Melbourne Renegades vs Sydney Thunder, Melbourne Renegades Predicted XI, Big Bash League (BBL 2020-21)

Melbourne Renegades haven’t been able to get up after their moral-destroying 60 runs defeat against Sydney Sixers in the first meeting. Since then, they have lost all their last three matches disappointingly. They lost their last match against Melbourne Stars with just two wickets.

With the beginning of the new year, Aaron Finch-led side will look to break their four-match losing streak when they face Sydney Thunder on January 1 in Carrara. This will be the 22nd match of the Big Bash League (BBL) 2020-21.

Here let’s take a look at Melbourne Renegades’ predicted playing XI against Sydney Thunder:

Shaun Marsh:

The experienced T20 player Shaun Marsh scored the second half-century of this season against Melbourne Stars but unfortunately, his contribution went in vain. But the fifty will be a confidence booster for him after failing to score big in the previous three matches. Marsh will want to break the losing streak to rise in the ranking.

Aaron Finch (c):

Melbourne Renegades captain Aaron Finch, ending his run drought, stitched 75 runs partnership with Marsh in which he contributed 39 runs. His opening stand gave a good base to the team but they could not carry the momentum forward. He will look to guide his side to their second win of this season on new year eve.

Sam Harper (wk):

In the third match, the wicketkeeper-batsman Sam Harper stepped in when the openers lost their wickets early in the last match. He amassed unbeaten 66 runs off 52 balls, striking four fours and two sixes. However, his knock could not help Melbourne Renegades to clinch the victory

The franchise will hope that they produce the same innings to get better off Sydney Thunder.

Rilee Rossouw:

The South African cricketer Rilee Roscoe Rossouw, who scored 17* and 0 runs in the first two matches, bounced back stronger against Hobart Hurricanes. He scored 59 off 40 balls in which he smacked eight fours and one six in Hobart to take the guide his team set up 158 runs target but it ended up in a losing cause.

But he hasn’t been able to play a big knock in his last two outings. Sydney Thunder will hope from him to rebuild innings like he has done earlier for them.

Beau Webster:

The all-rounder Beau Webster, who has also played for Hobart Hurricanes, has not been effective so far. In the first match, he didn’t get the opportunity to bat but bowled three overs in which he gave away 14 runs while picked one wicket. Against SS, he scored only two runs besides going wicketless. In his last two matches, he was not given to the ball.

But neither he has impressed with his bat, scoring 10 and 7 runs respectively. The 27-year-old need to prove his worth otherwise Melbourne Renegades will look to drop him.

Mohammad Nabi:

The Afghan allrounder Mohammad Nabi has also not been effective. He has scored 11*, 14 and 1 in his first three matches respectively. With the ball, he hasn’t been able to give breakthroughs at crucial junctures.

Against Sydney Thunder, he picked the wicket of Usman Khwaja in the last match but after that went expensive. In the last match, he notched the vital wickets of James Vince and Daniel Hughes. However, the unlucky Melbourne Renegades could not win the match.

Will Sutherland:

Will Sutherland has been expensive with the ball. In the last match against Sydney Thunder, he bowled only three overs and gave away 27 runs. He picked the crucial wicket of Oliver Davies but until then he had already done the destruction.

Against Sydney Sixers, Sutherland was struck for 10 fours and one six in his 3.5 over and picked only one wicket. The allrounder has neither given significant contribution with the bat.

Kane Richardson:

Kane Richardson, who missed out on the limited-overs leg of Australia against India, had an impressive start of the 10th season of BBL. He notched three wickets in the maiden match with Melbourne Renegades to take the game home.

However, the pacer has gone expensive in the next three matches. Against Thunder in the first meeting, he picked the crucial wicket of Callum Ferguson and Chris green but could not control his run rate. He gave away 33 runs in his four overs. The team will hope to give them breakthroughs in the coming matches.

Josh Lalor:

Josh Lalor was the most expensive bowler in the disappointing defeat against Sydney Sixers. He conceded 49 runs in his four overs and got the wicket of Josh Phillipe, who had already harmed with the bat.

In the last match against Renegades, he also conceded 44 runs in his four overs and picked the only wicket of D’Arcy Short. He was replaced with Zak Evans in the last match but he also could not control runs in death overs. Thus, Lalor will likely be recalled in the playing XI but he has to bowl tight spells to control the run rate.

Noor Ahmad:

The 15-year-old Noor Ahmad was replaced with Jonathan Mark Holland in the playing XI against Hobart Hurricanes. He became the youngest overseas player to make his debut in the BBL.

The young gun notched the prized wicket of the skipper Peter Handscomb while came out as the most economical bowler for Melbourne Renegades in that match. In his four overs quota, he registered the economy rate of 6.75.