BBL 2026 · Match 3 · Wed 16 Dec, 7:15 pm AEDT (1:45 pm IST)

Sydney Thunder vs Adelaide Strikers match prediction and playing 11

Sydney Thunder play Adelaide Strikers in match 3 of the BBL on Wed 16 Dec at 7:15 pm AEDT (1:45 pm IST), Manuka Oval, Canberra. Sydney Thunder and Adelaide Strikers have met 25 times in the BBL: 10–13. Our fantasy pick for captain is David Warner, with Daniel Sams as vice-captain.

Suggested fantasy XI

Highest expected points from both probable XIs: 11 players, at most 7 from one side, 1–4 wicketkeepers, 3–6 batters, 1–4 all-rounders and 3–6 bowlers

Wicketkeepers · 2

Batters · 4

All-rounders · 2

Bowlers · 3

  • Option 2: Matthew Gilkes in for Matt Short (282 expected points, against 284)
  • Option 3: Lloyd Pope in for Matt Short (281 expected points, against 284)

Build your own: pick players and get the three best teams →

Suggestions are statistical estimates from past matches, not guarantees. CricketViz is not affiliated with the Big Bash League or any fantasy sports app.

Captain and vice-captain picks

Who to make captain and vice-captain, and why

CaptainDavid Warner STExpected 33 points, so about 67 as captain (2×)Top scorer of this XI in 24% of 4,000 simulated matchesTop scorer of the match in 9 of 68 T20s (4 of 22 in the BBL)
Vice-captainDaniel Sams STExpected 24 points, so about 36 as vice-captain (1.5×)In the XI's top two in 22% of 4,000 simulated matchesSecond-top scorer of the match in 7 of 96 T20s (3 of 23 in the BBL)
  • The captain earns double and the vice-captain one and a half times their points, so these two picks swing a fantasy team more than any other. Put your two highest expected scorers there.
  • When expected points are close, prefer the player who tops the scoring more often (the simulated share and the record below), or pick the other one as a differential that fewer teams will have.
  • All-rounders and top-order batters are steadier picks: they can score with the bat, the ball and in the field.
Captaincy options from the suggested XI
PlayerExp. ptsTop scorerTop twoBest CBest VC
David Warner STC25 recent T20s3324%37%13%9/6810%7/68
Daniel Sams STVC25 recent T20s249%22%2%2/967%7/96
Chris Green ST25 recent T20s248%19%9%9/1006%6/100
Ben Stokes AS25 recent T20s2310%19%——
Sam Billings ST25 recent T20s2212%24%4%5/1144%5/114
Liam Scott AS25 recent T20s217%16%10%2/210%0/21
  • Exp. pts: from the player's recent T20s (up to 25, shown under the name), newest counting most.
  • Top scorer / top two: how often the player scores the most (or is in the top two) in this XI, over 4,000 simulated matches.
  • Best C / VC: how often the player was the match's top (or second-top) fantasy scorer, across both teams, in their T20s of the last three years; not how many people picked them. How we calculate this

Sydney Thunder predicted playing 11

PlayerExp. ptsLast 5 games
David WarnerBAT · 25+ T20s33705113037
Sam BillingsoverseasWK · 25+ T20s2224-213043
Daniel SamsAR · 25+ T20s241626332419
Chris GreenBOWL · 25+ T20s2438632746
Nic MaddinsonBAT · 25+ T20s172026172119
Matthew GilkesWK · 25+ T20s17938340
Cameron BancroftWK · 25+ T20s14120382
Tanveer SanghaBOWL · 25+ T20s1216462-3
Sam KonstasBAT · 14 T20s14117-3019
Aidan O'ConnorBOWL · 1 T20s1712
Lockie FergusonoverseasBOWL · 25+ T20s14-410-42254
Rest of the squad (2)
Trent BoultoverseasBOWL · 25+ T20s113148-32
Ryan HadleyBOWL · 4 T20s10-422-41

Adelaide Strikers predicted playing 11

PlayerExp. ptsLast 5 games
Matt ShortcaptainBAT · 25+ T20s192719-31915
Liam ScottBAT · 25+ T20s21119222917
Alex CareyWK · 25+ T20s2025-253112
Ben StokesoverseasAR · 25+ T20s239650238
Henry ThorntonBOWL · 25+ T20s16815121212
Lloyd PopeBOWL · 25+ T20s1628-624924
Jason SanghaBAT · 25+ T20s13224224
Mark ChapmanoverseasBAT · 25+ T20s1936255215
Mackenzie HarveyBAT · 25+ T20s1374311216
Jerrssis WadiaBAT · 7 T20s174059103
Thomas KellyBAT · 25+ T20s1336-111210
Rest of the squad (1)
Tom StrakerRole unknown · no T20 record in our data12—

Predicted playing 11s are our estimate from each squad: once a side has played this season, its last XI, otherwise the captain first, then recent fantasy points, experience and last season's selections (with at most three overseas players). They change when the teams are announced at the toss.

How the points are counted

Playing in the XI+2
Each run+0.5
Each four / six (bonus on top of the runs)+0.5 / +1
50 / 100 runs (highest milestone only)+4 / +8
Out for a duck−2
Strike rate (5+ balls): under 70 / 130 and over−2 to −6 / +2 to +6
Each wicket (not run outs); bowled or lbw bonus+10; +2
3 / 4 / 5 wickets (bonuses add up)+6 / +8 / +10
Maiden over+4
Economy (1+ over): under 6 / 10 and over+2 to +6 / −2 to −6
Catch; 3+ catches bonus+4; +4 to +8
Stumping / direct-hit run out+6
Other run outs (thrower and catcher not recorded)+3 each
Captain / vice-captain2× / 1.5×

Our summary of a common T20 fantasy scoring system; apps differ, so check the values in the one you use. How we calculate expected points and picks →

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