We’ve gone through the batsman market in the run up to the Big Bash season beginning on Tuesday and now is the time to look at the equivalent market for the top bowler in the tournament. As with the batsmen, there are some of the best bowlers in the world on show in this tournament which should make for a competitive betting heat.
Recent Winners
2015/16 – Clint McKay (18)
2014/15 – John Hastings (16)
2013/14 – Cameron Gannon (18)
2012/13 – Ben Laughlin (14)
2011/12 – Rana Naved-ul-Hasan (15)
Market Leaders
It is West Indians all the way at the top of this market with Sunil Narine the 10/1 favourite in his debut season with the Melbourne Renegades. Andre Russell is a point bigger at 11/1 with Narine’s Renegades teammate Dwayne Bravo slightly bigger still at 12/1. Samuel Badree is 16/1 to lead the wicket taking this season.
Andrew Tye is a death overs specialist and he is 17/1 to be the top bowler in the tournament but check that he is fit before you back him as he has been out with a dislocated shoulder recently.
Clint McKay was the leading wicket taker in the tournament last season and he can be backed at 18/1 to repeat that this time around. He had an excellent summer with Leicestershire which can’t be forgotten so he has a leading chance.
Pat Cummins was one of the star bowlers in the Matador BBQs One Day Cup but that might mean that he is back on the Australian selectors’ radar. If he avoids an international call up and stays fit 20/1 could look a big price. It is 22/1 bar those named.
Profile
As with the batsmen it is imperative to take someone who is likely to be around for the entire season. That is even more important in this market because the differential between wickets is much smaller than runs at the end of the season so every game and every innings will matter. Once again if you can find someone going to the final that would be beneficial.
It can be advantageous to check out the grounds where most wickets fall too and concentrate on players who play there. For example it is widely regarded that The Gabba is the best batting track in the country so picking Brisbane Heat players might not be the way to go.
Betting
As with the batsmen market I’m going to go with a couple of bowlers here. I always prefer to go for value in this market with the margins between top set much smaller than in the batting market. My first pick is a man who has consistently been one of the best bowlers in this tournament.
Ben Laughlin was the top bowler in 2012-13 and since then he has finished second, fifth and fifth so he is remarkably consistent and there is no reason why his excellent yorkers won’t be dangerous here either. He bowls at the death which I always think is important and the cheap wickets he picks up there will see him go well. Any early wickets he gets could just push him clear of the field.
John Hastings’ injury for the Melbourne Stars is unfortunate but it does open the door for someone to go well for the Stars and I just wonder how well Marcus Stoinis will go. He took a couple of three wicket hauls in the 50 over competition and we saw him have success with the ball in the IPL.
He won’t bowl at the death which isn’t ideal but the Stars have a number of tight bowlers who are hard to get away so someone will have to be targeted. If that someone is him he could pick up some cheap wickets which could see him outrun his large price.
Tips
Back B.Laughlin Top Tournament Bowler (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 21.00 with Boylesports (1/4 1-5)
Back him here:
Back M.Stoinis Top Tournament Bowler (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 67.00 with Coral (1/4 1-4)
Back him here:
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