydney have better batting lineup on paper than their monday's opponents. Who will win this game of cricket?

The Hurricanes have had a disappointing start to the season, winning only one out of the four matches played and currently ranking at the bottom of the points table. In addition, their Net Run Rate (NRR) is the lowest among all the teams. Although there are several quality players in the team, none of them have stood out so far. The opening pair of Matthew Wade and Caleb Jewell has been inconsistent, and it will be crucial for them to provide a solid start in the upcoming match. The middle order includes Macalister Wright and Sam Hain, with all-rounders Corey Anderson, Tim David, and Nikhil Chaudhary adding depth to the batting line-up. A similar situation is seen in the bowling unit, with experienced seamers Riley Meredith and Nathan Ellis proving to be expensive and only managing to take four wickets each. Corey Anderson and Chris Jordan will provide support in the seam department. The only specialist spinner, Patrick Dooley, has taken only two wickets so far.

Matthew Wade (wk), Caleb Jewell, Macalister Wright, Sam Hain, Corey Anderson, Tim David, Nikhil Chaudhary, Chris Jordan, Patrick Dooley, Nathan Ellis (c), Riley Meredith

Similar to the Hurricanes, the Sydney Thunder have also had a less than ideal start to their season. Currently sitting in the bottom half with only 3 points from 5 matches, the team is in need of a turnaround. Fortunately, they possess some players who are in excellent form and have the ability to sway the outcome in their favor. Cameron Bancroft has emerged as the top run-scorer for the team, amassing 181 runs. He has been well-supported by Alex Hales at the top of the batting order. Additionally, the middle order duo of Oliver Davies and Alex Ross has performed admirably. The inclusion of Tom Kohler-Cadmore further enhances the team's ability to hit big shots. 

Switching gears to the bowling side, Daniel Sams has been the most successful wicket-taker this season, claiming 10 wickets thus far. He will lead the pace attack alongside Liam Hatcher, Gurinder Sandhu, and Nathan McAndrew. Tanveer Sangha and captain Chris Green are the key spinners for the team.

Cameron Bancroft (wk), Alex Hales, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Oliver Davies, Alex Ross, Daniel Sams, Chris Green (c), Nathan McAndrew, Gurinder Sandhu, Liam Hatcher, Tanveer Sangha

The team that wins the coin toss is expected to choose to bowl first. The Bellerive Oval pitch is firm and offers a good amount of speed and bounce. With patches of grass, the ball can skid on the surface. The faster bowlers may experience some movement early in the game due to swing. Batsmen will need to be cautious when facing the new ball. The average first-inning score is approximately 160, but the team batting first should aim for a score above 180 to give their bowlers a better chance. Spinners won't find much assistance from the pitch and will need to maintain control over their line and length. The weather is anticipated to be cloudy with temperatures ranging from 15 to 20 degrees Celsius. Despite both teams' underwhelming performances this season, we believe that the Sydney Thunder have an advantage in this match. The team has exceptional players who are prepared for any challenges they may face. Conversely, the Hobart Hurricanes have struggled as a cohesive unit and are likely to face difficulties in this match. It is advisable to bet on the Sydney Thunder as the winner.