Warner’s mini-me battle; Aussie star’s surge brutality: Where BBL final will be won and lost

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Either way there is going to be a fairytale winner of this year’s BBL.

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The Hobart Hurricanes are chasing a maiden title, on their way home ground, where they are undefeated this season, and won the qualifier against the Sydney Sixers after finishing top of the table

Nathan Ellis’ side have turned Ninja Stadium (Bellerive Oval) into a fortress where their power hitters like Mitchell Owen, Tim David, Matthew Wade and Ben McDermott pummel bowling attacks who venture south from the mainland.

But the Sydney Thunder will be looking to break that trend as they try to go from cellar dwellers to champions.

The Thunder have often been the BBL whipping boys, but this season has been different.

Like when Michael Hussey led them to the title in 2016, a champion batter who has retired from international cricket has turned the ship around.

David Warner has taken charge this summer, and the Thunder have overcome every obstacle thrown their way including Daniel Sams and Cameron Bancroft’s horrific collision in Perth that ruled them both out for the season and forced the likes of 41-year-old Dan Christian to step in as a replacement.

Both sides have changed their fortunes off the back of tactical brilliance, and the final is set to be a fascinating strategic battle.

Here are the key areas where the final will be won, or lost, on Monday night.

Canes ready to make Tasmania “proud” | 00:54

THE YOUNG BUCK VERSUS THE OLD BULL

The competition’s two most destructive opening batters going head-to-head in the final.

It is a tasty proposition.

David Warner has blasted attacks around the world for more than a decade and a half, while Mitchell Owen is the BBL newest star courtesy of a breakout season.

Warner has plundered 357 runs at an average of 44.62 and a strike rate of 140.55 to top the competition’s run scoring charts, but Owen is not far behind him with 344 runs at 38.22 and an incredible strike rate of 191.11.

The dashing right-hander announced himself with an unbeaten hundred in a run chase of 155 against the Scorchers in the second game of their campaign and has not looked back since.

The Thunder skipper might even see a little bit of himself in the 23-year-old Tasmanian, as he too emerged through the local domestic T20 competition by dazzling crowds with eye-catching knocks, albeit in the days of state against state.

For Owen, a matchwinning innings in the final may be a stepping stone to a globetrotting career with offers from various franchise teams and perhaps interest from national selectors.

Sixers vs Thunder: Full Match Highlights | 14:43

Meanwhile for Warner, a big score to set up, or complete, victory would be a legacy securing exercise.

The 38-year-old’s much publicised leadership ban was lifted by Cricket Australia in October after Thunder general manager Trent Copeland pushed hard for its removal.

Warner was later installed as captain of the team he put on the map when he smashed an unbeaten century against Shane Warne and the Melbourne Stars at the MCG in their inaugural match.

Fourteen years later, he has once again led from the front with three half centuries, including a best score of 88 not out against the Hurricanes in Hobart the last time they met – which the home side won by six wickets.

But Warner’s scores read 11, 0, 22 not out and 8 since with a clear pattern emerging.

The Scorchers, Stars and Sixers right-arm quicks have all opted to bowl back of a length, banging into the pitch just outside off stump from over the wicket at Warner, and he has been caught in front of the wicket on all three occasions.

The Hurricanes will no doubt have studied this and will be looking to Riley Meredith to use his height and extra bounce to target Warner in this way.

Owen on the other hand is the quintessential T20 opener who loves pace on the ball to capitalise on the boundaries on offer in the four-over powerplay.

He has scored 235 of his 344 runs for the season in the powerplay and has operated at a mind-boggling strike rate of 211.7 in that period.

Owen also enters the final in excellent form with scores of 36, 38 and 44 in his last three innings, but the Thunder may be tempted to bring Chris Green or Tom Andrews into the game early to see how Owen fares when he must generate his own pace at the start of the innings.

Aus one step closer to Eng Ashes sweep | 02:55

DAVID IS ACTUALLY GOLIATH

Unsurprisingly, the minor premiers have been the kings of the power surge with the bat this season.

Owen has been the destructive force in the four over powerplay up top, but the two over surge is all about Tim David.

The power-packed middle order hitter travels the world over with his freakish ability to clear the rope, and local fans have been reminded why he is so sought after in the IPL and various other franchise leagues.

David is the league leader this season with 114 runs at an insane strike of 285 without being dismissed during the surge.

He has plundered 254 runs in total for the season at an average of 42.33 and a strike rate of 177.62.

It is the highest his strike rate has ever been in the BBL, and the only time he has scored more runs was two seasons ago when he batted 14 times compared to seven so far this campaign.

David’s class has been clear to see for many years, but his stellar season has come off the back of last summer’s disappointment.

Bizarre run out reviewed THEN reversed?! | 01:34

In nine innings, he mustered only 112 runs, and it led him to joke during this season that he had “been the worst batter in the Power Surge in the comp for the last couple of years”.

His improvement has brought others along with him, however.

Almost half of the Hurricanes’ runs for the season have come when only two fielders are allowed outside of the 30-yard circle.

They have smashed 684 of their 1,498 at a combined team strike rate of 188.95, the best in BBL history, during those periods.

Expect Warner to gamble with his bowlers to curb the Hurricanes during the surge.

Quicks Nathan McAndrew and Wes Agar have been his regular go to bowlers for those two overs, but in the knockout final against the Melbourne Stars, he threw the ball to leg spinner Tanveer Sangha for the first surge over.

A similar risk versus rewards approach may be the route Warner takes in what will be a pivotal part of the game.

India vs Eng 2nd T20 Match Highlights | 17:43

BATTLE OF THE KEEPER BATTERS

One major factor both teams have in common ahead of the BBL final is the importance of their respective wicketkeeper batsmen.

The Thunder boast English superstar Sam Billings, who the Sydney franchise recruited as their overseas multi-year player, signing a three-year deal.

Speaking on The Surge podcast, Thunder general manager Trent Copeland explained why Billings was the franchise’s top target.

“You might argue, not the biggest name in the world. But you package all of that together there was no one else we wanted to get,” Copeland said.

“I looked at our roster, and I looked at the holes particularly in leadership and surge execution, but someone that really speaks to ‘I loved my time in Premier Cricket with Penrith, it gave me my start. Western Sydney means something to me, I’m going to commit for the full three years’.

“You could argue Alex Hales is one of the greatest players to ever play in the Big Bash for the Thunder, but we had other young guns who could fill that void.”

Facing off against the English gun is Hurricanes star Matthew Wade, who has played in all three formats for Australia in the past.

The 37-year-old battled a calf complaint over the New Year period, but has been a consistent figure for Hobart, shifting around the batting order.

Noman hat-trick into Pakistan history | 00:44

Both keepers are very experienced, but so far in this tournament, it’s been Billings who has been able to deliver more than his opposite man.

Wade’s highest score so far in BBL14 has been 36, scored at six off only 23 balls in a win over the Renegades.

However, it looms likely the 2021 T20 World Cup winner will bat in the top three, having slotted in at first drop in the qualifier final.

Meanwhile, Billings has been in impressive form with the bat, scoring 72 against the Stars in his second appearance, with his most important knock coming in the challenger final.

He hit an unbeaten 42 not out, steering the Thunder to a win against their cross-town rivals when the franchise’s overseas import was needed most.

That innings came off only 29 balls – coming to the crease at 2-65 in a chase of 151, with four wickets falling around him before he anchored the innings.

Before that final, the Sixers had been victorious in their last six Sydney Smash games, highlighting the importance of Billings’ knock.

So with both teams possessing a dangerous top-order wicketkeeper batsmen, their respective impacts could prove crucial in securing the BBL14 title.

Australia v England: 3rd T20I Highlights | 14:36

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