SuperCoach HQ

After an extremely successful go at predicting the sides last seaosn, I thought I’d give it another crack.

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First match: vs Heat, Wednesday 19th December

The Strikers have named their squad to play the Heat, with everyone in that we expected.  Of the 13, Valente and O’Connor will miss out, but expect to see them at some stage in this tournament.

1. Jake Weatherald
2. Alex Carey (wk)
3. Colin Ingram (capt)
4. Matt Short
5. Jono Wells
6. Jake Lehmann
7. Michael Neser
8. Rashid Khan
9. Peter Siddle
10. Ben Laughlin
11. Billy Stanlake

Remaining squad: Travis Head (Test team), Wes Agar, Liam O’Connor, David Grant, Nick Winter, Michael Cormack, Cameron Valente

Check out the Adelaide Strikers’ preview here

First match: vs Strikers, Wednesday 19th December

The biggest question that will affect the Heat line-up will be the position of the keeper-batsman Jimmy Peirson. He’s opened in the past, but that would impact young gun Max Bryant’s position. Personally, I like McCullum and Lynn at the top of the order, but that look unlikely to happen. Here’s their squad of 13.

1. Brendon McCullum
2. Max Bryant
3. Chris Lynn (capt)
4. Joe Burns
5. Sam Heazlett
6. Jimmy Peirson (wk)
7. Ben Cutting
8. James Pattinson
9. Mark Steketee
10. Mitch Swepson
11. Mujeeb Ur Rahman

Remaining squad: Matt Renshaw, Alex Ross, Marnus Labuschagne, Jack Prestwidge, Josh Lalor, Brendan Doggett, Matt Kuhnemann

Check out the Brisbane Heat preview here

First match: vs Heat, Saturday 22nd December (evening)

The Canes have plenty of all-rounders as usual and lots of experienced campaigners. Remember, this squad came second last year, and they haven’t lost any big talent. Will Alex Doolan open with D’Arcy Short? Not a whole lot of batting depth to call upon, so most likely.

1. D’Arcy Short
2. Alex Doolan
3. Matthew Wade (wk)
4. Ben McDermott
5. George Bailey (capt)
6. James Faulkner
7. Simon Milenko
8. Johan Botha
9. Jofra Archer
10. Clive Rose
11. Tymal Mills

Remaining squad: Tim Paine (Test team), Riley Meredith, Jake Doran, Caleb Jewell, David Moody, Aaron Summers, Tom Rogers

Check out the Hobart Hurricanes’ preview here

First match: vs Scorchers, Thursday 20th December

The Renegades’ squad has largely been depleted with Test duties and injuries, so an old-school combo of Cameron White and Tim Ludeman at the top will kick them off. However, they’ve got good bowling depth with no room for Jon Holland or Joe Mennie. See the squad here.

1. Cameron White
2. Tim Ludeman (wk)
3. Tom Cooper (capt)
4. Mohammad Nabi
5. Daniel Christian
6. Will Sutherland
7. Jack Wildermuth
8. Kane Richardson
9. Chris Tremain
10. Cameron Boyce
11. Usman Khan Shinwari

Remaining squad: Jon Holland, Joe Mennie, Zak Evans, Mackenzie Harvey (injured), Beau Webster (injured), Marcus Harris (Test team), Aaron Finch (Test team)

Top-ups: Kelvin Smith, Sam Harper

Check out the Melbourne Renegades’ preview here

First match: vs Thunder, Friday 21st December

The Stars have been heavily hit with injury and will get two replacement players to come in (to be named in the coming days). For now though, there’s only room for two pacemen and two of the four spinners in the squad (why so many?) get a first-up gig.

1. Ben Dunk (wk)
2. Travis Dean
3. Marcus Stoinis
4. Glenn Maxwell (capt)
5. Jonathan Merlo
6. Dwayne Bravo
7. Evan Gulbis
8. Adam Zampa
9. Jackson Bird
10. Scott Boland
11. Sandeep Lamichhane

Remaining squad: Nic Maddinson (injured), Seb Gotch (injured), Peter Handscomb (Test team), Michael Beer, Jackson Coleman, Daniel Worrall, Liam Bowe

Check out the Melbourne Stars’ preview here

First match: vs Renegades, Thursday 20th December

Lots and lots of quality pace options makes the Perth squad impossible to pick. How can there not be room for Jhye Richardson? David Willey has opened a lot in English Twenty20 cricket, so he could literally bat anywhere in the order. Michael Klinger’s had back issues but should be alright. Mitch Marsh will play in the first game but not the second, so be aware.

1. Michael Klinger
2. Josh Inglis (wk)
3. Hilton Cartwright
4. Mitch Marsh (capt)
5. Ashton Turner
6. David Willey
7. Ashton Agar
8. Nathan Coulter-Nile
9. Andrew Tye
10. Usman Qadir
11. Jason Behrendorff

Remaining squad: Jhye Richardson, Joel Paris (injured), Cameron Green, Matthew Kelly, Sam Whiteman, Shaun Marsh (Test team), Cameron Bancroft (suspended)

Check out the Perth Scorchers’ preview here

First match: vs Scorchers, Saturday 22nd December (afternoon)

It looks likely that pocket-rocket Josh Philippe will replace Peter Nevill with the gloves, and he also has the ability to open the batting. Justin Avendano is a big-hitting all-rounder, so he slots in nicely ahead of Sean Abbott and Tom Curran.

1. Daniel Hughes
2. Joe Denly
3. Jack Edwards
4. Moises Henriques (capt)
5. Jordan Silk
6. Josh Philippe (wk)
7. Justin Avendano
8. Sean Abbott
9. Tom Curran
10. Steven O’Keefe
11. Ben Dwarshuis

Remaining squad: Nathan Lyon (Test team), Peter Nevill, Mickey Edwards, Daniel Fallins, Lloyd Pope, Greg West, Henry Thornton

Check out the Sydney Sixers’ preview here

First match: vs Stars, Friday 21st December

The Thunder will be looking to bounce back and have a very strong top-order. Their pace bowling options are a little thin though, so Gurinder Sandhu and Daniel Sams will have a big role to play. Arjun Nair misses out with both Chris Green and Fawad Ahmed having excellent seasons in 2018.

1. Jos Buttler (wk)
2. Kurtis Patterson
3. Shane Watson
4. Joe Root
5. Callum Ferguson
6. Jason Sangha
7. Daniel Sams
8. Chris Green
9. Gurinder Sandhu
10. Fawad Ahmed
11. Sam Rainbird

Remaining squad: Arjun Nair, Ryan Gibson, Jay Lenton, Nathan McAndrew, Liam Hatcher, Pat Cummins (Test team), Usman Khawaja (Test team)

Check out the Sydney Thunder preview here