The second match of the new Big Bash League campaign looks a potential cracker as the Adelaide Strikers host the Brisbane Heat at the iconic Adelaide Oval. Both sides will be looking to get off to winning starts in the competition which automatically makes this a competitive game.
The Strikers dominated the early stage of the season last year but failed when it counted and they will be out to put that right. Brisbane Heat are in a slump of flattering to deceive and need a significant improvement this year which will need to start here.
Adelaide Strikers
We can allow Adelaide their failure in the playoffs last season. It was their first time in them and we shouldn’t forget the huge improvement they made to get into them in the first place. They now need to make sure they don’t drop off back to where they were and if they get into the playoffs to draw on the experience of last season and improve.
It is fair to say the batting is the strongest part of the Strikers’ make up with the likes of Kieron Pollard, Travis Head and Brad Hodge in their ranks but they are competent with the ball especially up front while Chris Jordan is in town. He, Ben Laughlin, Kane Richardson and Michael Neser make for a good seam unit.
Brisbane Heat
Batting is definitely the strength of the Heat too with some of the most explosive batsmen in the competition in their ranks but they need to make sure that they find a way to get into top orders when they have a ball in their hands. You would fancy them to chase most totals with their batting depth but whether they can defend anything remains to be seen.
We’ve seen with the Sydney Thunder that you can go from zeroes to heroes in a quick period of time and that is the task of the Heat here. They are former winners of the tournament but very few in their squad and backroom staff will have been around back then so they will need to build up a winning momentum from scratch.
Team News
Travis Head is around for the Strikers at the beginning of the tournament which is a boost. Ben Dunk and Jake Weatherald are in line for debuts while Chris Jordan should make his first appearance too. Kieron Pollard makes a return.
Brisbane Heat will have Brendon McCullum lining up in their ranks while Alex Ross is set to debut for the Heat against his former side. Joe Burns’ absence from the Australia Test side is to the Heat’s benefit.
Betting
With batting being the overwhelming strength of both sides and these two being probably the two most attacking sides in the competition I’m expecting a high scoring match here. The Strikers go into the match as the favourites which is probably fair but I don’t want to be getting too involved in the match betting until we’ve seen the sides first so I’ll head for the side markets once again.
Whichever way I look at this match I can’t see it being anything over than high scoring. Both batting line ups are powerful and both bowling attacks are cannon fodder if there is no swing around. Throw in the famously short square boundaries and this can only be a run bonanza.
All things being equal you would think 160-165 would be a par score on this ground which makes both the 300.5 match run line and the 11.5 sixes line both look a little low. I’m happy to take the overs on both lines.
Tips
WON – Back Over 300.5 match runs for a 4/10 stake at 1.73 with Bet365
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WON – Back Over 11.5 sixes for a 4/10 stake at 1.91 with Skybet
Back it here:
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