JLT One Day Cup 2017: New South Wales Blues vs Queensland Bulls, Live stream info, probable line-ups, pitch and weather conditions and match preview
Venue: Drummoyne Oval, Sydney
Date and Time: October 13th, 14:30 Local (09:00 IST)
Where to watch: All JLT One Day Cup 2017 games are streamed live on cricket.com.au
Two teams looking to thrust themselves into contention for the elimination final face off at the Drummoyne Oval in Sydney on Friday. All eyes will be on the return of Australian superstar Pat Cummins who will feature for the first time in the competition for the New South Wales.
Cummins and his partner in crime Mitchell Starc, who returned to action for his side last week following a four-and-a-half month absence from the game, will both be searching for some form ahead of the Ashes that begins next month.
For the Bulls, meanwhile, it will be a must-win encounter, having slumped to a narrow defeat at the hands of Western Australia last time around at the same venue. While the two teams have amassed two points apiece, they still sit two points adrift of one another, with the Blues sitting pretty in the third spot with 10 points and the Bulls perched precariously at fifth with 8.
Not many batting lineups will be capable of nullifying the Starc-Cummins threat up front but there are none better equipped than Queensland, with Test specialists Matt Renshaw, Usman Khawaja and Joe Burns featuring in the top three. Khawaja is averaging slightly over 50 after four matches and will need to get his side off to a solid start if they are to have any chance against the mighty Blues.
For New South Wales, it is not just their bowling that looks formidable but their batting as well. Nic Maddinson and Dan Hughes have been destructive at the top and sit second and third on the list of highest run-scorers. Against a none too potent Bulls bowling attack, they could make merry.
Probable line-ups
New South Wales: Nic Maddinson, Dan Hughes, Kurtis Patterson, Ryan Gibson, Ed Cowan, Peter Nevill, Sean Abbott, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Doug Bollinger
Queensland Bulls: Matt Renshaw, Usman Khawaja, Joe Burns, Jimmy Peirson, Marnus Labuschagne, Jack Wildermuth, Michael Neser, Ben Cutting, Mitchell Swepson, Cameron Gannon, Brendan Doggett
Pitch and weather
This will be the second game played at the venue. The first match, between the Bulls and the Warriors, witnessed plenty of runs, with just under 600 being scored in total. The pitch is expected to remain the same and offer a bit of movement up front. The Drummoyne Oval is generally considered to be on the slow and low side, hence the spinners Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Swepson would come into play later in the innings.
However, if batsmen can weather the initial storm, runs can be scored in truckloads. This was vindicated by the fact that Warriors' top 3 comprising Shaun Marsh, Michael Klinger and Cameron Bancroft each notched up at least a half-century in the previous game.
Temperatures are expected to hit a maximum of 24 degrees with late showers a huge possibility. In fact, thunderstorms are expected from 9 PM onwards and may play a role late in the game.