BBL 12, Tips and Previews
The Big Bash League is about to get underway and Bet Nation profiles each of the franchises.
Melbourne Renegades
It’s been a big off-season for the Gades, with Peter Handscomb joining them from cross-town rivals the Stars. The Renegades had also hoped to get a result out of number one draft pick Liam Livingstone until international commitments with England got in the way.
Jon Wells and Andre Russell bring talent and experience to the Renegades team, which already has a strong base, with Will Sutherland and Mackenzie Harvey looking set for big things. Martin Guptill will take Russell’s place after his initial four games and should add some dashing strokeplay to the team.
Aaron Finch is back to head up the order, while Nic Maddinson has a big task ahead of him as skipper of a team looking to rise from their last-placed finish last year.
Suggested Bet:
Renegades to defeat Heat at $1.98
Sydney Thunder
Much of the pre-season buzz around the Thunder has been the captaincy issue. While it looks like David Warner won’t be captaining the team, he will bring plenty of big hitting to the team when not occupied with Australian duties.
Jason Sangha is one of the rising stars of Australian cricket, and it will be interesting to see how he shoulders the extra responsibility that has come his way. Their bowling stocks are looking strong, with Fazalhaq Farooqi and Usman Qadir joining the attack, while Rilee Rossouw will play a big part in setting things up with the bat.
A lot of eyes are on the Thunder, who have been the little brother to the Sydney Sixers for much of their existence. But with a big finish to last year’s tournament, they may be set for something big this season.
Suggested Bet:
Thunder to beat Melbourne Stars at $1.79
Sydney Sixers
This is a team full of young talent that will be looking to go one better than last year’s runner-up performance.
Moises Henriques is back to lead the Sixers, bringing experience and versatility to a team that has match-winners across the board. Young off-spinner Tom Murphy and Afghanistan recruit Izharullhauq Naveed is an x-factor as an unlikely draft pick who could turn some games with his sharp, efficient bowling.
Kurtis Patterson is a big acquisition from Perth while mainstays Sean Abbott, Jack Edwards and Lloyd Pope will also have a big influence.
Their batting at crucial times is a slight concern, with Henriques and Edwards carrying much of the load. If they can score enough quick 50s the Sixers should be right in the hunt once again and a chance to win their fourth BBL tournament.
Suggested Bet:
Sixers to defeat Adelaide Strikers at $1.65
Melbourne Stars
The Stars’ season got off to the worst possible start with Glenn Maxwell out for the foreseeable future with a broken leg. Maxwell played some excellent cricket last season, culminating in his gob-smacking 154 not out late in the season, the highest score ever seen in the BBL.
Marcus Stoinis needs to step up in Maxwell’s absence and could be primed for his biggest season yet.
Brody Couch is back after an impressive bowling performance last year, nabbing 16 wickets, and he will have some significant support from recruits Joe Clarke and Luke Wood, not to mention New Zealand veteran Trent Boult who will look to carry over his form from the recent T20 World Cup. The Stars finished sixth last year, and despite some solid recruiting, it is hard to see them going much better than that without Maxwell as the go-to.
Suggested Bet:
Stars to beat Sydney Thunder at $2.02
Hobart Hurricanes
A fifth-placed finish last year was probably a pass mark for the Canes, but a higher finish is expected from their legion of fans, not least of all new off-field acquisition Ricky Ponting. Tall quick Billy Stanlake joins Hobart and will spearhead the bowling attack that will not have last year’s leading wicket-taker Tom Rogers this season.
Shadab Khan will also add an element with his wily spin, while the battling line-up is as deep as you will find in the league, with Billy McDermott, Tim David and D’Arcy Short, they are sure to have a constant flow of runs, helped no end by Asif Ali who can hit long and strong from the middle order.
Suggested Bet:
Hurricanes to beat Melbourne Storm at $1.64
Adelaide Strikers
The way he’s going, skipper Travis Head is unlikely to suit up for the Strikers too many times as he advances his international career in all forms of the game. But when he does play, watch for him to be one of the most dominant batters in the BBL.
Adelaide should be able to rise from its fourth-place finish last year with an elite bowling attack led by veteran Peter Siddle and crowd favourite Rashid Khan. Khan’s leg spin is a genuine weapon for the Strikes and will be well complemented by Cameron Boyce, who has joined from the Renegades.
Chris Lynn is one of the BBL’s most accomplished batters and is a welcome addition to Adelaide’s middle order, as is import Liam Hose. On paper, this looks to be one of the genuine contenders to win this year’s tournament, and an investment in the Strikers could see a lot of smart money.
Suggested Bet:
Strikers to beat Sydney Sixers at $2.23
Perth Scorchers
The most decorated of all the BBL franchises is back to defend their crown but will have to do so without some of their trusted servants. Mitch Marsh’s summer is over after suffering an injury. At the same time, veteran Sam Whiteman has deflected to the Sydney Thunder, with both losses hard to cover, not to mention Kurtis Patterson, who has also departed.
Cameron Green is likely to be busy with his role with Australia, but when he plays, he’ll be sure to have an impact with bat and ball. At the same time, young star Cooper Connolly is set to quickly become a favourite around the nation over the next month with his eye-catching batting.
Andrew Tye is their biggest wicket-taking threat, and with 35 scalps last season is sure to rip through batting line-ups once again.
Suggested Bet:
Scorchers to beat Sydney Sixers at $1.92
Brisbane Heat
It’s been a tough time recently for what was not so long ago, one of the most feared teams in the BBL. There has been a generational change at the Heat with Chris Lynn departing for Adelaide, and the Brisbane batting line-up is looking vulnerable with Ben Duckett just sneaking into the top 20 run scorers from last season.
Sam Billings is a big recruit, bringing some solid form from England’s dominant T20 World Cup, while Colin Munro will slot in nicely after crossing over from Perth. They do have two of the country’s best batters on the books in Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne, but they are unlikely to see too much time in the BBL as they ply their trade for Australia.
Mitch Swepson could be set for more time with Brisbane as he struggles to find his way into the Australian XI, while Michael Neser should also play a leading role with the ball from his similar position on the periphery of the national team.
