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Hobart Hurricanes vs Melbourne Renegades, BBL 2020-21, Fantasy Pick, team predictions

December 19: Hobart Hurricanes vs Melbourne Renegades, Hobart

Pro Tip: Seven of the eight games at the Bellerive Oval in 2020 have been won by the team batting first. So make sure you have enough players from team that bats first.

Our XI: Rilee Rossouw, Shaun Marsh, D'Arcy Short, Ben McDermott, Colin Ingram, James Faulkner, Riley Meredith, Mohammad Nabi, Kane Richardson, Peter Hatzoglou, Keemo Paul

Substitutes: Tim David, Will Jacks, Beau Webster, Josh Lalor

Player availability: Keemo Paul will be available for the Hurricanes after having completed his national commitments, while Mohammad Nabi, Will Sutherland and Noor Ahmad will be available for the Renegades. Captain Aaron Finch has been given a short break and hence, will not be playing.

We might not always be able to tip you off about late injury (or other relevant) updates, so please finalise your team after the toss

Captain: D'Arcy Short

The Hurricanes' run-machine Short scored a brilliant 48-ball 72 in the last game he played at this venue against the Adelaide Strikers. Among the current players, nobody has scored more runs at this venue than Short - 839 runs in 21 innings at an average of 41.95 and a strike rate of 144.65.

Vice-captain: James Faulkner

The joint-leading wicket-taker in the tournament, Faulkner has taken seven wickets in three games so far at an economy of just 6.50. And if he gets to bat, expect him to play a little cameo. He had a good BBL last season too, where he got ten wickets in seven games, striking once every 12.6 balls.

Hot Picks

Mohammad Nabi: Former Afghanistan captain Nabi is now available to play following his quarantine period in Australia. He had had a stellar BBL 2019-20 too, scoring 160 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 160 along with picking up five wickets. Recently, he had got a five-for in the CPL 2020 too.

Ben McDermott: McDermott had a poor BBL last year, but was the top-scorer in the recent Sheffield Shield for Tasmania, following it up with a match-saving 107 not out against the Indians in the three-day game. And he has started this BBL with an impressive 33-ball 46 too.

Kane Richardson: Richardson is the third-highest wicket-taker in all BBL cricket, with 87 strikes at an average of 22.75. He has picked up four wickets in two games so far, and has been enjoying bowling to left-handers since last season, to whom he has bowled 70 balls for only 67 runs and three wickets.

Differential Picks

Peter Hatzoglou: The tall legspinner Hatzoglou wouldn't have found a spot in the Renegades' XI had regular spinner Cameron Boyce been available. But he's come into the side and impressed everyone in his debut season in both his outings so far, where he bagged 2 for 29 and 2 for 40.

Keemo Paul: Paul had had a good IPL 2019, picking up nine wickets in eight games at a strike rate of 18.11. He is also a very handy hitter in the lower order, which was evident from his last T20 outing where he scored an unbeaten 18-ball 26 against New Zealand, including three maximums.

Alternate Scenarios

  • Tim David has consistently impressed with scores of 58, 21* and 24 batting lower down the order. He can replace Riley Meredith in the XI.