After four seasons of the BBL, the Sydney Thunder are the only team yet to make it to the finals series, with three wooden spoons and a second-last placing to their names.
They have managed to win just five games out of 30 games played over the past four seasons, which is extremely poor if we are to be brutally honest, considering T20 cricket is the most evenly poised form of the game. With a fresh pre-season program, an experienced leadership program and some gun signings, the Thunder are poised to potentially produce their best season thus far.
BBL|04 couldn’t have gotten off to a better start last season for the Thunder. They destroyed the Brisbane Heat in the first round of the season. Legends Jacques Kallis (97*) and Mike Hussey (96) put on a mammoth 160-run first wicket partnership, which turned out to be the highest partnership since the establishment of the BBL. Things just went downhill from that point onwards for the Thunder who managed just one more win for the season.
Aiden Blizzard was a shining light after producing his most consistent T20 season for a long time. The hard-hitting left-hander managed 240 runs in 6 innings at an average of 60, turning out to be the Thunder’s most proficient run scorer.
The middle order collapse was once again an issue for the Thunder and the likes of Daniel Hughes, Eoin Morgan and Chris Hartley failing to make any sort of impact. The bowling department performed slightly better overall, although no bowler managed to reach the 10-wicket mark for the season. Gurinder Sandhu took 8 wickets an a impressive economy rate of 6.95, yet no other bowler managed to keep an economy rate under 7.00, which is quite disappointing considering their were 22 bowlers who managed this feat overall last season.
After opening BBL|01 with an average home crowd of 18,420, their support rapidly dropped off due to poor performance. Their average dropped down to a measly 10,000 fans the next season. In a remarkable sign of faith, fans have forced blockages of the Thunder website, with the side coming out with an official statement in regards to running out of membership cards. Despite originally projecting 3000 members, a target of 5000 has now been set.
The Thunder will once again have the services of two of the greatest players of the past decade in Michael Hussey and Jacques Kallis. Last season the pair opened the batting for most of the season and they truly did wind the clock back, proving they still well and truly have what it takes.
It will be interesting to see what the Thunder do in regards to their batting order. Will they stick with the openers from last season? Or will they slot Shane Watson in and drop Mike Hussey back down into his beloved number four spot? Domestic veterans Ben Rohrer, Chris Harley and Aiden Blizzard will create the middle order for the Thunder and they are all capable hitters of the ball with the ability to pinch-hit late in an innings.
The real diamond in the rough for BBL|05 is young keeper-batsmen Jake Doran. The 19 year-old will most likely get an opportunity to prove his worth at some stage throughout the competition after playing every game First Class and List A match for the Tasmanian tigers this summer. He is yet to set the world on fire with two scores over 50 and six scores under 10 so far, yet that is to be expected with such a young player. The left-handed pocket rocket has already been compared to Andrew Strauss and Mike Hussey with his stroke play and ability to keep the scoreboard ticking
Young strike bowler Gurinder Sandhu will lead the Thunder pace attack in the absence of the injury-prone Patrick Cummins. The 22-year-old made his ODI debut last summer after two successful years of limited overs cricket and four years at the Thunder. Sandhu has proved a true all round bowling package with the ability to bowl at a consistent length with a lethal outswinger and a deadly Yorker, while remaining economical at the same time.
Former Australian bowler Clint Mckay, who joins the Thunder this season after four years at the Stars, is also a strong signing. The experienced short-form bowler lacked opportunity in the Big Bash last season with selectors opting for the younger Scott Boland. He has the potential to change the flow of the game with his variation and deceptive slower ball, which continues to bamboozle opposition batsmen.
Fawad Ahmed is yet to play much T20 cricket, yet leg-spinners have proven to be crucial in recent Big Bash seasons with the likes of Adam Zampa, Steve O’Keefe and Cameron Boyce all performing.
The likes of Andrew McDonald, Jonte Pattison, Alister McDermott, Kurtis Patterson and Ahillen Beadle are probably considered depth players at this stage, yet they may all get an opportunity at some stage throughout the season, especially considering the likes of Cummins and Khawaja are currently injured.
Signings
Shane Watson: The recently retired Watson will take part in his first full Big Bash League this season, which is extremely exciting for Thunder fans. For much of his career Watson has been criticised for under-performing and failing to reach his potential at international level, yet his T20 prowess makes him one of the biggest signings of the summer. Watto has played 155 T20 matches over a 10-year-period, compiling an batting average of 31 at a striker rate of 140, which includes a two centuries and a whopping 27 half-centuries. Watson has taken part in the past eight IPL seasons and has earned big bucks at the Rajasthan Royals where he was retained last season for $2.2million AUD! Lets not forget that Watson was the player of the series in the 2012 ICC T20 World Cup, where he accumulated 250 runs at 49.80 as well as 11 wickets.
Andre Russell: After one successful season at the Renegades the charismatic West-Indian all rounder will once again return to Australia, this time in suiting up in green. Russell holds an impressive T20 record over his 167-game career, which has included stints in the IPL, CPL and English T20 Blast. Russell’s batting average of 25 at a strike rate of 168 is fairly remarkable considering he often pinch hits at number six.
He has also made twelve half-centuries and taken 125 wickets, which will give the Thunder yet another dimension in an already jam packed bowling department with all-rounders Shane Watson, Jacques Kallis and Andrew McDonald.
Fawad Ahmed: The Pakistani-born Australian representative has put his mark onto the domestic scene in spades over the past couple of years, last year dominating the Sheffield Shield with 48 wickets (ranked first) at an average of just 24.85. Ahmed hasn’t played much limited overs cricket thus far, with just 11 Big Bash games to his name and recently three T20 internationals.
He will almost certainly play every game this season, taking the number one spin role with the departure of Nathan Hauritz.
Ben Rohrer: The often-underrated veteran Rohrer makes his way to the Thunder this season after starting his BBL career with the Sixers prior to three seasons with the Renegades. Rohrer is an experienced domestic player and in 75 T20 matches he has scored 1291 runs at a decent of average of 27. Although he will be overshadowed by the big guns, Rohrer will add the experience the Thunder need, stabilising the middle order and likely coming in at number six.
Other signings: Clint McKay, Kurtis Patterson, Alister McDermott
Departures:
Nathan Hauritz (Renegades), Daniel Hughes, Josh Lalor (Heat), Eoin Morgan, Dirk Nannes, Chris Tremain (Renegades), Cameron Delport, Jason Roy
Prediction: (5th)
After being the laughing stock of the competition for many years, the Thunder have enough talent this year to potentially compete for the title. The three big guns in Watson, Kallis and Hussey will be vital despite and despite the latter two clocking over to the big 40 they still all class.
Unfortunately the likes of Usman Khawaja and Patrick Cummins won’t be taking part for majority of the competition due to injury and international duties. The Thunder’s best 11 is extremely good on paper, yet there is certainly a lack of depth in regards to T20 experience if any more injuries were to come to fruition. There will be games this summer when the Thunder dominate with the Bat and don’t be surprised if we see a couple more hundred partnerships once again between Kallis and Hussey. The success of the Thunder this season will come down to the performance of the middle order.
Sydney Thunder squad
Jacques Kallis, Patrick Cummins, Mike Hussey, Aiden Blizzard, Andrew McDonald, Jake Doran, Jonte Pattison, Ahillen Beadle, Chris Hartley, Fawad Ahmed, Shane Watson, Usman Khawaja, Kurtis Patterson, Ben Rohrer, Gurinder Sandhu, Andre Russell, Alister McDermott, Clint Mckay
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