Two sides who have arguably been hit the most by the Australia ODI squad announcement meet in the Big Bash League on Tuesday when the Melbourne Stars host the Adelaide Strikers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Both these teams go into the match with two wins to their name although with the Adelaide Strikers having played an extra match this one might be a little bigger for them than the Stars but both sides will be desperate to win to break free from the logjam on four points.
Melbourne Stars
The Stars go into this one off the back of one of their best performances of the last couple of seasons against the Melbourne Renegades. They were emphatic and dismissive with the bat and then their international quality bowling attack got stuck in early to open up the game for their spinners and there was no surrendering from there.
That was the last time their ODI players will be available in the tournament so they will have been pleased to sign off in style and it will be interesting to see how the players coming in go, especially with the ball where they look to have been hit the hardest.
Adelaide Strikers
The Strikers also go into this match off the back of a win and theirs was an equally comfortable win over the Hobart Hurricanes last time out. The Strikers have really upped their game with the ball in the last couple of matches so it will be interesting to see what they can come up with now that they have lost two key bowlers.
They have plenty of experience and firepower with the bat but that part of their unit hasn’t been functioning as they would have wanted to but the Melbourne Stars attack has already played Sydney Thunder and their batting into form and the Strikers will be praying they can do the same to them.
Team News
We’ve reached that stage in the competition where ODI players leave and Test players coming back and as such Glenn Maxwell, Adam Zampa and James Faulkner have left. Peter Handscomb has returned and should start.
Adelaide Strikers have lost Billy Stanlake and Travis Head to the ODI squad but perhaps more crucially Chris Jordan is out with injury. They’ve signed Ish Sodhi to replace him while Jake Lehmann looks set to return.
Betting
Given all the coming and going this match isn’t the easiest one to predict or indeed bet on. One thing I do know is I don’t trust this Melbourne Stars attack. I didn’t really trust it with their ODI players around let alone without them so backing the Stars isn’t for me. The same thoughts apply to the Strikers really so I’ll leave the match outcome alone.
I’m a little bit surprised that the Melbourne Stars have a first six overs line of 49.5 runs here. Adelaide Strikers have shipped 79/0, 56/1, 39/2, 51/0 and 37/5 in their bowling powerplays this season so when they don’t take wickets they get carted and there is no Billy Stanlake or Chris Jordan to start with the ball here.
Melbourne Stars are one of the most powerful sides in the tournament at the top and they have powerplay batting totals of 62/0, 50/2, 62/1 and 58/1 with the 50/2 being when they lost Maxwell in the first over. They still have their top three of Luke Wright, Rob Quiney and Kevin Pietersen in place and David Hussey is in decent form so I expect the Stars to be beyond 50 after six overs.
Tips
WON – Back Melbourne Stars 1st 6 overs – Over 49.5 runs for a 4/10 stake at 1.87 with Coral
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