Sydney Thunder has the distinction of being the most inconsistent team in Big Bash League history. Though they lifted the title in the 2015-16 season, Thunder has never finished in the top four in seven out of eight BBL seasons. The Sydney outfit finished at the bottom of the points table four times, while in BBL 08, they missed the playoff spot by a point.
(Pic courtesy: AAP)
New Additions
The Thunder added more firepower in their batting line-up by signing England’s Alex Hales and Brisbane Heats’ Alex Ross. Hales had a good outing in Mzansi Super League season with Durban Heat, scoring a match-winning 97* against Paarl Rocks. He was also part of 2019 Caribbean Premier League champions Barbados Tridents and averaged 54 fantasy points (FPs) in the last four matches.
Ross, meanwhile, is not an explosive batsman like the Englishman but has made meaningful contributions in BBL over the years. He has plied trade with Adelaide Strikers and Brisbane Heat, and Thunder coach Shane Bond will be banking on Ross’ experience in BBL 09.
The 2015-16 champions have bolstered their bowling unit too for the coming season. Chris Tremain and Brendan Doggett have been roped in from Melbourne Renegades, and, Brisbane Heat respectively. Tremain picked up 45 wickets in Sheffield Shield 2018-19 season, while the 25-year-old Doggett is one among few bowlers to pick up a five-wicket haul in BBL history.
(Pic courtesy: Getty Images)
Chris Morris, like his South Africa teammates Ab de Villiers and David Miller, will be making his Big Bash League debut. The all-rounder averaged (per match) 77 fantasy points (FPs) in 2019 World Cup and played a pivotal role in Nelson Mandela Bay Giants’ top-two finish in the league stage of 2019 Mzansi Super League.
The 18-year-old spinner Tanveer Sangha, included in the Australia U19 World Cup squad, features in Thunder’s BBL 09 squad. Sangha, with Fawad Ahmed gone, is expected to get a couple of games.
Top three FPs scorers in BBL 2018-19 season:
Daniel Sams (652 points from 13 matches)
Callum Ferguson (648 points from 13 matches)
Chris Green (631 points from 13 matches)
BBL 2019-20 squad: Alex Hales (Overseas Player), Jason Sangha, Callum Ferguson (Captain), Usman Khawaja, Alex Ross, Jay Lenton, Matthew Gilkes, Ollie Davies, Chris Green, Chris Morris (Overseas Player), Daniel Sams, Brendan Doggett, Chris Tremain, Nathan McAndrew, Gurinder Sandhu, Arjun Nair, Jonathan Cook, Tanveer Sangha.
Play the Australia’s biggest T20 League at HalaPlay from December 17th.