The 27th clash in the Big Bash League (BBL) will take place between Sydney Thunder and Hobart Hurricanes. The two teams are current??ly placed at No.2 and No.3 in the points table respectively. Both teams are equal on points, however, Thunder have a better n??et run rate coming into this match.

Both teams would like to outperform the other and take a lead in the league. Thunder will come into this match after a defeat at the hands of Brisbane Heat in t?heir previous BBL match. The visiting side, Hurricanes, on the other side will arrive with high mo??mentum and would like to continue their ongoing winning streak.

Big Bash League 2024-25, Match 27:

• Date and time: January 08, 8:15 am GMT/ 1:45 pm pm IST/ 7:15 pm local
• Venue: Sydney Showground Stadium, Sydney

Sydney Showground Stadium Pitch Report:

The Sydney Showground Stadium pitch is typically balanced, offering something for both batters and bowlers. The surface tends to be hard, allowing for good bounce and carry, making it favorable for pacers early on. As the game progresses, the pitch generally flattens, providing opportunities for batters to score freely. Spinners often come into play in the middle overs, especially in longer formats, as the surface can grip and turn. In T20s, the pitch is known to support high-scoring games but stil?l? offers assistance to bowlers with variations. Weather conditions and pitch preparation play a crucial role in determining its behavior. Overall, the venue ensures competitive matches with an even contest between bat and ball.

THU vs HUR Dream11 Prediction Picks:

• Wicket-keeper: Sam Billings
• Batters: David Warner, Mitchell Owen, Shai Hope, Tim David
• All-rounders: Chris Green, Chris Jordan, Nikhil Chaudhary
• Bowlers: Nathan Ellis, Lockie Ferguson, Wes Agar

Also WATCH: Mark Waugh points out a hilarious Jasprit Bumrah moment as Lockie Ferguson ??bowls an unconventional delivery in BBL 2024-25

THU vs HUR Dream11 Prediction Captain and Vice-Captain:

• Choice 1: Mitchell Owen, Lockie Ferguson
• Choice 2: David Warner, Chris Green

THU vs HUR Dream11 Prediction Backups:

Ben McDermott, Sherfane Rutherford, Riley M?eredi?th, Waqar Salamkheil

THU vs HUR Dream11 Team for today’s match (January 08, 8:15 am GMT):

Squads:

Sydney Thunder: Oliver Davies, David Warner(c), Matthew Gilkes, Sam Billings(w), Sherfane Rutherford, Hugh Weibgen, Chris Green, Daniel Christian, Tom Andr??ews, Lockie Ferguson, Wes Agar, Sam Kons??tas, Liam Hatcher, Nathan McAndrew

Hobart Hurricanes: Mitchell Owen, Matthew Wade(w), Shai Hope, Ben McDermott, Nikhil Chaudhary, Tim David, Chris Jordan, Nathan Ellis(c), Riley Meredith, Billy Stanlake, Waqar Sal?amkheil, Patrick?? Dooley, Peter Hatzoglou, Charlie Wakim

Also Read: Tim David’s fireworks against Adelaide? Strikers hand Hobart Hurricanes their 4th consecutive win in BBL 2024-25

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After a disappointing performance in Australia losing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, the Indian team’s next big challenge in the longest format of the game will be a tour to England in June where India is set to play a 5-match Test series which will begin in Leeds and end at The Oval to win the coveted Pataudi Trophy.

A chance to get back at winning ways for India

The Indian team will look forward to gaining some momentum and winning streak in Test cricket considering the fact that the team has not been unable to win silverware in Test cricket recently. India will arrive in England at the backdrop of a crushing defeat at home against New Zealand and a disappointing end to the decade of dominance as ??they lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 against Australia.

Not only that, with their consecutive series losses, the Indian team failed to reach the finals of the World Test Championship set to be held in June this year at the Lord’s. The Indian team instead gave way to Australia to proceed to the finals and defend the Test mace against South Africa. Thus a lot is at stake on the tour to England as far as India’s future in Test cricke?t is concerned. Keeping in perspectiv?e the need to make significant changes in the squad, here are 5 players who should not be a part of the Indian squad for the upcoming tour to England.

Also Read: Top 5 highest f??ollow-on to??tals in Test defeats ft. Pakistan

5 players who should be excluded from the Indian squad for the Pataudi Trophy

1. Rohit Sharma

The Indian skipper had a dreadful season both with the bat and as a captain. Not only has Rohit reached the peak of his prowess in Test cricket but the 37-year-old cannot even keep up with the ever changing dynamics of the game. Rohit’s consistency with the bat and his decisions as the Indian skipper both have been under serious questions. Rohit had a disappointing season with the bat in Test cricket. The Indian skipper Rohit has played a total of 14 Test matches this season and scored619 runs with a meagre average of 24.76. A glimpse of the sorry state of affairs for Rohit from the bat is evident from the fact that the Hitman of Indian cricket has scored his last Test century way back in March this year against England in ??Dharamsala. Hence?, time has now come for Rohit to focus on white ball cricket and keep the prospect of leading in Test aside.

2. Virat Kohli

The only difference between Rohit and Kohli’s situation is that the former Indian skipper has shown some glimpses of promise with the bat during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. But, even he has lost the familiar touch he once had. Pace bowling has been a nightmare for the 36-year-old. During the Australia tour, Kohli repeatedly fell into the trap of playing a cover drive on outs??ide off-stump balls and giving his wicket away in the process. Although his form has been consistently declining, Kohli hit a new low in his career in 2024 with just one century in 19 innings. Kohli needs to work on his skill-set in the nets and play red-ball cricket at the domestic level if he wants to continue playing Test cricket for India.

3. Ravindra Jadeja

The all-rounder may not be as big a disappointment as Rohit and Kohli, but it’s time for some serious introspection over his role in the team. Pitches in England generally favour seam movement, particularly during the initial few days of the match. Furthermore, the ball tends to swing the entire day on English wickets unlike Australia. Jadeja may come as a viable spin alternative for the team but the English conditions require an extra pace alternative to rest the main bowlers. India can opt to pick an extra pacer instead of Jadeja and go for a more traditional spinner bowler like Washington Sundar or Kuldeep Yadav and have extra depth in the team as far as the bowling department is concerned. Additionally, Nitish Kumar Reddy has proved h?is worth as an all-rounder in the Indian team and it is likely that the youngster can bat at No.6 as meritoriously as he did at No??.7 in Australia.

4. Mohammed Siraj

To sum up Siraj’s Australia tour; the intensity is there, but the sharpness in bowling he once had isn’t there anymore. Putting some promising glimpses like Australia’s first innings in the Sydney Test aside, Siraj has failed to wreak havoc in the batters�hearts like he once used to. Consistency is the key in English conditions and Siraj’s lack of the same can be a liability to the squad if he gets selected. Although Siraj took 26 wickets in the previous season, but the Indian pacer could not trouble the batters consistently. This is evident from his performance in Australia. While he took 4 wickets in the first Australian innings in Adelaide, Siraj could never hit the same high in the series in the next 3 Test matches. The 30-year-old needs to get back to his best and focus on making an impact at consequential moments and therefore could be excluded from the squad for England if Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami re-gain their fitness by that time.

5. Shubman Gill

A young exclusion from the squad is never easy. However, G?ill has failed to give any reasons to the selectors for not dropping him for the England tour. Particularly in overseas conditions, his form has been dreadful for some time now. Gill has scored a total of 401 runs in the 2024-25 season with a batting average of 33.41, a stark decline from his record in the previous season in which he scored 526 runs with an average of 43.83. Thus the youngster needs to re-work on basics and develop Test level temperament in order to become a consistent No.3 for the team in Test cricket.

Also Read: S. Badrinath questions Shubman Gill’s selection in the I?ndian team; spews fu??ming remarks over his batting woes

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The decision review system, popularly known as the DRS has been under the radar ever since its induction into the game for the first time in Test cricket in 2008. Another incident where DRS probably surprised a batter occurred during the 2nd Test match between South Africa and Pakistan, where a controve??rsial decision not only?? led to a dismissal but probably also changed the outcome of the game.

Shan Masood’s perspective over the DRS dismissal

Shan Masood’s dismissal in the Cape Town Test match occurred as the visitors were inching their way back into the back after falling behind in the first innings. South Africa enforced a follow-on and Pakistan in their second innings got off to a solid start owing to a 205 run opening wicket partnership between Babar Azam and Masood.

On Day 4, Masood was a constant pillar of stability in the second innings amidst a steady fall of wickets from the other end. However, his impeccable innings of 145 runs ended as Kwena Maphaka bowled a low delivery aimed towards the Pakistani skippers�pads. After the on-field rejected the lbw appeal, South African captain Temba Bavuma took a review which changed the course of the game. The ball tracking during the review showed the impact of the ball to be in line and the ball hitting the stumps. Thus, the on-field umpire was asked to reverse his decision leading to Masood’s dismissal. The Pakistani skipper was visibly frustrated with the decision as he went back to the pavilion with his team?? still 92 runs behind the South African first innings total.

After the match, Masood shared his disappointment with the decision during a post-match discussion. The Pakistani skipper remarked that ?he was ‘baffled�at the decision of his dismissal. Without Masood, the Pakistani innings crashed from 329/5 to getting bowled out at 478, giving a target of just 61 runs to the home team which they managed to achieve without losing any wi?cket.

“It’s simple. It was an outswinger. If you see the ball that I was beaten by, it jagged away a long way. I was beaten on the outside edge, and it was shown as an inswinger. I was baffled by that to be very honest. With the naked eye, you could see it felt like it was outside the line as well.” Masood said in the post-match presentation.

Additionally, Masood said that it is now upon the administrators to see if it was a fair decision or not. However, accord?ing to Masood, the technology did not show? the correct trajectory of the ball which took his wicket.

“It’s up to the administrators to see if that’s a fair decision or not, but I certainly felt that technology didn’t show the trajectory of how that ball was,” Masood concluded.

Also WATCH: Kagiso Rabada giv??es an aggressive send-off to Kamran Ghulam during SA vs PAK 2nd Test

South Africa consolidate their position in the WTC standings

South Africa’s emphatic 10-wicket victory over Pakistan in the 2nd Test has further solidified their near-invincible run in the 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. With 8 wins, 3 draws, and just one loss in 12 matches, the Proteas remain at the top of the standings, showcasing their dominance in the longest format of the game. Their only defeat in this cycle came against India in January 2024 during the Freedom Trophy. South Africa’s comprehensive performances, marked by strong batting depth and a lethal bowling attack, have made them favorites heading into the final.

They are set to clash with Australia, ?who secured their berth by? defeating India in the closely contested Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. Australia’s consistent performances and tactical prowess have set the stage for a thrilling final. The WTC final will be played in June at the historic Lord’s Cricket Ground, promising an epic showdown between two of the best Test sides in the world.

Also Read: Fans go be?rserk as South Africa annihilates Pakistan in Cape Town Test, sealing the series 2-0

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Several players of the Indian cricket team have been at the center of intense scrutiny following their defeat to Australia, marking the end of a decade-long dominance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Among the key targets of criticism is Shubman Gill, whose persistent struggles with the bat emerged as one of the series’ defining low points. As pressure mounts for significant changes within the Indian team, Gill’s continued selection has become a contentious issue. Adding fuel to the fire, former Indian batter S. Badrinath has intensified the debate, delivering sharp and pointed criticism of Gill’s performances, taking the discourse to a whole new level.

S. Badrinath furious with Shubman Gill’s performance in BGT 2024-25

The young Indian top-order batter had a silent trip to Australia ?with the bat. The team expected Gill to display?? temperament and disturb the wicket-taking rhythm of Australian bowlers. On the contrary, Gill became a walking wicket for the Aussies which further added pressure on middle order batters. As a result, the entire Indian batting unit suffered throughout the series.

Badrinath, while talking to Star Sports Tamil, pointed out several major issues in Gill’s batting and made ?a sensational remark? on the youngster signalling that talent may not be the only reason for Gill’s persistent selection in the squad.

“If this was Shubman Gill from Tamil Nadu, he would have been dropped,” the former Indian cricketer remarked. Badrinath further pointed out the below-par performances from Gill in Australia a??nd lack of intent from the youngster. Badrinath who has featured for the Indian team in for seven ODIs, two Tes?ts and one T20I, additionally highlighted that he wanted Gill to tire out bowlers and make the ball old even if runs were not coming. But nothing of that sort happened throughout the series.

“You must not go there and say, oh, this is the way I play. I will stand and deliver. Whatever you can do, at that time, you try to do. In this series, I did not get it from Shubman. Even on the field, he was poor. He couldn’t stay in slip and point. What does he contribute to the team?,” Badrinath asked.

The 25-year-old is expected to feature in the Indian team for the Champions Trophy 2025 but his consecutive failure to score big runs has made his selection di??fficult.

Also Read: AUS vs IND: Usman Khawaja names the toughest bowler he ??has faced in his career

A series to forget for Gill

Gill had a dreadful Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The young top-order batter scored 93 runs in 5 innings throughout the series with a highest score of 31 runs in Adelaide. The batting nightmare from Gill is evident from the fact that Australian pacer Mitchell Starc and Beau Webster who played only one Test match in Sydney scored more runs in the ser??ies than Gill.

The horror-show from Gill is not only restricted to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. His performance in the longest format of the game has been a constant concern. Gill’s performance during the home series against New Zealand has not been up to the?? mark. Apart from a 90-run knock at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Gill could only only score meagre runs against t??he Blackcaps.

Also Read: Simon Katich sees a comedian in ?Rohit Sharma after his underperformance in the Borde??r-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25

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Rohit Sharma has been under much fury from Indian fans and analysts after his failure as a batter and captain of the squad which lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to Australia for the first time in 10 years. The latest to comment on Indian skipper’s current form woes is from former Australian batter Simon Katich who shared his unique perspective on what Rohit should do in the?? future.

Simon Katich takes a dig at Rohit Sharma’s post-retirement plans

Without giving any chance of return to Rohit, Katich highlighted that red-ball cricket has indeed come to a dead-end for Rohit according to him. In a discussion with Star Sports, Katich took the criticism of the Indian skipper to a whole new level a??nd reckoned Rohit has a future in stand-up comedy.

“Well, if you look at the numbers, they are ??damning. We saw it in this Test. It was very selfless of him to opt out of the Test, I saw in that interview, very well-spoken. There’s no doubt he has a future after he is done playing cricket in stand-up comedy because his hu?mor was very good,�/em> Katich mockingly remarked.