We’re back to one match in the Big Bash League on Monday and it comes from Hobart as two sides in desperate need of a win meet when the Hobart Hurricanes meet the Adelaide Strikers at Blundstone Arena.
Both sides head into the contest with a win and two defeats from their opening three matches and both will know that this isn’t the competition you want three losses in four from so the need to win is clear.
Hobart Hurricanes
Hobart got their season off to a winning start with a demolition of the Sydney Sixers in their opening match but since then they have gone down in two high scoring encounters so they will be looking to come back to form here. They go into the match knowing that they are batting well which is one crumb of comfort.
The area where there is plenty of improvement in the Hurricanes is with the ball. In fairness to them they have come up against four players who can just be rampant when it is their day and it was when they faced Hobart but they can structure their bowling innings much better and field a lot better too.
Adelaide Strikers
The Strikers finally got off the mark for the campaign on New Year’s Eve when they thrashed a disappointing Sydney Sixers despite looking well short of runs at the halfway mark. That has been a theme of their opening three matches. They’ve not batted well and with Kieron Pollard and Jake Lehmann struggling for form and a long tail there is plenty of pressure on their top four to deliver.
After getting Brendon McCullum’d in their opening match the Strikers have begun to bowl better recently but they will be tested with the ball here. Backing up such a high profile and emotional win barely 48hrs later is never an easy thing to do either so there are a few questions for last year’s table toppers to answer.
Team News
Hobart have made one change to their squad but I don’t think it is going to make much difference to their side. Beau Webster has come into the squad in place of Ben McDermott but the Canes could well be unchanged.
Adelaide haven’t announced their squad for the match at the time of writing but it would be a big surprise if they are not unchanged. Jake Lehmann could make way for a batting option if one presents itself. Ben Dunk returns to Tasmania for the first time since his trade.
Betting
I like the home side here. Their record doesn’t look fantastic but I think they are the better balanced side right now. Adelaide are struggling with the bat and you have to bat well to get results on this ground which is pretty high scoring.
The Hobart Hurricanes have been expensive with the ball but they have taken early wickets in two of their first three matches and if they can do that here they will be into the strugglers in the Strikers batting line up and be in a position where they can control proceedings. At even month the home side are the pick in this one.
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