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Sydney Thunder vs Hobart Hurricanes Big Bash League Tips – Canes’ to edge past Thunder again

Adam Cusworth

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Last updated: Fri 02 Jan 2026 11:55

Adam Cusworth 02 Jan 2026

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Sydney Thunder vs Hobart Hurricanes tips
Match start is 7:15 PM AEDT at Engie Stadium, Sydney
Hobart Hurricanes can all but end Sydney Thunder’s finals hopes with a win in BBL15.
Ben McDermott is expected to anchor the innings while Nathan Ellis applies pressure at the death.

Sydney Thunder vs Hobart Hurricanes Big Bash League Tips

Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Thunder Match Preview

Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Thunder Match Preview
Sydney Thunder Form
Hobart Hurricanes Form
Head to Head
Last 5 Averages
Last 5 Averages
Sydney Thunder Home Stats
Hobart Hurricanes Away Stats
Sydney Thunder vs Hobart Hurricanes Frequently Asked Questions

Hobart Hurricanes will all but end Sydney Thunder’s finals hopes with a win in this key BBL15 clash at Engie Stadium.

The Thunder enter the match having won just one game so far this season and realistically need a victory here to keep their campaign alive, while Hobart arrive as one of the competition’s most settled sides and sit at 4-2.

It took a masterclass from the Perth Scorchers' Mitch Marsh to roll Hobart in the Hurricanes most recent encounter and the Thunder will need a player like David Warner to pull out something similar if they are to keep their season alive.

Sydney’s reliance onWarner at the top remains obvious and when he gets through the Powerplay, they can post competitive totals, but early wickets have repeatedly exposed a middle order still searching for consistency.

Hobart, by contrast, arrive with clarity across all phases. Ben McDermott has anchored the top order, allowing hitters around him to play freely, while Nikhil Chaudhary and Mitch Owen have given the Hurricanes flexibility through the middle overs.

Expect Hobart to prioritise strike rotation early, target Sydney’s fifth and sixth bowling options, and hold back their power until the final six overs where they have consistently separated from opponents.

Engie Stadium’s recent profile — average match totals in the low-320s — again points toward Hobart’s methodical style. Their bowling group, led by Nathan Ellis and supported by disciplined change-ups and boundary protection, has repeatedly squeezed teams late, conceding fewer sixes than Sydney manage to hit.

Ellis in particular looms as a decisive figure against a Thunder lower order forced to accelerate.

From a tactical standpoint, Hobart are likely to win this match by controlling the Powerplay without over-attacking Warner, then tightening the game through the middle overs before striking late with the ball. Sydney’s path to victory requires a Warner-led surge and an above-par total, but if Hobart keep the Thunder around the 155–165 range, the Hurricanes’ balance and execution should see them dictate terms and effectively shut the door on Sydney’s finals push.

Hobart Hurricanes have won the past five matches between the two sides
David Warner has cleared 25+ runs in three of his last four BBL
Ben McDermott has cleared 30+ runs in four of his last five matches
Nathan Ellis has taken 2+ wickets in three of his last five games

Sydney Thunder Form

The Thunder sit 1–4 and have conceded some big totals when bowling, putting their batting under scoreboard pressure.

The return of David Warner has raised Sydney’s ceiling but also underlined their reliance on him. In matches where Warner survives the first three overs, the Thunder score at well over 8.5 runs per over in the Powerplay and clear significantly more boundaries, allowing Matthew Gilkes and Sam Konstas to bat with freedom rather than rebuild. When Warner falls early, Sydney’s boundary count drops sharply and they have repeatedly reached the 10-over mark behind the rate.

The signing of Reece Topley has added left-arm bounce and early overs control, but the Thunder have struggled to close innings. Opponents have averaged 15+ fours per game against them over the last five matches, with leakage most evident in overs 16–20 despite Daniel Sams providing occasional breakthroughs. At Engie Stadium, Sydney are still winless this season

Hobart Hurricanes Form

Hobart arrive in Sydney as one of the competition’s most complete sides, with a 4–2 record built on controlling Powerplays, minimal middle-overs stagnation, and disciplined execution at the death. Unlike Sydney, Hobart have repeatedly won games without relying on explosive starts, instead applying pressure over full innings.

The Hurricanes’ batting has been anchored by Ben McDermott, who has passed 30 runs in four of his last five matches and consistently batted into the middle overs. Around him, players like Nikhil Chaudhary and Mitch Owen have provided flexibility, allowing Hobart to rotate strike early before lifting late. While they average fewer fours than most sides, Hobart compensate with placement and running, ranking among the most efficient teams for runs per wicket this season.

With the ball, Hobart have been among the most effective units in BBL15. They concede fewer sixes than any opponent Sydney have faced recently and repeatedly haul back fast starts through disciplined lengths and boundary protection. Nathan Ellis has led that effort, taking 2+ wickets in three of his last five games, most of them in the final overs where Hobart consistently swing momentum. Away from home, the Hurricanes’ profile strengthens further, holding a positive win–loss record and average match totals around 305, a reflection of their comfort chasing under lights and closing games with the ball.

Head to Head

Last 5 Matches

16-Dec-2025: Hurricanes won by 4 wickets (with one ball remaining)
27-Jan-2025: Hurricanes won by 7 wickets (with 35 balls remaining)
10-Jan-2025: Hurricanes won by 6 wickets (with 19 balls remaining)
1–Jan-2024: Hurricanes won by 7 wickets (with 11 balls remaining)
15-Jan-2023: Hurricanes won by 5 wickets (with 23 balls remaining)

Last 5 Averages

BBL Last 5 Betting Trends

Sydney Thunder	Stats	Hobart Hurricanes
1-4	W-L	4-1
331	Avg Match Total	320
2-3	Bat Flip	4-1
1-2	Bat First W-L	0

Last 5 Averages

BBL Last 5 Betting Trends

Thunder Batting	Stats	Hurricanes Fielding
11.4	Fours	15.8
5	Sixes	4

Thunder Fielding	Stats	Hurricanes Batting
14.6	Fours	10
7	Sixes	7.6

Sydney Thunder Home Stats

Thunder Batting	Stats	Thunder Fielding
11	Fours	15
5	Sixes	6.5

Hobart Hurricanes Away Stats

Hurricanes Batting	Stats	Hurricanes Fielding
9	Fours	17.3
6.3	Sixes	3

Sydney Thunder vs Hobart Hurricanes Frequently Asked Questions

What time does Sydney Thunder vs Hobart Hurricanes start?

First ball between Sydney Thunder and Hobart Hurricanes is at 7:15 PM AEDT at Engie Stadium, Sydney.

What channel is Sydney Thunder vs Hobart Hurricanes on?

You can watch Sydney Thunder vs Hobart Hurricanes live on Channel Seven, Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports.

Verdict

Sydney Thunder v Hobart Hurricanes

Hobart Hurricanes can all but end Sydney Thunder’s finals hopes, with Ben McDermott expected to anchor the chase, Nathan Ellis to strike late, and the match total staying under the high-330s range as Hobart’s control outweighs Sydney’s reliance on David Warner.

Hobart Hurricanes

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