We’ve covered the outright market and the top batsman market ahead of the latest season of the Big Bash League kicking off and now there is a chance to look at the top bowler market in detail which is what we will do in this preview. At 10/1 the field this looks like a competitive field indeed.
Recent Winners
2016/17 – Sean Abbott (20)
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)
Favourites
The Afghanistan sensation Rashid Khan is the 10/1 favourite to be the leading bowler over the course of the season. He is a brilliant talent and I think he is a worthy favourite especially with Australians being known for being awful at playing leg spin but whether he will need the Strikers to make the postseason to lead the wicket taking remains to be seen. If he does that is a concern.
Mitchell Johnson is a 12/1 second favourite. I’ve a feeling this year more than ever his workload will be managed especially with the amount of bowling options that the Perth Scorchers have. That would be a concern in what looks like a competitive season as far as the bowlers are concerned.
Mitchell McClenaghan and Andrew Tye come next at 14/1 but there are holes in the chances of both men. McClenaghan is with the Sydney Thunder who are by no means guaranteed to get through the play-offs and that wouldn’t be ideal while the Scorchers have a lot of bowling options that I wouldn’t want to be on any of their bowlers at 14/1.
Scott Boland and Sean Abbott come next at 16/1. The latter was the leading wicket taker last season and in theory should go well again here while Boland is very good at domestic level even if his international career didn’t quite take off. There is a case to be made for both men for sure.
There are a number of players who are 20/1 in this market including Dwayne Bravo who could look quite big if he can remain fit for the entirety of the season. He’s in a Melbourne Renegades side blessed with bowling options which might be a disadvantage.
Profile
As with the batsmen market the first thing to do is make sure we don’t back a bowler who won’t be around for the entire tournament. With the spread of wickets being less than runs each game missed has extra significance in this market so don’t make it harder by picking a player we know will miss matches on international duty.
Then the decision to be made is whether to take a spinner or a seamer. In some T20 tournaments around the world you would pick a spinner without so much as a second thought but seamers have led the wicket taking in each season of this competition so that choice becomes something of a no brainer.
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Betting
I like two bowlers this season. Only two men took more wickets than Sean Abbott in the 50 over competition earlier in the season and given that he will bowl an over or two in the powerplay and then come back at the death I would be surprised if he doesn’t take plenty of wickets in this campaign too. I’ve already mentioned that I think the Sixers will run hot this year and with that in mind they will need a figurehead with the ball. That can be Abbott.
One man who took more wickets than Abbott in that 50 over competition was Jyhe Richardson and although the Perth Scorchers have more bowlers than you can shake a stick at I would be surprised if Justin Langer doesn’t include him all the time. He has to work a little harder in this campaign as he is known now but that didn’t stop him taking wickets in the 50 over comp. The Scorchers will share wickets around but at 33/1 there is enough value on him to take a punt.
Tips
Back S.Abbott Top Tournament Bowler (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 17.00 with Boylesports (1/4 1-4)
Back J.Richardson Top Tournament Bowler (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 41.00 with Boylesports (1/4 1-4)
Back them here:
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