Sydney Thunder v Hobart Hurricanes Big Bash Tips: Hobart struggling to shine

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Wade will play for HH

Ed Hawkins previews the contest from Albury early on Saturday and finds a 22/1 pick worth chancing.

  • Thunder lose G Sandhu

  • Wade returns for HH

  • Cutting underrated at 22/1


Sydney Thunder v Hobart Hurricanes
Saturday 31 December, 04:30
TV: Live on BT Sports

Team news

Thunder have suffered another injury issue with Gurinder Sandhu being left out of the squad with a hamstring problem. Jason Sangha is out with a broken collarbone. Tanveer Sangha is a long-term absentee with a back issue.

It could mean that Ben Cutting finally gets to make his first appearance of the campaign. They will need his bowling as a sixth option.

Possible XI: Hales, Gilkes, Rossouw, Davies, Cutting, Ross, Sams, Green, McAndrew, Doggett, Qadir

Hobart are without Ben McDermott and Billy Stanlake with injuries for this contest. Spinner Will Parker has been left out of the squad altogether.

Matthew Wade missed the defeat by Renegades which saw Jimy Neesham open the batting. Wade returns, however.

Possible XI: Wade, Short, Jewell, David, Shadab, Asif, Neesham, Paris, Ellis, Dooley, Meredith

Pitch report

There have been only two T20 matches played at Albury. Both were women's Bash matches and both first-innings came in under 120.

How to play

Thunder are 2.0811/10 with Hobart 1.8910/11. Thunder are beginning to put their 15 all out nightmare behind them and have won their last two, giving them an even money record across six matches.

Hobart are a disappointment if you thought they were worthy pre-tournament favourites. They've won twice in four and produced a dreadful effort against Renegades last time out.

It would be fair to reckon this is is a choice affair. There's no evidence yet that Hobart should be odds-on.

Tops value

Cutting is 22/1 with Sportsbook to top score for Thunder. He could bat anywhere from No 4 to No 7. But there's no way he should be as chunky on ability alone. Alex Hales has been boosted to 11/4 to top score for Thunder.

Recommended bets

(0.5pts) Back Back B Cutting top Thunder bat 23.022/1

Ed Hawkins

Ed is an award-winning cricket writer and is Betfair's resident tipster on every single cricket tournament we cover.

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