BBL 2026 · Match 14 · Sun 27 Dec, 7:15 pm AEDT (1:45 pm IST)

Sydney Thunder vs Melbourne Renegades match prediction and playing 11

Sydney Thunder play Melbourne Renegades in match 14 of the BBL on Sun 27 Dec at 7:15 pm AEDT (1:45 pm IST), Sydney Showground Stadium. Sydney Thunder and Melbourne Renegades have met 19 times in the BBL: 9–10. 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 · 3

All-rounders · 3

Bowlers · 3

  • Option 2: Caleb Jewell in for Michael Bracewell (287 expected points, against 289)
  • Option 3: Aidan O'Connor in for Michael Bracewell (287 expected points, against 289)

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 23% 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 6 of 93 T20s (2 of 20 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 T20s3323%36%13%9/6810%7/68
Daniel Sams STVC25 recent T20s249%22%1%1/936%6/93
Chris Green ST25 recent T20s248%18%9%9/976%6/97
Sam Billings ST25 recent T20s229%22%4%5/1124%5/112
Oliver Peake MR7 recent T20s215%15%0%0/714%1/7
Will Sutherland MR25 recent T20s217%17%11%4/360%0/36
  • 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+ T20s182026172119
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

Melbourne Renegades predicted playing 11

PlayerExp. ptsLast 5 games
Will SutherlandcaptainAR · 25+ T20s21251211-329
Josh BrownBAT · 25+ T20s2000265820
Caleb JewellBAT · 25+ T20s18251524319
Jake Fraser-McGurkBAT · 25+ T20s18843361511
Oliver PeakeBAT · 7 T20s212814102910
Jonny BairstowoverseasWK · 25+ T20s2032012360
Sam ElliottBOWL · 6 T20s191364382
Ben ManentiBOWL · 25+ T20s2037642866
Jason BehrendorffBOWL · 25+ T20s140023-2-1
Michael BracewelloverseasAR · 25+ T20s19121166212
Brendan DoggettBOWL · 25+ T20s11-722-3166
Rest of the squad (4)
Tom RogersBOWL · 25+ T20s165-9102412
Callum StowBOWL · 6 T20s1517522222
Harry DixonBAT · 4 T20s1239318
Michael ArcherBOWL · 1 T20s12-3

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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