The Perth Scorchers are the most successful franchise in Big Bash League history having landed the title on three occasions, but they go into this season off the back of a disastrous one last term, and will be out to showcase their champion spirit once again. To go from the top to the bottom so quickly will have hurt them so the climb back to significance begins here, with what they hope will be a seriously good campaign, as they seek a fourth title.
Stats
Last Season: 8th
Captain: Mitchell Marsh
Overseas Players: Liam Livingstone & Chris Jordan
Key Player: Ashton Turner
Best Odds: 7/1 Coral
Predicted Finishing Position: 7th
Fixtures
Wednesday Decenber 18 – Sydney Sixers (a)
Saturday December 21 – Melbourne Renegades (h)
Monday December 23 – Adelaide Strikers (a)
Thursday December 26 – Sydney Sixers (h)
Wednesday January 1 – Brisbane Heat (a)
Sunday January 5 – Hobart Hurricanes (h)
Tuesday January 7 – Melbourne Renegades (a)
Saturday January 11 – Brisbane Heat (h)
Monday January 13 – Hobart Hurricanes (a)
Wednesday January 15 – Melbourne Stars (h)
Saturday January 18 – Melbourne Stars (a)
Monday January 20 – Sydney Thunder (h)
Friday January 24 – Adelaide Strikers (h)
Sunday January 26 – Sydney Thunder (a)
Squad
Mitchell Marsh (c), Ashton Agar, Fawad Ahmed, Cameron Bancroft, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Nick Hobson, Josh Inglis (wk), Chris Jordan, Matt Kelly, Liam Livingstone, Joel Paris, Kurtis Patterson, Jhye Richardson, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, Sam Whiteman (wk)
Preview
The Perth Scorchers were once the team to beat in this tournament but those days look a fair way away now with their old guard past their peak and in some cases retired. A lot of players have moved on from the Scorchers, a side who haven’t really been the same since the left the WACA and moved to the new stadium. Their squad is dotted with international players but the stars ae going to need to align if they are to come away with glory.
You rarely find a Perth side who are not good with the ball, the question is how well they can go with the bat with Michael Klinger now retired along with the likes of Adam Voges while run machines Shaun Marsh and Hilton Cartwright have moved on. There is a lot of attention on Ashton Turner with the bat but he can’t deliver the goods all the time. He’ll need help while Mitch Marsh has to have a big season you would think.
Betting
Once again the batting market for the Perth Scorchers looks to be about right. I expect Ashton Turner to lead the scoring but he is a middle order player and I’m not so keen on taking them in this format of the game I have to say. The bowling is a little different though, especially with attack regulars Jason Behrendorff, Andrew Tye, David Willey and Nathan Coulter-Nile all not involved this term.
I think Jhye Richardson will have a good season but I’m always wary about taking bowlers who have just come back from a shoulder injury. Actually the man I like in the top bowler market is the new boy in town in Fawad Ahmed, a leg spinner who hasn’t gone short of success in his time with the Sydney Thunder, and who should go well for Perth because their pace attack is going to be hard to get away. The hot conditions in Australia are seeing a lot of dry wickets doing the rounds so spin could be crucial and in a side whose bowlers are notorious for picking up injuries, the 7/1 that the leggie offers up the most wickets looks a fair price to me bearing in mind the only Perth bowlers to better his 13 wickets last year aren’t involved this time round.
Tips
Back F.Ahmed Top Perth Scorchers Season Bowler for a 2/10 stake at 8.00 with Betfair
Back him here:
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