The Adelaide Strikers were supposed to be the team who took out the 2015-16 Big Bash League after finishing as minor premiers, but a semi-final exit for the second year in a row would have left them wanting and they will once again be a force in BBL|06.
The Strikers were long one of the teams in the Big Bash who were almost but not quite good enough before turning it around over the last two editions.
Unfortunately for the Adelaide-based club, they simply have never been able to make the next jump and get to the big dance or win the competition despite a pair of minor premierships, being knocked out in the semi-finals twice.
Last season’s knockout, which came at the hands of the Sydney Thunder was particularly frustrating for the franchise, given it was the Thunder’s first ever crack at the finals and they were the dominant side throughout the season.
It could have been the pressure of expectation in front of 50,000 at the Adelaide Oval, but the Strikers were outplayed on the day by a rampant Thunder outfit.
If the Strikers can’t turn it around this year, particularly if they do make the finals again as expected, then the tag of BBL chokers is going to start creeping into the club – something no one wants.
Adelaide Strikers factbox
BBL history
BBL|01: 6th place
BBL|02: 5th place
BBL|03: 7th place
BBL|04: 1st place, semi-final exit
BBL|05: 1st place, semi-final exitClothing colour: Blue
Home ground: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
Captain: Brad Hodge
Coach: Jason GillespieSquad
Brad Hodge (c), Wes Agar, Alex Carey, Jonathon Dean, Ben Dunk, Travis Head, Jon Holland, Chris Jordan, Ben Laughlin, Jake Lehmann, Tim Ludeman, Michael Neser, Kieron Pollard, Kane Richardson, Craig Simmons, Kelvin Smith, Billy Stanlake, Jake WeatheraldDraw (all times AEDT)
Wednesday, December 21 (7:40pm) vs Brisbane Heat at Adelaide Oval
Friday, December 23 (9:15pm) vs Perth Scorchers at WACA
Saturday, December 31 (7:10pm) vs Sydney Sixers at Adelaide Oval
Monday, January 2 (7:10pm) vs Hobart Hurricanes at Blundstone Arena
Friday, January 6 (7:10pm) vs Hobart Hurricanes at Adelaide Oval
Tuesday, January 10 (7:40pm) vs Melbourne Stars at MCG
Monday, January 16 (7:40pm) vs Melbourne Renegades at Adelaide Oval
Wednesday, January 18 (7:40pm) vs Sydney Thunder at Spotless Stadium
Before even looking at the established stars the Strikers have, their imports or even the youngsters on the side, it’s worth moving straight in and talking about the big-hitting Ben Dunk.
Dunk has been a revelation in the shorter forms of the game ever since he burst onto the scene four seasons ago, making a monster double hundred in a one-dayer for the Tasmanian Tigers.
After spending his Big Bash days so far with the Hobart Hurricanes, he has signed with the Strikers for the new season and should settle into a successful team quickly.
While Dunk wasn’t fantastic last season in the BBL, there will be plenty of pressure on him to succeed this year with no shortage of competition for spots in Adelaide.
Dunk has represented Australia in the shortest form of the game on the back of scintillating form and there is no question about the X-Factor he could bring to the city of churches.
Another man who has made a name for himself in the shortest form of the game is Craig Simmons who has blasted his way onto the scene over the last couple of years.
The problem with the Strikers is their incredible batting depth means the jostling for spots is expected to be intense with quality players missing out each game.
While Simmons has made a name with his big hitting, Dunk can also bring keeping to the Strikers squad, although that job is likely to be done by Tim Ludeman who, it would be fair to say, had a bit of a breakout season last year.
Apart from his keeping which was well and truly up to scratch, Ludeman was in the top ten for runs during the tournament and even though he couldn’t carry the side over the line in the semi-final.
If there was a player in the Strikers batting order more consistent and dangerous than Ludeman, though, it was Travis Head.
Unfortunately from a Strikers point of view, Head’s form in limited overs cricket has been so good that he is now apart of the Australian ODI squad and is likely to miss some of the tournament.
Nonetheless, when he does play he is a massive threat to every opposition attack as he proved recently against New Zealand, but also in the Big Bash last season where he scored 299 runs in nine innings including an unbeaten 101 from just 53 balls against the Sydney Sixers.
What the Strikers lack from the players mentioned, though, is experience – which is exactly where veterans Brad Hodge, who will captain the side, and West Indian all-rounder Kieron Pollard come into their own.
While Pollard will also have an important role with the ball in this campaign, there is no question about how far he can hit a ball and he will add another element of attack to the Adelaide side.
Hodge’s role coming into the season looks to be batting in the top order and anchoring the innings through to the last handful of overs where he himself will be given a licence to tee off.
Incredibly, that is probably the top batting order the Strikers could put together and we still haven’t looked at younger players, with Jake Lehmann leading the cavalry there.
Lehmann will be banging the door down for a spot and is likely to be first man in when Head is inevitably picked for Australia.
With others including Alex Carey, Jonathon Dean and Jake Weatherald all in line for spots, there is no questioning the Strikers’ batting depth.
Where they may lack a fraction is with the ball, although given opening bowler Kane Richardson barely rates a mention based on his statistics from last season there is plenty of room for improvement.
Ben Laughlin, who is rated as one of the best short-form bowlers in the country, will take the role of spearhead once again for the Strikers after finishing last season with 12 wickets at a ripping average of 20, even if he was a little expensive.
Michael Neser backed him up admirably for the most part but many of the others struggled to keep the runs down or plug away with wickets and for that reason, it was lucky their batting was the most dominant force in the competition.
Unfortunately for the Strikers, they have lost their number one strike weapon from last season in English spinner Adil Rashid, who didn’t re-sign with the club – and it’s hardly a surprise with the leg-spinner currently bowling a stack of overs in India for the national side.
There was going to be plenty of pressure on Jon Holland to replace Rashid, but that pressure will have to hold off for a few weeks with the left-arm tweaker succumbing to injury, which has ramped up the stress on other bowlers.
Chris Jordan will help the pace stocks out this season, but he has never been overly impressive in the shortest form of the game at a national level and will need to prove why he was picked for England in the first place during this tournament.
The role of Pollard, especially during the early rounds without Holland, is going to be huge and if he can’t keep the runs down, things could quickly get away from the men in blue.
No matter what might be said about the bowling depth, though, the Strikers have a punishing batting lineup and with their home ground the Adelaide Oval, they should prove to be a formidable opposition.
Prediction
The Strikers have a strong squad once again, but finishing as the top team at the end of the regular season might be beyond them.
Given how they have gone maintaining home ground advantage in the finals during their two attempts, it may not be in their best interests to lump themselves with the pressure of another minor premiership anyway.
While a road trip will be tough in the finals, the Strikers could have the cattle to get it done. A third straight semi-final exit won’t be a happy ending for Brad Hodge’s side, but that’s where they might be destined to end up unless they can pull something off away from home.
Third
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Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde
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