Ahead of the start of the Big Bash League season we have enough time to look at the top player markets for the competition with the emphasis in this preview on the batsmen of which there are a number of top quality ones on show.
Recent Winners
2016/17 – Ben Dunk (364)
2015/16 – Chris Lynn (378)
2014/15 – Michael Klinger (326)
2013/14 – Ben Dunk (395)
2012/13 – Shaun Marsh (412)
2011/12 – Travis Birt (309)
Favourites
Chris Lynn goes into the tournament as the favourite to be the leading batsman in the tournament. He is 7/1 to lead the run scoring and based on the last two seasons that is fair enough but there are a couple of concerns. The first of those is his hit and miss shoulder which can go at any point and also an Australian call up can never be ruled out.
Brendon McCullum will open up for the Brisbane Heat and he is only a point bigger than Lynn. He may not be quite as destructive as Lynn but he has been active recently although he might take a game or two to adjust from the wickets in the BPL to the ones here. At 8/1 he looks a fair second favourite although he’s plenty short enough.
Michael Klinger is a run machine in any format of the game but he generally enjoys himself in this competition. He is never under pressure to smash more runs than is necessary because the Scorchers bowling attack is so good that even a par score might be enough. He is sure to churn out the runs again but others might offer better value than the 12/1 on him.
Ben Dunk was the top scorer in the tournament last year when he was at the Adelaide Strikers. That was the second time he has led the run charts in this competition but either side of that he has put together poor campaigns so it really is feast or famine for him. He has moved again, this time to the Melbourne Stars, where scoring big runs is much more difficult. His reputation is big but I don’t think his chances are as good as 14/1 suggests.
His Melbourne Stars teammate Kevin Pietersen is the same price as Dunk but we can eliminate him straight away because he’ll head home for Christmas and miss matches which when there is a small enough sample size as it is, is not ideal. Colin Ingram is only a couple of points bigger at 16/1 and there is much more to like about his chances. He’s a touch short for my liking but I expect him to go well.
Aaron Finch is around the 20/1 mark to top score this season but the problem with backing him is he is highly likely to miss the second half of the campaign on international duty. If something weird happens and he isn’t called up he should be a leading contender but his good form and no call up are unlikely to go together. The only way he doesn’t get called up is if he isn’t in form in which case he can’t top score anyway.
Profile
It goes without saying that it is imperative that we take players who are around for the whole competition, or indeed as much of it as is possible, which pretty much rules out anyone in line for a call up to the Australia ODI or T20 squads.
I always like to go with opening batsmen in this format of the game or at the very worst someone who will bat at three. The deeper down the order you look the less time at the crease the player is likely to have and that is certainly not ideal.
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Betting
I’ve identified two openers who I think are decent value for the top bat honours in this tournament. Nic Maddinson was the second highest scorer in the 50 over competition and he has been around long enough to know the game now. He is a classy operator but he can biff a decent ball when the need arises. He heads into the tournament in good form which is probably the most important thing of all and at 25/1 he looks a decent punt to me.
Darcy Short had a couple of eye catching innings for the Hobart Hurricanes last season and that experience combined with him being more established at this level now should see him adjust and make sure he produces more starts and then when he gets in to go big more often. He scored 50 in a warm up match ahead of the tournament so he’s hitting the ball well and at 40/1 he’s worth chancing this season.
Tips
Back N.Maddinson Top Tournament Batsman (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 26.00 with Betfair (1/4 1-4)
Back him here:
WON – Back D.Short Top Tournament Batsman (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 41.00 with Paddy Power (1/4 1-4)
Back him here:
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