Ponting: The Thunder trio the Hurricanes must stop to win final

David Warner is the Thunder’s big drawcard, but Tasmania legend Ricky Ponting has identified a three-pronged Thunder threat the Hurricanes must nullify to win their first BBL title on Monday.

Chris Green is one of three Thunder spinners the Hurricanes must nullify in Monday’s BBL Final. (Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)

His former Australia teammate David Warner may be their big name star, but Ricky Ponting believes nullifying Sydney Thunder’s trio of tweakers is the Hurricanes’ key to winning Monday’s BBL Final.

The Hurricanes will shoot for a maiden title at their Hobart fortress where they’ve won all six games this year, including the ‘Qualifier’ against Sydney Sixers.

Warner, the league’s leading run scorer, belted 88 off 66 balls in the side’s only meeting at Ninja Stadium on January 10, which the Hurricanes won easily with six wickets and 19 balls in hand.

Spinners Tom Andrews (1-17 off four overs) and Chris Green (0-15 off three) were economical. But Tanveer Sangha didn’t play and will give the Hurricanes another headache to address.

“The biggest key for us is how we play spin,” Hurricanes head of strategy Ponting told this masthead on Saturday.

“That’s certainly the key, the Thunder’s spin bowling through the middle overs with Andrews, Tanveer Sangha and Chris Green. They hold a lot of key for them.

“Warner has also been outstanding at the top of the order, he got 80-odd down there last time.

“The other pleasing thing is the best teams own their home ground, and the Hurricanes haven’t lost at home at all this season.

“They were able to buck the trend (at Hobart, where chasing teams have a strong record) in the last game (Sixers), and defend a total down there. There’s been a lot of positives.”

Ponting says the game itself is in the mix as one of the bigger moments for Tasmanian cricket.

Tanveer Sangha of the Sydney Thunder during a portrait session at Cricket Central for the Big Bash League media content day. Photo by Phil Hillyard (Image Supplied for Editorial Use only - **NO ON SALES** - ©Phil Hillyard )

“I read it’s sold out already. If we get 15 or 16,000 there it’ll be one of the biggest cricket events the state has ever seen, and hopefully the result goes the right way,” he said.

“Covering the game against the Sixers the other night it felt different to a normal game. You could sense it was a final, and the feel around the ground.

“You think of (Ben) McDermott and (Jack) Edwards’ catches, (Riley) Meredith bowling 150km, that’s the indicator of how big the event is.”

Ponting said Warner and the Thunder leaders had done a tremendous job to overcome adversity and make the decider.

They’ve lost a number of players to injury, including Cameron Bancroft and Daniel Sams who were involved in a sickening collision when fielding in Perth.

“You have to give them credit, the Thunder. With Bancroft and Sams going down and they’ve been stretched by injuries, they’ve found guys to come in and do well for them,” Ponting said.

Hurricanes fans celebrate the win over the Sixers during the BBL Finals. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

“Jason Sangha has come back in and he’s a terrific player. Their season has been terrific as well.”

Although a first title is on the line, Ponting urged the Hurricanes to avoid big stage jitters by treating the contest the same as every game this season.

“The players know the style they want to play, they’ve got to get out there and do it again,” he said.

“Enjoy the moment for what it is. Don’t try any harder than any other game.

“That’s the tendency for some guys who haven’t been there, they feel they have to do more in a final, but they don’t.

“Just play the way you did to get there, and the enormity of the moment lifts the adrenaline up anyway.”