BBL Final: Hobart Hurricanes and Sydney Thunder players who will have biggest say

It’s the Hobart Hurricanes against the Sydney Thunder in this year’s BBL decider. Here are six players who will have a huge say on the result.

It’s the Hobart Hurricanes against the Sydney Thunder in this year’s BBL decider.

The Thunder will be chasing their first title since BBL05 when they face off against Hobart on Monday night.

The Hurricanes are eyeing their maiden BBL crown after capping a dominant season by securing hosting rights to the final.

Here are six players who will have a huge say on the result.

HOBART HURRICANES

Tim David has the power to take the game away from the Sixers. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

TIM DAVID

The Aussie T20 slugger has become one of the greatest weapons in the BBL’s power surge overs. David has averaged a boundary every 3.8 balls he has faced in BBL14, hammering 254 runs at a strike rate of 177.6. David has only failed to reach double figures once in Hobart’s past eight matches and helped secure the club’s passage to the final when he clubbed 25 from 10 balls in the Qualifier against the Sixers. After David’s power was wasted when he only faced 83 balls in BBL13, Hobart has largely got its timing right with his entry into games this summer. He’ll only need a few overs at the crease to take the game away from the Thunder. This could be his last game in purple after being linked with a move to Melbourne Stars.

Mitch Owen’s breakout has been crucial to the Hurricanes’ success in BBL14.

MITCH OWEN

Owen’s breakout has been the story of BBL14. Owen had featured 13 times for the Hurricanes, largely as a bit-part player, and had a high score of 28 before this season. The young Tasmanian all-rounder announced himself with a 63-ball century against Perth Scorchers on December 21 and has not looked back. Owen has scored at least 33 runs in six innings this season and boasts a jaw-dropping strike rate of 191.1. No player with 100 runs or more this summer – even Glenn Maxwell – has a better strike rate. The Hurricanes fended off rival interest to re-sign the local product. It has been a life-changing two months for the 23-year-old, who is set to become hot property on the lucrative worldwide T20 circuit.

Riley Meredith took two wickets in the Qualifier against the Sixers.

RILEY MEREDITH

One of the reasons behind Hobart’s success this summer has been the balance in its bowling attack. Skipper Nathan Ellis and Chris Jordan bowl the death and surge overs, allowing Meredith to do what he does best as the Hurricanes’ strike weapon. Meredith has taken a wicket in all bar two games in BBL14 and claimed the key scalps of Josh Philippe and Moises Henriques in Hobart’s Qualifier win. Meredith is enjoying one of his most prolific BBL campaigns, averaging a wicket every 15.6 balls. That’s his best return since BBL11.

David Warner has led the Thunder back to the BBL final. Picture: Mark Kolbe Photography/Getty Images

THUNDER

DAVID WARNER

If the Thunder is to win its first title since BBL05, you sense Warner will need to produce the type of heroics Usman Khawaja did nine years ago. Khawaja scored 70 from 40 balls as the Thunder chased 9-176 to defeat Melbourne Stars. Leadership appears to have agreed with Warner, who was entrusted with the captaincy after having his sandpapergate ban lifted before BBL14. Warner has rivalled Cooper Connolly and Owen for the mantle of the leading BBL run scorer in his first full tournament since calling time on his international career. He’s a proven big-game player too.

Chris Green has been a key figure for the Thunder this summer. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

CHRIS GREEN

Green has been central to the Thunder’s success in BBL14, playing a crucial role with the ball and stepping up to bat as high as No.6. Lloyd Pope (15) is the only spinner with more wickets than Green (12), with his deceptive changes of pace proving particularly effective at ENGIE Stadium. The Hurricanes have a host of big hitters from Owen at the top of the order to David in the middle-to-lower order. If Green can put the clamps on during his four overs, it will heap pressure on Hobart and create opportunities for the Thunder’s other bowlers to pounce.

Tom Andrews has been one of the surprise packets of BBL14.

TOM ANDREWS

One of the surprise packets of the summer, Andrews was only signed by the Thunder after impressing against them in a pre-season trial while playing for Adelaide Strikers. Before BBL14, the left-arm spinner had played seven BBL games across three teams since making his debut with the Strikers in 2016. Andrews has become a mainstay for the Thunder, featuring in nine games, taking 10 wickets and conceding less than seven runs an over. Like Green, he’s been particularly effective at ENGIE Stadium where the conditions suit spin bowling. Can he complete a fairytale rise from the BBL’s fringes to a final hero?

Originally published as BBL Final: Hobart Hurricanes and Sydney Thunder players who will have biggest say