ANALYSIS:
The Adelaide Strikers have a brilliant squad which will be largely unaffected by international duty from their squad at any stage.
On the whole, the Strikers have kept their squad pretty much the same, a good recipe for success. They have lost international guns Kieron Pollard and Saeed Ajmal, as well as Australian spinners Nathan Lyon and Cameron Boyce, but have plugged the gaps nicely. Adam Zampa comes across from the Thunder and Alex Hales comes in from the red side of Melbourne. Both were impressive in the last Big Bash, but both had limited game-time too, so couldn’t show-case their full potential. Hales especially blasted onto the scene with a massive 89 but played only one other match.
The Adelaide Strikers have a brilliant squad which will be largely unaffected by international duty from their squad at any stage.
On the whole, the Strikers have kept their squad pretty much the same, a good recipe for success. They have lost international guns Kieron Pollard and Saeed Ajmal, as well as Australian spinners Nathan Lyon and Cameron Boyce, but have plugged the gaps nicely. Adam Zampa comes across from the Thunder and Alex Hales comes in from the red side of Melbourne. Both were impressive in the last Big Bash, but both had limited game-time too, so couldn’t show-case their full potential. Hales especially blasted onto the scene with a massive 89 but played only one other match.
Victorian Jon Holland and well-built Aussies Trent Lawford and Jono Dean enter the squad, but I don’t expect any of them to be in the best XI.
EXPECTED WEEK ONE SIDE:
1. Alex Hales
2. Michael Klinger
3. Phillip Hughes
4. Callum Ferguson
5. Nathan Reardon
6. Tim Ludeman
7. Andrew McDonald
8. Johan Botha (c)
9. Kane Richardson / Gary Putland
10. Adam Zampa / Jon Holland
11. Shaun Tait
FANTASY RELEVANT:
TAIT, Shaun - Bowler, $87,100
Express slinger Shaun Tait averaged 46.8 points per game last season (anything nudging 50 is excellent for a bowler), and we all know what X-Factor he has. However he only played five matches, and given that he only plays Twenty20 matches, injuries will always be a problem.
EXPECTED WEEK ONE SIDE:
1. Alex Hales
2. Michael Klinger
3. Phillip Hughes
4. Callum Ferguson
5. Nathan Reardon
6. Tim Ludeman
7. Andrew McDonald
8. Johan Botha (c)
9. Kane Richardson / Gary Putland
10. Adam Zampa / Jon Holland
11. Shaun Tait
FANTASY RELEVANT:
TAIT, Shaun - Bowler, $87,100
Express slinger Shaun Tait averaged 46.8 points per game last season (anything nudging 50 is excellent for a bowler), and we all know what X-Factor he has. However he only played five matches, and given that he only plays Twenty20 matches, injuries will always be a problem.
HOLLAND, Jon – Bowler, $34,000
If Holland pips Zampa for the second spinners’ spot, then he’s definitely worth a bench spot for your bowlers, given his basement price. Has been playing a lot of cricket for Victoria of lately, and form is reasonable.
LUDEMAN, Tim – Wicket-keeper, $65,900
Ludeman was a real surprise packet last year as he stormed to the top of the order for the Strikers and ripped a few games apart in partnership with Michael Klinger. However, with the signing of Alex Hales and the availability of Phil Hughes, it looks like Ludeman will be back down the order.
BOTHA, Johan – All Rounder, $98,000
Pretty simple situation for Botha – he’ll bat somewhere between 6-8, will bowl four overs and will always be in the game. Not cheap but scored extremely well last year (averaged 49.3).
If Holland pips Zampa for the second spinners’ spot, then he’s definitely worth a bench spot for your bowlers, given his basement price. Has been playing a lot of cricket for Victoria of lately, and form is reasonable.
LUDEMAN, Tim – Wicket-keeper, $65,900
Ludeman was a real surprise packet last year as he stormed to the top of the order for the Strikers and ripped a few games apart in partnership with Michael Klinger. However, with the signing of Alex Hales and the availability of Phil Hughes, it looks like Ludeman will be back down the order.
BOTHA, Johan – All Rounder, $98,000
Pretty simple situation for Botha – he’ll bat somewhere between 6-8, will bowl four overs and will always be in the game. Not cheap but scored extremely well last year (averaged 49.3).