Strikers skipper Travis Head and superstar Rashid Khan are ready for all out attack from Sydney Thunder
Sydney Thunder skipper Callum Ferguson arrives in Adelaide hoping to sweep the Strikers from finals contention but Rashid Khan is ready and waiting.
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Adelaide skipper Travis Head and leg-spin king Rashid Khan insist they won’t be swept aside by canny Callum Ferguson’s Sydney Thunder.
Head is bracing for a tactical showdown against counterpart Ferguson’s resurgent Thunder in Saturday’s BBL knockout final at Adelaide Oval. Rashid must nullify in-form openers Alex Hales and Usman Khawaja who thrive on Adelaide’s short, square boundaries.
Rashid has endured rare expensive outings in Adelaide against the Thunder (1/44) on New Year’s Eve and 0/35 against a Matt Wade inspired Hobart on Australia Day.
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“It was his day, smashed it,” said Rashid of Wade’s 130 in 61 balls that spurred a 10-run win.
“We haven’t lost a one sided game and that is what we think about in the finals.”
Man-of-the-match Ferguson put on 73 with Khawaja and 59 with Alex Ross in Thunder’s three-run New Year’s Eve triumph in Adelaide. Hales (60, 37 balls) and Khawaja (54) combined for 103 in Thunder’s Eliminator victory in Hobart on Thursday night.
“We have to bowl well according to the situation. Anyone can take the game away from you, you need to take everyone seriously,” Rashid said.
Head expects Thunder to sweep hard at the world’s No. 1 ranked Twenty20 spinner Rashid
“He is always working on different things, will be prepared for that game plan, a lot of guys take that route, so I’m sure he will be fine,” said Head, backing Rashid.
Head respects Ferguson as “an exceptional white ball player” but there is nothing either side doesn’t already know about the other.
“We play so much cricket against all these guys now that we will know ins and outs of everyone,” said Head before the clash with South Australian teammates Ferguson and Ross.
Adelaide’s edge comes with a settled side and “Sussex connection” where the Afghanistan favourite and opener Phil Salt have filled import slots all tournament.
Sussex and Strikers coach Jason Gillespie has assembled Australian keeper-batsman Alex Carey, Rashid and Salt for his BBL and Vitality Blast campaigns and welcomes Test star Head to Hove this English summer.
“It is all about having the same head coach, the same combination,” said Rashid.
“He is more relaxed with the boys and the performance has been there as well with Alex Carey and Travis Head.”
Salt has exploded with three rousing half centuries in five innings at the right time of the season opening with Jake Weatherald, says Rashid. The Knock-out final winner progresses to a Thursday night Challenger that offers a grand final slot.
“The most important thing is he is performing at home. We all know how dangerous he is once he gets in which he has done at Sussex as well. Everyone is in good rhythm,” said Rashid of Salt.
Adelaide must decide whether to persevere with firebrand Billy Stanlake who has toiled for four wickets at 66.5 and economy rate of 8.86 over 10 matches this season. Stanlake (1/27) neutralised Hales (4) on New Year’s Eve and provides a 150km, 204cm point of difference for Head’s attack.
Heavy rain is expected to clear for a 7.10pm start.