A hostile home crowd can be a problem for football teams, but hostile home crowd for a home side in their home stadium is hell on earth… according to Emmanuel Adebayor.
As if being a former Arsenal player was not enough of a problem for the Togo ace in the white half of north London, the often-lethargic striker has now claimed that Lilywhites fans are making it difficult for him, and his team-mates, to perform at White Hart Lane.
Quotes below… they’re astonishing!
“It’s kind of hard when you know the first bad ball you make the fans are going to boo you,” he said.
“When you are playing in front of your own crowd you want them to support you. But now it is like going through a sad moment and your family not welcoming you home. That’s the worst thing ever because you have nowhere to go. At the moment I don’t know whether we should play at home or whether we should play away.
“Obviously I was on the bench against Stoke and, though I could not see everything as clear as night, I could see that nobody wanted the ball. It’s hard for the players. It’s not their fault and it’s not the fans’ fault either because the fans want to see a result, the fans want to see a response and things are not going our way at the moment. We just have to fight as a team and as a club to find a solution. The quicker the better.
“You always want to have the crowd on your side. That comes and leads from the field. If a game doesn’t go well then it’s normal that the crowd has every right to be a bit pessimistic. That’s normal. I actually thought the crowd tried to give positive energy to give them a push. The 2-1 (against Stoke) came and I had the feeling that the equaliser would be right there. But it wasn’t meant that way.”
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Liverpool are said to be interested in out of favour Barcelona striker David Villa, who could be available at the end of the season for £10million, the Metro reports.
The 31-year-old Spanish international has fallen further down the pecking order at the Nou Camp under new manager Tito Vilanova, and Spanish paper AS have suggested that the Reds could be ready to make a bid for him in the summer to bring him to Anfield.
Barcelona have ruled out selling the player in January but are keen to strike a deal for Santos striker Neymar in the summer, which if completed would supposedly pave the way for Villa to move on.
Villa who was regarded as one of the most lethal strikers in world football not too long ago, started his career at Sporting Gijon followed by a spell at Real Zaragoza. However it was when he joined Valencia in 2005 that he rose to prominence in a prolific spell which secured him a move to Barcelona in 2010.
He has also been a huge part of Spain’s recent triumphs at major tournaments, finishing with the Golden Boot at Euro 2008 and once again topping the scoring charts at World Cup 2010, only to be pipped to the award by Germany’s Thomas Muller as he had provided more assists.
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Villa’s contract expires in 2014 and a deal in the summer could appeal to both clubs, potentially setting up a potent strike force for the Reds alongside Uruguayan Luis Suarez.
According to reports in Turkey, midfielder Jack Wilshere is closing in on a move to Super Lig giants Fenerbahce. The England international will leave Arsenal at the expiration of his contract this month and as such is on the lookout for his next career move, with Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle one side reportedly keen on luring him to St James’ Park.
And these recent reports suggest that the Magpies have one last chance to convince the 26-year-old of a move to the North East.
The Breakdown
Ultimately, injuries have decimated the vast majority of Wilshere’s career, with the 26-year-old only mustering 198 senior appearances for Arsenal during his ten-year stint in the first team.
But with 38 appearances for the Gunners last term, the most he has managed in a single campaign at the Emirates Stadium since the 2010/11 season, the Englishman may well have put his injury concerns behind him, and thus might be ready to command regular football once again.
And that is why Newcastle must act fast to try and bring the £18 million-rated ace (as per Transfermarkt) to St James’ Park, as not only would he be a great addition to the squad, but he’d also be an upgrade on attacking midfielder Ayoze Perez.
Yes, the Spaniard deserves great credit for his efforts last term in finishing as the club’s top scorer in all competitions, but many of our resident Newcastle fans feel that he still doesn’t offer enough in terms of creativity and flair in the final third of the pitch.
And with the Magpies likely seeking to move to the next level this term, Benitez will surely be on the lookout for a next-level number ten to come in and run the show just behind the front man, creating chances for both he and indeed the other offensive players – Wilshere could be that man.
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Clearly, when fully fit and firing, the 26-year-old is one of the most influential midfielders in the Premier League given his incredible awareness and vision, alongside his ability to dissect opposition defences with his excellent eye for a pass – the likes of Joselu and Dwight Gayle would get ample opportunities if Wilshere was just behind them.
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But with Fenerbahce reportedly closing in on the England international, the time to act is now for Newcastle, who seemingly have one last chance to convince Wilshere of a move to the North East.
West Ham United are deep in the mire of a relegation fight after suffering another heavy defeat in the English Premier League on Saturday, losing 4-1 away to Swansea.
The Swans have now leapfrogged David Moyes’ side in the table, with the Hammers just three points above the bottom three, struggling for form. Just nine games remain before the end of the season and the pressure is on to pick up results.
Fans were left fuming with the result and performance, with many scratching their head at Moyes’ team selection and tactics, with veterans Patrice Evra and Pablo Zabalete deployed as wing-backs.
The duo were found lacking for pace all afternoon and supporters were particularly distressed with the performance of Evra, who failed to demonstrate why he was signed by the Irons last month.
Is the French legend completely past it at Premier League level?
One thing that most clubs’ fans usually do when a key player is due back from injury is to wait with anticipation until his return, in the hope that when he is back he will get straight back into the team and start making a difference for them again. That is of course unless that team is playing well already and the players that have covered said injured player’s position are currently in such good form that you wouldn’t want to see them dropped – not even for your record signing.
This is the case at West Ham United with the pending return from the injury table of Andy Carroll. The crocked star is making good and speedy recovery from his latest spell on the sidelines and is due to make his return around Christmas time, with some media outlets reporting as early as November.
Last season anyone associated with the club would have snapped your hand off at the chance to have him back from injury due to the fact that there was no one else able to play upfront and make any sort of impact, whether that be creating chances or actually scoring some goals. The squad there was thinly spread and very poor quality, especially in the striker department.
This season, however, is a completely different kettle of fish for the Hammers with an embarrassment of riches in the talents they boast all over the pitch, not just up front. They have acquired some exceptional players who are currently doing the business just fine thank you very much Andy Carroll.
Diafra Sakho has made the biggest impact so far, scoring in each of his Premier League starts; he has been partnered with Enner Valencia upfront who himself has shown moments of pure magic and creative play which has captivated everyone who has been lucky enough to watch him.
Some of the old boys have started to shine as well, Stewart Downing in particular in his new more central role at the top of the new diamond formation rather than on the wing has really come in to his element in recent games and has been a revelation.
With such a strong attacking force in place and a newfound ability to score goals this season, it begs a few vital questions now that there is an Andy Carroll shaped elephant in the room waiting to come back and upset the apple cart. First of all, who would he replace? Secondly, where does he fit in to the new system which involves a lot more on the floor, attractive football than last season? And lastly, should he even be given a chance considering that the squad depth and quality is so high?
It would be foolish to think that Carroll has nothing to offer. When fit and playing at the top of his game, he is unstoppable and a major threat to any defence that faces him. There is perhaps no one in the present team that deserves to lose their place based on present form, however, form does dip at times, fatigue or injury can come into play at some point and let’s not forget the African Cup of Nations which will see top scorer Sakho leave for a period of time. Carroll for now could be used as a substitute, imagine having been given the run around by Valencia and Sakho for 60 minutes only to see that the big Geordie is coming off the bench to give you an extra half hour of grief!
Should he be needed once fit, he can come in and replace or step in whenever the time will come for him to do so. Like with any player at any club at any level, there is always a chance to come back and try prove yourself one way or another.
The new system looks like it suits Andy less than the old one, being so tall, he likes the long ball pumped up high so he can feed off it to another player. Just because West Ham are now playing a different way does not mean that he cannot still have a good impact off the lofted ball from time-to-time. He has a lot more talented players to actually mop up his headers for him than he has ever had before. Rather than heading it into empty space, this time round he has so many decent players that will be there, ready for the knock down and will be pouncing on the opportunity to score – which means if anything Carroll’s return actually compliments the new style of play and the new faces in the squad and can help add even more goals to the equation than they already have.
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There is no doubt that Andy brings a lot of positives to the table and it will not be at the expense of dropping someone from the team, he will add to what they already have as a great impact sub, and assistant manager Neil McDonald has also said that the current formation and tactics will stay the same regardless, they would even consider playing two up front meaning Carroll could combine with Sakho or Valencia as a partnership-again, adding to the positives rather than taking anything away.
West Ham fans, you star is about to make a return, welcome him with open arms, the kid is hungry for goals and success and only good can come from it. Ignore the lazy journalism linking him away from the club in January because your gaffer has got the powerhouse firmly in his plans.
Two late goals from Michu earned Swansea a shock victory over a below-par Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
After drawing their last two games on the road Arsene Wenger’s men were hoping to get back to winning ways on home soil, but they were left stunned by devastating late double from the Swans’ leading scorer.
The 26-year-old Spaniard was a virtual unknown when signed by Michael Laudrup from Rayo Vallecano for £2 million in the summer, but is quickly forging a fearsome reputation as one of the Premier League’s deadliest hitmen.
How the Gunners could use a goalscorer of this ilk as they once again looked blunt in attack and struggled to contain the visitors sharp passing and movement – a trait that used to be their hallmark – as a collective groan rang around the Emirates at the final whistle.
They had plenty of warnings before Michu’s double hammer blow at the death and should have been alerted when Angel Rangel nipped in behind a back four that was bailed out by a double save from Wojciech Szczesny.
Thomas Vermaelen then denied Nathan Dyer with a lunging block before Gervinho went close for the hosts, the Ivory Coast forward finding himself just inches from connecting with Carl Jenkinson’s cross.
After the break Santi Cazorla tested Gerhard Tremmel with a low drive, while Szczesny saved again from Rangel. Mark Clattenburg then waved away appeals for a penalty after substitute Olivier Giroud was brought down by Chico Flores in the penalty area.
Vermaelen then planted a header straight at Tremmel and their lack of potency up front was punished with two minutes left on the clock when Michu played a neat one-two with Luke Moore before curling the ball past Szczesny.
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And a superb afternoon for Swansea was wrapped up when the Spanish striker took advantage of Jenkinson’s poor back pass to score and leave Wenger pondering another looming crisis.
Milne replaces Usama Mir for the first three games, while Renegades have signed USA allrounder Hassan Khan and Hurricanes have signed Afghan spinner Waqar Salamkheil
Alex Malcolm08-Dec-2024Melbourne Stars have signed New Zealand quick Adam Milne for a pre-Christmas stint in the BBL as a replacement for Pakistan legspinner Usama Mir who will miss the first three matches of the season.Stars are also set to unveil a new captain this week after Glenn Maxwell stood down at the end of last season. Maxwell is unlikely to be fit for the first match against Perth Scorchers on December 15 as he continues to recover from his hamstring injury and it remains to be seen whether he will appear in any of the first three games before Christmas.Mir is also unavailable for the first three games against Scorchers, Brisbane Heat and Adelaide Strikers which will be played in three cities in the space of five days. Stars have swooped on Milne to fill in for those three games. He has previously played in the BBL for Sydney Thunder in 2020-21, taking just five wickets in 12 matches at an economy rate of 7.56.Related
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“To be able to secure someone of Adam’s talent and experience is a huge boost for the squad for the first three games,” Melbourne Stars General Manager Blair Crouch said. “Adam knows Australian conditions well, we value what he will add to the squad and we look forward to seeing what he can produce.”Milne also covers for the absence of Scott Boland who is on Test duty. Stars could also be missing allrounder Beau Webster for at least the opening game in Perth as he looks set to remain with the Test squad for the third match against India in Brisbane which starts on December 14. Stars’ second BBL match against Heat falls on day five of the third Test, meaning Webster could potentially be available if he is released from the Test squad pending Mitchell Marsh’s fitness.Stars are also missing England Test opener Ben Duckett for the opening three games of the BBL season, as he completes his Test duties in New Zealand, with Joe Clarke set for his second stint at Stars as a replacement after playing two seasons from 2021-23. Clarke also played six games for Melbourne Renegades last season and three games for Scorchers in 2020. He recently played for Victoria in the Global Super League in Guyana.Hassan Khan will play for Renegades in the BBL•CPL T20 via Getty Images
Meanwhile, Renegades have signed USA spin-bowling allrounder Hassan Khan as a replacement player. The former Pakistan Under-19 representative has yet to play international cricket but starred for San Francisco Unicorns, a franchise run by Cricket Victoria, in Major League Cricket taking 10 wickets and scoring 204 runs at a strike rate of 143.70 across his nine games. He was named domestic player of the tournament. He also performed well for Guyana Amazon Warriors in the GSL.”Hassan is an exciting young talent who gives us options in both departments,” Renegades General Manager James Rosengarten said. “His ability to contribute in those important middle overs with the ball and add valuable runs down the order will be crucial as we push for success this season.”Hobart Hurricanes have signed Afghanistan left-arm wrist-spinner Waqar Salamkheil as an overseas replacement for Rishad Hossain who has been ruled out of the entire BBL due to international commitments and the Bangladesh Premier League, despite being Hurricanes’ third pick in the overseas draft.Salamkheil will be available for the first six games of the BBL season before departing for the ILT20 in January. He was Trinbago Knight Riders’ leading wicket-taker in the recent Caribbean Premier League bagging 15 scalps in 11 matches, playing alongside two other Hurricanes players in Tim David and Chris Jordan.”Waqar is a tremendous young talent, he adds a different element to our bowling line-up and is a wrist-spinner with a well-disguised wrong-un, similar to Rishad,” Hurricanes High Performance Manager Salliann Beams said.”While we are disappointed that Rishad can’t join us because of the BPL, we know that we have someone who will help us win matches in the first half of the tournament in Waqar.”He was on our radar during the draft, with Ricky [Ponting] and Hopsey [James Hopes] familiar with his talent after seeing him play in franchise cricket, he will complement what we have in our squad already.”
Same sides meet again in Saturday’s Eliminator for chance to face Invincibles in final
ECB Reporters Network23-Aug-2023Tymal Mills continued his excellent Men’s Hundred campaign with three more wickets to help Southern Brave beat Manchester Originals by six wickets chasing 131 at Emirates Old Trafford and qualify for Saturday’s Eliminator – against the same opponents.Brave leapfrogged Welsh Fire into third place in the table with their fourth win from eight games, which also included a calm 54 off 40 balls from unbeaten New Zealand opener Devon Conway.Mills’ deceptive left-arm was perfect for this used, pace-off pitch. He returned 3 for 27 from 20 balls, and his tally of 15 wickets is now more than anyone else in the competition.Brave, who won with five balls to spare, remain on course to reclaim the title they won in 2021 – the Hundred’s inaugural year – and they will face last year’s finalists Manchester at the Oval on Saturday evening. The winners face the Oval Invincibles in the Lord’s final 24 hours later.Manchester were all but qualified in second place before a ball was bowled. Brave needed to chase their target in 50 balls to knock them out.England limited-overs captain Jos Buttler top-scored with 45 off 42 for Originals, who made 130 for 8 and were never able to break free having been inserted.Phil Salt, with two fours and a towering straight six in 17 off eight balls, was their most aggressive batter, and sluggish conditions were best highlighted by Buttler lacking fluency.Despite all being said about pace off, Buttler had to evade a fabulous early bouncer from left-arm seamer George Garton.Buttler later reverse-swept a couple of his five boundaries but didn’t hit a six before being caught at long-on off Rehan Ahmed’s leg-spin.At 110 for 5 with 16 balls remaining, it was evident the Originals were going to have to bowl well to win.Ahmed finished with 2 for 26 from his 20 balls, while fellow spinners Mitch Santner and Colin Ackermann were miserly. The latter struck once, and the trio’s combined figures were 3 for 53 off 50 balls.Mills had removed Salt, caught at deep midwicket with the new ball, before returning at death to outfox and bowl Jamie Overton off an inside edge and get Tom Hartley caught.Manchester only scoring eight runs and losing three wickets in the last 10 balls of their innings felt decisive, and so it proved.An eventful opening set of five balls at the start of the Brave chase saw Finn Allen hit two fours and an uppercut six before falling caught at short fine-leg against a Josh Tongue short ball.Conway then took on the aggressor’s role as some sweeping rain had everyone looking for the Duckworth Lewis Stern par score. But Brave were well ahead, reaching 25 balls at 51 for 1. Rain did briefly intervene at 52 for 1 after 26, but play resumed and Brave calmly sealed their qualification.Either side of the rain delay, Conway and second-wicket partner James Vince hit sixes over long-on off Hartley in sharing 67, skipper Vince adding 33. His departure, caught at long-on off Ashton Turner’s off-spin started a mini collapse from 81 for 1 after 53 balls to 91 for 4 after 64.Pakistani pacer Zaman Khan’s slingy action had Derbyshire team-mate Leus du Plooy caught and Joe Weatherley lbw. Khan built pressure impressively with 2 for 22 to take the game down to the penultimate set of five balls. But Conway reached his first fifty of the campaign off 38 balls and quelled concerns.
Georgia Elwiss seals six-wicket win after dominant display from bowlers
ECB Reporters Network01-Jun-2022The Southern Vipers are the first team through to Charlotte Edwards Cup Finals Day – and the final – after beating Thunder by six wickets under lights at Emirates Old Trafford, chasing 95 in 15.3 overs.Vipers have qualified for the Northampton showpiece (June 11) with one Group B game remaining following a superb bowling and fielding display led by England off-spinner Charlie Dean, who returned three for 16 from four overs to limit their hosts to 94 for six.Thunder included England trio Emma Lamb, Kate Cross and Sophie Ecclestone – the latter pair only just back from IPL Challenge commitments in India. But they were unable to break the shackles imposed on them by a team who have now won all five games in the competition named after their head coach.None of the Vipers’ five bowlers conceded more than 20 runs in their four-over spells, with left-arm seamer Freya Kemp also impressing with two for 20 before Georgia Elwiss top-scored in the reply with a measured 38 not out off 35 balls.The Vipers have also qualified direct for the final a week on Saturday as the best of the two group winners courtesy of a five-point, bonus point win here.They sit on 23 points, while Group A leaders Central Sparks have 17 with only five more points to play for.This was a display from the Vipers which had all the hallmarks of a team who reached last year’s Charlotte Edwards semi-final and are back-to-back Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy champions.Thunder, who elected to bat, lost in-form openers Lamb and Georgie Boyce for five and nine as the score slipped to 44 for three after 10 overs.Kemp had Lamb caught at mid-on and bowled Boyce. Sandwiched in between, Cross, promoted to bat at three, fell victim to a combination of England team-mates Dean and Danni Wyatt for 18.Cross hoisted Dean out to deep midwicket, where Wyatt took a fine low catch on the run.Ecclestone was also promoted to No.4 in a side who have struggled for middle-order runs through the competition.She demonstrated her power by pulling her fourth ball for six over backward square-leg off Kemp as the score moved to 41 for two in the 10th over – shortly before opener Boyce’s dismissal.Unfortunately for Thunder, playing in the primetime slot on a T20 double-header day with Lancashire’s men, there was no more acceleration.While Ecclestone made 28 not out off 32 balls, she was unable to find the boundary again and saw canny Dean trap Danielle Collins lbw and get Thunder captain Ellie Threlkeld caught and bowled cheaply.In all, Thunder only hit four fours and that Ecclestone six, while 21-year-old Dean has now taken eight wickets in her first three games of the summer. This was her best haul so far.Determined to complete the chase in 16.1 overs to secure the bonus point win which qualified them direct to the final, visiting openers Wyatt and captain Georgia Adams were busy from the off.Wyatt slog-swept Ecclestone for six over midwicket to advance the score to 22 without loss after three overs.But there was a stumble as both openers fell in the space of four balls as the score slipped to 34 for two in the sixth over. Wyatt was stumped for 13 by Threlkeld sweeping at ex-World Cup-winning spinner Alex Hartley before Cross had Adams caught at cover for 17.Another left-arm spinner, Hannah Jones, had Maia Bouchier caught and bowled before Threlkeld superbly stumped Kemp stood up to Laura Jackson’s seam as the score fell to 75 for four after 13 overs.But the presence of Elwiss ensured they were only minor blips, hitting five fours in her match-clinching innings.
Sydney Sixers, Perth Scorchers, Sydney Thunder, Brisbane Heat and Adelaide Strikers can all win the BBL
Alex Malcolm27-Jan-2021
Sydney Sixers
Qualified: 1stRoad to the playoffsDefending champions the Sixers were the team that utilised the Bash Boost point better than any other team in the competition, claiming nine throughout the season including the point that sealed top spot against Melbourne Stars. But they also won more games than any other team and proved themselves to be clutch chasers. The Sixers won four games in the last over on the back of their exceptionally experienced middle order. It was back-to-back, last-gasp wins on the Gold Coast against the two Melbourne sides that really kick-started their season and then they completed three clinical chases in January against Brisbane Heat, Perth Scorchers, and Sydney Thunder to qualify for the finals with three games to go. They did lose two of their last three matches with two poor bowling performances but returned to their best against the Stars to claim top spot.Path to the titleIf the Sixers beat the Scorchers in the Qualifier at Manuka Oval on Saturday, they will qualify for the BBL final and likely host it in Canberra. An SCG final hasn’t been ruled out but border restrictions for certain states will make it difficult. If the Sixers lose the Qualifier, they will host the Challenger in Canberra and would need to win that before travelling to Perth for the BBL final, where they were bowled for 97 earlier in the season.How the squad shapes upThe Sixers squad has been boosted by the inclusion of Moises Henriques and Sean Abbott. Mitchell Starc is an outside chance to join them but it depends on his fitness after requiring a scan on his hamstring following the Test series against India. The three overseas of James Vince, Carlos Brathwaite, and Jake Ball, who have been together since Jason Holder’s brief three-game stint ended in late December, are available throughout the finals, but it will be interesting to see how Ball is used after he was the X-Factor sub in the last game against the Stars. The batting order is incredibly deep with Josh Philippe and Vince opening up, Henriques bolstering the middle order, while Jordan Silk and Dan Christian are in red-hot form lower down. The attack is well balanced with a variety of options to turn to depending on the surface and the match-ups.The Scorchers have depth in both batting and pace bowling•CA/Cricket Australia/Getty Images
Perth Scorchers
Qualified: 2ndRoad to the playoffsThe Scorchers overcame a horror start to the season to storm into second spot, and probably should have clinched first had they played better against Brisbane Heat in the final match. The Scorchers were winless from their first four games, but they clicked into gear on New Year’s Eve once Jason Roy and Liam Livingstone had shaken the rust from 14-days quarantine. The batting line-up was settled with the English pair moving to the top of the order and Josh Inglis sliding to No.4. It gave them tremendous depth and the well-established attack some scores to defend. The Scorchers won four in a row at home and eight of their next nine before the loss to the Heat.Path to the titleThe Scorchers blew a chance to secure two home finals but they can still host the BBL final at Perth Stadium if they can beat the Sixers in Canberra in the Qualifier. The Scorchers lost both matches they played at Manuka Oval this season including one against the Sixers. But they have won a BBL final at Manuka Oval against the Sixers in BBL03. If they lose to the Sixers, they return home to Perth to host the Challenger. If they win that they will fly back to either Canberra or Sydney to face the Sixers again with just a 48-hour turnaround.How the squad shapes upThe squad is as well-balanced as any with only a couple of concerns. Ashton Agar is unlikely to available for the finals series having not played all tournament due to a calf injury, despite being named in Australia’s T20I squad to tour New Zealand on February 7. Mitchell Marsh, who is also in the Australian squad, is unavailable to bowl due to a side strain but will play as a batsman. Marsh’s inability to bowl does put pressure on the Scorchers’ fifth bowler in Aaron Hardie. He has been targeted in recent games with Ashton Turner forced to get creative in using either himself or Livingstone to make up some overs. Cameron Green is being rested ahead of the South Africa Test tour.Alex Hales has been prolific for Sydney Thunder•Getty Images
Sydney Thunder
Qualified: 3rdRoad to the playoffsThe Thunder won five of their first six matches to sit pretty on top of the table and looked like the team to beat. But when Daniel Sams suffered a concussion in the loss to Brisbane Heat, they lost four of the next five with the balance of the side thrown off when he missed a couple of games. They righted the ship with a dominant performance against the Sixers in Adelaide with Alex Hales plundering a century to help the side post a BBL record score. Hales continued his incredible form against the Strikers to secure third spot for the Thunder and make them a real threat for their second BBL title.Path to the titleThe Thunder will host the Knockout against the winner of the Eliminator between the Heat and Strikers at their home-away-from-home in Canberra. If the Thunder win the Knockout, all roads to the title lead through Perth. They either face the Scorchers in Perth in the Challenger or the Final. Perth Stadium won’t hold as many fears for the Thunder as it does other teams. The Thunder have won two of four matches at the venue and nearly pinched a third against the Scorchers this season. They also have to beat the Sixers in Canberra in either the Challenger or the final. They beat the Sixers in Adelaide but lost the rain-affected clash in Canberra.How the squad shapes upThe Thunder are well balanced but the fitness of Sams is important. He injured his wrist in the loss to the Hurricanes and has missed the last three matches although is hopeful of playing in the finals. Brendan Doggett’s form with the ball gives the Thunder plenty of options from a bowling perspective and potentially a selection headache if Sams is passed fit. Hales and Usman Khawaja are a formidable opening combination but Khawaja is due for a big score and finals may bring the best out of him.Marnus Labuschagne has had a big impact with bat and ball since returning to the Heat•Getty Images
Brisbane Heat
Qualified: 4thRoad to the playoffsThe Heat left it right to the last day to steal a spot in the finals thanks to a nail-biting win over the Scorchers in Adelaide. The Heat’s season started horrendously losing four of their first five games. Ironically, a hamstring injury to Chris Lynn actually kickstarted the Heat’s season. Jimmy Peirson took over as captain and the Heat won three out of four, with the only loss a controversial one-run defeat to the Hurricanes. Lynn returned and promoted himself to the top of the order with good effect but, unlike the three stable sides above them, the Heat continually tinkered with their batting line-up and looked like they would miss the finals after two horror defeats to Perth and Adelaide where they were bowled out for 115 twice. The Heat needed to win their last two matches and did thanks to blistering half-centuries from Lynn and superb allround performances from Marnus Labuschagne on return from the Test squad.Path to the titleThe Heat and the Strikers have the toughest road to the title. They each have to win four games in eight days. The Heat at least get to host the Strikers at the Gabba, a ground that suits them well. Should they win they will then head on the road to face the Thunder in Canberra 48 hours later for the Knockout. Should they win the Knockout, they will need to beat the Sixers and Scorchers in Canberra and Perth to clinch the title.How the squad shapes upLabuschagne’s inclusion initially looked problematic for the Heat but his all-round package gives them a lot of versatility. It gives the dynamic duo of Lynn and Max Bryant at the top some middle-order stability, however their last two innings have stalled a touch with Labuschagne and Joe Denly have got together. But they have power down the order and then a balanced attack that has benefitted hugely from Mitchell Swepson’s return. He has made up for the absence of Mujeeb Ur Rahman who won’t return for the finals. The Heat have been the most adventurous with the X-Factor sub, and can afford to be given the bevy of allrounders and fast bowlers they have in their squad. Their major flaw is there is no left-hander in their batting line-up, with Sam Heazlett on the outer, which leaves them vulnerable given every finalist has either a legspinner or a left-arm orthodox in their line-up.The Strikers have stuttered, but Jake Weatherald has found form•Getty Images
Adelaide Strikers
Qualified: 5thRoad to the playoffsThe Strikers can count themselves incredibly fortunate to be playing in the Eliminator. Had either the Hurricanes or the Stars (including a Bash Boost point) won their last match the Strikers would have missed the finals. Had both results fallen the other way the Strikers would have finished seventh on the table. They have been inconsistent but mainly paid a price for some unforced errors at home. In back-to-back matches they capitulated from strong positions with bat and ball against the Renegades, who had lost seven matches in a row, and missed the chance to claim an easy Bash Boost point against the Stars, although they still won the game. Those two results alone would have secured third spot. They had to rely on favours from the Renegades and the Sixers to finish in fifth.Path to the titleThey have the toughest road to the title. They need to win four games in a row in eight days, all away from home. It starts with the Heat on Friday at the Gabba. If they win that they face the Thunder in Canberra on Sunday. Then they face trips to Perth and back to Canberra or vice versa, to win their second title.How the squad shapes upThe Strikers have tinkered endlessly with their batting line-up but have finally settled on the opening combination that won them BBL07. Alex Carey and Jake Weatherald have found form at the right time, but their middle-order is a worry. Phil Salt is batting out of his preferred position, Jon Wells has failed to fire this season and Matt Renshaw is also battling for runs. The attack has been strengthened by the return of Michael Neser and they do have options depending on the conditions at the Gabba to play an extra seamer or a second spinner. Rashid Khan’s absence has hurt them and he won’t return this season.