The Big Bash League is back in action on Monday as we enter the final week of regular season matches and the clash that gets us back underway is huge as the second placed Adelaide Strikers head to the fourth placed Melbourne Renegades.
A win for the Strikers will guarantee them a home semi-final next week while Melbourne Renegades need to find two wins from their last three matches to make absolutely sure they will be in the postseason.
Melbourne Renegades
It has been a bit of a crazy schedule for the Melbourne Renegades this season and they haven’t actually played for 10 days. Time will tell if that is a good thing or not. The positive to it is they have been able to get their players carrying knocks fit and form a game plan for the remainder of the season while the negative is that some rust might have set in.
The success of the Renegades prior to their break came in the form of their bowling attack which is very solid and full of variety while their batting had the individual knocks and special partnership to get the job done. Their disadvantage of the Etihad being their home ground has not been so bad as they have an attack capable of defending a score there.
Adelaide Strikers
The Strikers have been very good this season and their main task now having qualified for the semi-finals is to make sure they are best prepared for that match. Obviously securing home advantage will help them but then they need to make sure those who haven’t had as much time in the middle as they need get it.
Just like the Renegades, the Strikers have built much of their success this season on their bowling attack which also has plenty of variety and no shortage of quality either. Their batting line up still looks light to me although a huge opening partnership like the one they got against the Hobart Hurricanes certainly negates that weakness.
Team News
Adelaide Strikers will be delighted to have their captain Travis Head back for this match. He has been released from the Australia ODI side to get involved in the match. Rashid Khan dodged international duty so he is still around too while Alex Carey is back having filled in for Australia in Brisbane.
Melbourne Renegades have one back from the Australia squad for this contest as well. They have top run scorer Cameron White back for the game. Brad Hodge returns from injury and Kieron Pollard begins his overseas stint in place of Mohammad Nabi.
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Betting
I think the Melbourne Renegades have to be worth a go here. If the Adelaide Strikers have an edge with the ball it isn’t much of one especially if the likes of Brad Hogg and Kane Richardson are at their best but there is no doubt in my mind that the Renegades are the better side with the bat.
They bat a lot longer and deeper and in Cameron White, Tom Cooper, Brad Hodge and Dwayne Bravo they have a real good middle order with Kieron Pollard to come in and add the icing onto the cake. If the Renegades can get through the top four of the Strikers their batting levels out quite quickly and that could be the difference in this one.
Tips
Back Melbourne Renegades to beat Adelaide Strikers for a 4/10 stake at 2.10 with Betfred
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