Preview: English firepower returns for Thunder assault

BBL|10 result: Fourth, lost Knockout final

Squad: Sam Billings (England), Jonathan Cook, Ben Cutting, Oliver Davies, Brendan Doggett (replaced by Arjun Nair), Matt Gilkes, Chris Green, Alex Hales (England), Baxter Holt, Usman Khawaja, Saqib Mahmood (England), Nathan McAndrew, Alex Ross, Daniel Sams, Gurinder Sandhu, Jason Sangha, Tanveer Sangha, Chris Tremain

Ins: Gurinder Sandhu, Saqib Mahmood

Outs: Callum Ferguson (delisted), Adam Milne, Arjun Nair

Possible Best XI: Alex Hales, Usman Khawaja, Sam Billings (wk), Alex Ross, Oliver Davies, Ben Cutting, Daniel Sams, Chris Green, Saqib Mahmood, Brendan Doggett, Tanveer Sangha

Possible Best XI for first game: Alex Hales, Matt Gilkes, Sam Billings (wk), Alex Ross, Jason Sangha, Ben Cutting, Daniel Sams, Chris Green, Saqib Mahmood, Nathan McAndrew, Tanveer Sangha

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With BBL|10 Golden Bat winner Alex Hales returning, the Thunder are set for another strong push at the title in 2021-22.

English teammate Sam Billings is also again on the Thunder’s list, and countryman Saqib Mahmood will join the squad as the ideal replacement for Kiwi fast bowler Adam Milne. Spinner Arjun Nair was left off the main contract list, but has earned a reprieve as a replacement for the injured Brendan Doggett, but youngster Tanveer Sangha will take the front-line spinner's role, which he should embrace after a breakout summer last year that saw him tour with Australia's T20 squad.

Usman Khawaja’s inclusion in the Test squad and the surprise delisting of Callum Ferguson have seen Chris Green take over the captaincy until Khawaja returns. It will also likely afford youngster Jason Sangha with more opportunities at the top of the order, while Alex Ross and the exciting Oliver Davies (after he recovers from a broken thumb) will also play key roles with the bat.

Brendan Doggett will miss the start of the season with a side strain picked up in state cricket, and has been replaced in the meantime by Arjun Nair, but the Thunder have plenty of bowling depth with the likes of Nathan McAndrew and Chris Tremain remaining on the list.

If Hales and Billings can fire at the top of the order, and allrounders Daniel Sams and Ben Cutting continue to provide in all facets of the game, Trevor Bayliss’ side will fancy their chances in BBL|11. 

Inside word with Thunder coach Trevor Bayliss

The off-season

"It's a good combination of some experienced players but also some good young players as well. It's a strong squad, they did well last year, and we don't have to change a lot. Already in the two or three days that we've been together they seem like a very happy bunch and get on very well and I think that showed in their cricket last year. We'll be trying to continue that and hopefully go one or two steps better this year."

Player to watch

"(Nathan) McAndrew's been doing well for South Australia. It's doesn't matter what style of game you're playing, if you've got confidence that can carry over into other forms of the game. Daniel Sams, he's been away with the Australian team at the World Cup just recently, obviously didn't get on the ground, but he's raring to go, he smacked a few balls (on Thursday), bowled well, livewire in the field, he's got a sniff of being around the Australian team and I'm sure he'll be doing his utmost to do what he can to push his claims for higher honours. He can be a match winner with both bat and ball and there's not too many of those players around, so I'm looking for him to play an important role in the Thunder's season."

The imports

"Sam (Billings) and Alex (Hales) were based with the Thunder last year. With Alex being the leading run scorer last year we're hoping he can do something similar again this year and get the team off to a good start. Sam Billings has been in pretty good form throughout the last 12 months in England. Saqib Mahmood who has come into the England team over the last 12 months and done quite well. He took a (four)-for against Pakistan and was player of the match. Unfortunately, from our point of view is playing in the England Lions squad against Australia A so we won't have him for the first two or three games but looking forward to seeing what he can bring to the squad.

Biggest threat

"Any of the eight teams can win, that's the beauty of T20 cricket, you only need one or two guys in the XI to have a good day and you can win a match. If you take any of the teams to lightly you can get beaten. The Sixers having won the last two years will be one of the teams to beat, the Scorchers are always there, but you can take any of the teams lightly because they can all play well, and they've all got very good players."

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