Photo Credit: Adelaide Strikers
Several Strikers could mark significant milestones during the upcoming KFC BBL|12 season.
Supreme leg-spinner Rashid Khan is poised to become the first player to claim 100 wickets for the Strikers and also the first international player to reach the magical milestone in Big Bash history. The Afghanistan prodigy, who was swiftly retained by Adelaide at this year’s KFC BBL Draft, has 92 wickets from 61 matches and is almost certain to reach the century this summer.
Teammates Peter Siddle and Cameron Boyce could also claim their 100th Big Bash wicket in BBL|12. Siddle has 90 career BBL scalps with the majority (85) coming as a Striker, while the returning Boyce has 89 BBL wickets inclusive of stints with the Hobart Hurricanes and Melbourne Renegades.
Towering quick Wes Agar is just one wicket away from his 50th Big Bash scalp.
Recruit Chris Lynn, who is the leading run-scorer in the tournament’s history, could become the first player to smash 200 sixes in the BBL this summer. The explosive batsman is comfortably the competition’s top six-hitter with 180 from his 102 matches – well ahead of injured Melbourne Stars captain Glenn Maxwell on 109 – and will be eyeing the short, square boundaries of Adelaide Oval.
Big-hitting pair Alex Carey (44) and Matt Short (42) are in touching distance of 50 maximums heading into BBL|12.
Left-hander Jake Weatherald is set to become the first player to hit 2,000 BBL runs for the Strikers this season. The BBL|07 Championship player is the club’s all-time leading BBL run-scorer with 1,881 to his name ahead of former teammate Jon Wells (1,740).
Weatherald may also become the first Striker to hit 200 fours for the club with 184 his career tally to-date. Carey sits second at the club with 165 fours but from 26 fewer matches than Weatherald.
Fellow batsman Short is closing in on 1,000 BBL runs with 951 overall inclusive of his previous stint with the Melbourne Renegades. The reigning Adelaide Strikers Most Valuable Player has hit 838 of those runs in blue.
Short (47) and paceman Agar (39) could both notch their 50th Strikers match this summer. Short has played 53 BBL games overall including six outings with the Renegades.
International duo Colin de Grandhomme and Adam Hose are set to make their maiden Big Bash appearances this season. Lynn and spinner Ben Manenti will be targeting club debuts with Adelaide.
The Strikers open their KFC BBL|12 campaign against the Sydney Sixers on Wednesday December 14 at Adelaide Oval from 6:45pm. Tickets are available now.
