Deadline: February 6, 2020 at 2:10 PM IST
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Pitch report
The average first and second innings scores at the MCG read 163 and 135 respectively this season. The team batting first has won 4 of 6 matches, suggesting that the pitch slows down as the match progresses. In the last three games, as many as 29 wickets fell in the second innings.
It has been a good hunting ground for the spinners: they have claimed 44% of the wickets.
Fantasy team
We have opted for a fantasy team on the basis of players’ impact, recent performances, and credit points.
You can also check players’ performances in the last 5 matches. Tap on the players’ images to get the data while making your fantasy team.
Wicketkeeper: Peter Handscomb
Batsmen: Alex Hales (vc), Callum Ferguson, Usman Khawaja
All-rounders: Glenn Maxwell, Daniel Sams, Marcus Stoinis (c), Chris Morris
Bowlers: Adam Zampa, Haris Rauf, Jonathan Cook
NOTE: Pick your fantasy cricket team wisely.
Power players
Marcus Stoinis has scored 2 fifties and a hundred at the MCG. His 147* off 79 is the highest ever in the history of the league. More importantly, he bowled for the first time in the season against the Sixes and ended up taking the all-important wicket of Moises Henriques. The fantasy players have a more solid reason to make him a power player.
Alex Hales has been in top-notch form. His last 5 scores read 85, 63, 47, 60, and 59.
No bowler had ever taken 25 wickets in a season and Daniel Sams’ tally has already reached 30. He has gone wicketless only once in 16 games.
Highest run-scorers
Marcus Stoinis: Runs 612 | SR 133 | 100×1 | 50×5
Alex Hales: Runs 568 | SR 148 | 100×1 | 50×6
Glenn Maxwell: 389 | Sr 151 | 50×3
Callum Ferguson: Runs 369 | SR 127 | 50×3
Usman Khawaja: Runs 365 | SR 123 | 50×3
Alex Ross: Runs 314 | SR 127 | 50×1
Highest wicket-takers
Daniel Sams: Wickets 30 | Economy 7.6
Chris Morris: Wickets 20 | Economy 8
Haris Rauf: Wickets 17 | Economy 6.9
Adam Zampa: Wickets 16 | Economy 6.7
Value picks
Adam Zampa has taken 10 wickets in 4 games at the MCG. He tosses the ball up and into the stumps, leaving the rough pitch to take care of the rest. In addition, the long boundaries make it difficult for the batsmen to go big against him. Win-win situation for Zampa.
Haris Rauf has taken 17 wickets at a remarkable strike rate of 10.8. To make matters more interesting, his hat-trick came the very venue. He gets enough reverse-swing at the death.
Chris Morris has taken 5 wickets and scored 35 runs in the last two matches, boasting of his all-round skills.
Jonathan Cook has peaked at the right time, taking 7 wickets in the last 3 matches. He will be eager to bowl on the MCG wicket.
Probable XIs
Stars: Nic Maddinson, Marcus Stoinis, Nick Larkin, Peter Handscomb, Glenn Maxwell (c), Seb Gotch (wk), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Clint Hinchliffe, Adam Zampa, Daniel Worrall, Haris Rauf
Thunder: Usman Khawaja, Alex Hales, Callum Ferguson (c), Alex Ross, Chris Morris, Daniel Sams, Arjun Nair, Jay Lenton (wk), Chris Tremain, Jonathan Cook, Brendan Doggett
Also, get to know the tips & tricks on how to play fantasy cricket.