We have a top against bottom clash in the Big Bash League on Saturday when the two Melbourne sides collide for the first time this season as the Melbourne Stars host the defending champions Melbourne Renegades in season opener at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The Stars have made a very solid start to their campaign and will extend their lead at the top of the pile with a victory here. It is certainly not going to play for the Renegades, who must be wondering where a win is going to come from.
Melbourne Stars
The Melbourne Stars have picked up four wins from their five matches to date and I’m still not convinced we have seen the very best of them, which is a wonderful position for them to be in. They will need to ensure that they improve rather than tail off but if they are able to do that, the early signs are that they are going to take a lot of stopping this season, especially with the ODI squad not depriving them of too many key players for once.
So far it has been the bowlers that have delivered the results for the Stars but when you look down their batting order it can only be a matter of time before that department comes to the party. Interestingly, Glenn Maxwell is donating $250 per six to the firefighters that are doing a great job around Australia so we can expect him to look to clear the ropes at regular opportunities. If the top order can put up decent runs it will set things up nicely for their captain.
Melbourne Renegades
This campaign has been the total opposite of the previous one for the Melbourne Renegades, although it could be argued that they only truly fired up late on in the season last term. There is no harm in doing that but it can be rendered pointless if you are not in touch when the good form comes along. Already the Renegades are starting to get cut adrift but fifth spot isn’t out of their reach yet. They could really do with a win here though.
The Renegades have largely been the opposite of their city rivals. Their batting has in the main been decent enough this season, albeit not quite good enough, but their bowling, something which was a strength of their title success, has been ordinary to say the least. They desperately need their key bowlers to come to the party and not only restrict the flow of runs, but take some top order wickets to allow them to control the middle overs again.
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Team News
Melbourne Stars have made a couple of changes to their squad for the derby with two big guns coming back in the form of Sandeep Lamichhane and Hilton Cartwright. Haris Rauf is one of those who have dropped out.
Melbourne Renegades were also due to bring a big player back into their squad for this match with Harry Gurney due to return from attending his brother’s wedding but he has a hamstring injury. That means the only change sees Jack Wildermuth coming in for Marcus Harris.
Betting
I’m expecting a competitive battle here. I’m not sure whether that will equate to a win for the Renegades or the Stars but usually when these two meet we get mid-range scoring games that go down to the last couple of overs and I’ve not really seen anything in this tournament to suggest this one isn’t going to go the same way. You could make the case for the Renegades being a spot of value on that evidence but can we back a side who have lost their opening give matches? Probably not.
One bet I do like though comes in the form of the boundaries where actually the line looks a little high at 32.5. We know how big this ground is and we’ve seen some tough pitches in the domestic matches played here previously and I’m not expecting much different here. Although the Renegades haven’t shown it yet, there are top class bowlers on both sides here and both batting line ups are just beginning to flatter to deceive a little. There were five matches here last year and none of them cleared this total. I don’t think this one does either unless one bowler has a complete mare.
Tips
WON – Back Under 32.5 boundaries for a 4/10 stake at 1.80 with William Hill
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