The start to the season has been a struggle for both sides coming into this game – each have won just one of three so far. Can the Heat make it back-to-back victories? Will the Thunder halt a two-game losing streak?
To answer both questions, I have compiled some BBL betting tips to help you find some value in the betting jungle down under!
Read my Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Thunder cricket betting tips before a ball is bowled! The action starts at 2:10 pm (IST) on Sunday 19th December at the Brisbane Cricket Ground in Brisbane. I also have the live cricket satta rates for the game.
The Heat will be looking for revenge after suffering an opening game defeat to the Thunder on Monday 6th December.
The Thunder did not capitalise on their excellent start and are struggling at the foot of the table early on. The Heat won last time out and today’s cricket prediction is for them to make full use of home advantage to get the win!
The Heat lost their opening two games of the season, but put in a good performance against current Big Bash basement dwellers the Renegades to win by five wickets!
Last year’s third-placed team can take solace from their start last year – they lost four of their first five games before finding their feet and going on a run of form to propel them up the table.
They will need to hit a similar purple patch soon if they have any ambitions of being involved in the finals!
Team News
The Heat remain without recent Ashes heroes Marnus Labuschagne and Michael Neser, who continue to impress with the national team.
Pace bowler Mark Steketee is back and available for selection after being released from his Australia squad duties.
His inclusion could be the only change, given the margin of their last victory and no new injury concerns to speak of!
Player to Watch: Chris Lynn
The legendary Big Bash big-hitter is yet to find the form all onlookers know he’s capable of this season, but he’s been threatening to flicker into life.
In the victory over the Renegades, Lynn was carting bowlers around the ground for an aggressive 32 runs from just 15 balls. There were five fours and one six at a strike rate of 213.3
I’m backing him to go one step further against the Thunder and be the Heat’s top scorer with a rapid half-century. You can read more about my top bets and other Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Thunder predictions below.
Heat Likely XI
Max Bryant, Chris Lynn, Ben Duckett, Sam Heazlett, Tom Abell, Jimmy Peirson (capt), James Bazley, Xavier Bartlett, Mark Steketee, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Liam Guthrie.
Sydney Thunder’s Recent Form
The Thunder began life in this year’s Big Bash tournament with a win over this opponent – smashing the Heat by seven wickets with 17 balls to spare.
Since that confidence-boosting victory, though, this season has not been going to plan. Back-to-back defeats to the Melbourne Stars will have been a huge dent to confidence.
All eyes were on the imposing Alex Hales at the top of the order in the most recent defeat against the Stars, but it was another Alex who shone brightly – Alex Ross smashed 77 runs from 49 balls to lift his team to 151/5 from 20 overs, helping his team recover from 65/4.
If the Thunder can negotiate the early overs and keep wickets intact, they could prove hugely dangerous opposition.
Team News
English pacer Saqib Mahmood is eyeing a debut for the Thunder! Capable at bowling speeds of up to 150 km/h, the 24-year-old will hope to impress if called upon this weekend.
The Thunder have 15 players to pick from, with big names such as Sam Billings. Ben Cutting, and skipper Chris Green all fit, firing, and ready to go!
Player to Watch: Alex Hales
One of the most destructive batters in world cricket, Alex Hales can wreak devastation on any bowling attack if he’s in the mood.
Thunder fans were treated to a Hale storm last season when he hit the fourth fastest Big Bash century of all time – hammering 110 in his team’s 232/5, which remains the highest-ever total in this competition.
If he can get a start, you can forget about my previous Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Thunder betting tips – he will single-handedly prove me wrong!
Thunder’s Likely XI
Alex Hales, Sam Whiteman, Matthew Gilkes, Sam Billings, Alex Ross, Daniel Sams, Ben Cutting, Nathan McAndrew, Chris Green (capt), Gurinder Sandhu, and Tanveer Sangha.
Venue & conditions
The Gabba can throw up some absolute roads – but there are nuances to the pitches there.
Invariable bounce and pace can make it a tricky pitch to get in on – an observation backed up by the stats!
In 45 domestic Twenty20 matches there, the average first innings score with the bat is just under the 160 mark.
It looks set for a fine day in eastern Australia, with sunny skies forecast throughout Sunday.
Heat vs Thunder Head-to-Head
The Heat dominate in the Head-To-Head standings, winning 10 of the 14 completed games these two have played one another.
The Thunder find it particularly difficult chasing today’s opponents, with an average of just 108 when batting second.
There was a win apiece for both teams last year in what proved an even contest across the whole season.
Heat vs Thunder Toss Prediction
The Thunder are ahead when it comes to making a call at the coin – winning eight of the 15 flips!
I’m backing the Brisbane crowd to roar in a levelling victory for skipper Jimmy Peirson!
You can find the Heat vs Thunder toss winner statistics below:
They may be the slight outsiders with the bookmakers, but I fancy the Heat to be too hot to handle for the Thunder.
A lot will depend on the toss – if the hosts can win the flip and bat first, history shows in this fixture how difficult Chris Green’s side find it to chase down any total.
The visitors’ stacked batting roster is primed for setting heavy scores, but not as adept at pursuing big totals.
That’s why I’m backing the Heat, and I’m placing my bet with Pure Win! They have some phenomenal pre-match winner market prices that outrank most of their competitors. They also have a great in-play client! Find out more reading our Pure Win review!
The main man for the Heat has a great record at the Gabba – Lynn has the highest average of any Twenty20 batsman there at 37.34, with six fifties and one century to his name there.
He was looking very lively last time out, and although he hasn’t hit straps just yet this season, one has to feel it is only a matter of time!
I think he will be the Heat’s top scorer against the Thunder!
Heat vs Thunder fun statistics
Time to round things off with some fun facts ahead of the game.
Sydney Thunder are responsible for two of the highest Big Bash Twenty20 scores of all time, and both were posted last season – 232 (vs Sydney Sixers) and 219 (vs Stars) are first and joint fourth in the all-time list.
Both teams have only won the Big Bash League tournament once, with both winning their respective trophies after finishing fourth in the regular season.
