Two more sides get their Big Bash League campaigns underway on Thursday, when the Melbourne Renegades take on the former winners Perth Scorchers at the Marvel Stadium, in the second match of the season.
Both sides will be looking to go at the title this year and an opening win will go wonders to helping them in that quest. With the extra matches in the regular season in this campaign the opening match might not carry the importance that it once did but victory will ease the pressure on outings to come.
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Melbourne Renegades
Melbourne were one of the better sides last season, finishing third in the final league table before being beaten by the Adelaide Strikers at the semi-final stage, so they shouldn’t lack for motivation this term after such a near miss a year ago. Whether they have improved since then to take the next step only time will tell in many ways. We might find out some answers here.
Given that they finished third last season, it is something of a surprise that they let so many players go. In fairness Brad Hogg was beginning to fade and was being seen more as a cult hero than justifying his position with his play. All eyes will be on the players coming in to see what they add to the squad. They will need to add something though.
Perth Scorchers
The former champions Perth Scorchers have a little bit to prove this season. Their previous success was under Justin Langer, who built a plan that worked and rarely needed to tweak it. Even if he was still in charge though something might have had to change, because the Scorchers now play in their new stadium, which is very much different to the WACA.
In terms of their squad not a whole lot has changed. Adam Voges has moved up to coach the side and Mitch Marsh has taken over the captaincy but the bulk of their bowling remains the same and not too many new batsmen have come in. That continuity should help them in this match but whether they have to adapt when at home we will have to wait and see.
Team News
The Melbourne Renegades will be without their opening pair of Aaron Finch and Marcus Harris so Tom Cooper will lead the side. Dan Christian, Usman Khan Shinwari and Cameron Boyce are set to make debuts.
Perth Scorchers will be missing Shaun Marsh, who is on international duty. Cameron Bancroft is a couple of weeks away from returning from suspension so he is absent too. Mitch Marsh skippers a side that has Jason Behrendorff back.
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Betting
Often in this tournament we prepare ourselves for high scoring encounters but I’m not so sure we will get one here. I say that for a couple of reasons. The main one obviously being that both sides are better equipped to be stronger with the ball than the bat and also because the scores of last season suggest we will not get a flow of runs.
In the eight innings on this ground last year, only two of them went beyond 150 and when these two met here 130 played 133 and that is the sort of game I’m expecting here. Both sides are missing key batsmen and look a little light in batting depth whereas the bowling for both is top notch. The drop in wicket here isn’t always the best so all things being equal I don’t see more than 306.5 runs here.
Tips
WON – Back Under 306.5 runs for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with Bet365
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