Big Bash Final: The Preview

Here it is, South Australia v New South Wales, I don’t think anyone expected this to be the final when the tournament began, well I saw SA were tipped by a lot of people but besides fellow NSW fans and I being biased, no one picked NSW but they have got here on the back of some talent from the youngsters.

South Australia though, kept the majority of their side from the 2009/10 season plus adding Adil Rashid to replace Afridi, Pollard pulling them out of the fire several times but once he had packed up and left to return home, there were two SA players who stood up. In the batting “Doctor” Dan Harris who is second in the run-scoring with 256 runs at an average of 51.20 just behind David Warner who leads the way.

In the bowling, Nathan Lyon has been the find for SA, after taking three wickets in his first game vs NSW, he’s continued on, taking wickets at vital times for SA and maybe played himself into their Ryobi Cup and Shield sides.

For NSW, they have struggled all tournament with their batting, needing some spectacular batting performances from David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Ben Rohrer and in one game Steven O’Keefe to get them to this point, defending some low totals.

The story for New South Wales has been a teenage prospect from Penrith, Patrick Cummins who is leading the wicket-taking for the Big Bash despite not playing all the games but bowling 145+km at 17 isn’t something to be sneezed at and that was emphasised when he ripped through Tasmania’s top order in the preliminary final. There has been some very good support from Stuart Clark who is always singing from the same songsheet, Henriques and recently Thornley has brought NSW to this point.

Now to who’ll win, NSW will be missing two important players, batting prodigy and called the messiah by many Usman Khawaja and the man who makes the ladies swoon Steven O’Keefe meaning New South Wales will go in like most of the tournament with an inexperienced side where their strength is definitely the bowling because if Warner doesn’t come off, NSW might only make 120-140.

The bowlings strength is the different variations they can call upon, besides Clark who nags at one length but if the radar is right, South Australia’s batsmen might find it hard to score and pressure themselves into a losing situation with no Pollard to save them this time but Moises will still be bowling, so they are half a chance.

For South Australia, their side is well balanced thus neither bowling or batting is favoured but Adelaide is a spin friendly pitch, playing into South Australia’s hands as they’ll go in with three spinners (Lyons, Rashid and O’Brien) and can call upon the doctor to bowl some overs. Their batting will lack a bit, thanks to Ferguson being called into the national team but it still contains some powerful hitters, Klinger, Harris and Blizzard who is experienced in winning finals, featuring in a few of Victoria’s winning sides.

My prediction is going to sound biased but if NSW can bat first and Warner fires, they’ll post 150-160 and their bowlers should be able to defend that but if SA get Warner early, that might be game.

Probable Sides:

South Australia squad:  Michael Klinger (capt), Daniel Harris, Aiden Blizzard, James Smith, Cameron Borgas, Tom Cooper, Daniel Christian, Graham Manou (wk), Aaron O’Brien, Adil Rashid, Kane Richardson, Jake Haberfield, Nathan Lyon.

New South Wales squad David Warner, Daniel Smith (wk), Phil Jaques, Ben Rohrer, Peter Forrest, Dominic Thornely, Moises Henriques, Tim Armstrong, Sean Abbott, Scott Coyte, Luke Doran, Stuart Clark (capt), Patrick Cummins.

Go blues!