The Big Bash League heads to Queensland for the first time this season on Wednesday when the Brisbane Heat takes on the Adelaide Strikers in what is a very big side to open up the action inside The Gabba.
This hasn’t been the beginning to the season that the Heat would have wanted with them having been soundly beaten in both matches. The Strikers didn’t start very well but threatened to come good only to lose their latest outing so both could do with a win here.
Brisbane Heat
I made it pretty clear that I had my serious doubts over the Brisbane Heat before a ball was bowled in this competition and after two matches I’ve not really seen anything that has changed my mind in that regard. They have looked pretty ordinary with the bat in the competition so far and they have looked even worse with the ball. It is the latter department that is a major concern and on this fabulous Gabba track they could just be cannon fodder for teams here.
That is only going to put further pressure on the batters for the Heat so they are going to need to box clever, especially in the key overs where they could do with having their best hitters available both in the powerplay and the power surge. That gives them a chance to even out the disadvantage they have with the ball but we’ve seen in recent seasons that the Heat haven’t always been the smartest when it comes to game management.
Adelaide Strikers
It has been an inconsistent start for the Adelaide Strikers so far. They have played three matches, winning one and losing two. To be fair to them their losses have come against the Hobart Hurricanes and the defending champions Sydney Sixers. They are two of the top three teams in the league so those defeats haven’t been disasters by any stretch of the imagination but what it has done is made beating the weakest side in the competition very important.
The disappointing thing for them in their defeat to the Sixers last time out is that they were well ahead of the game at the end of their powerplay in the run chase but then it all fell apart. They are not the first team to crumble to the bowling of the Sydney Sixers and they won’t be the last but it highlighted the overall concern of the Adelaide team, notably that their batting depth just never looks like it is enough.
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Team News
Brisbane Heat remain without their overseas signing Lewis Gregory so it could be that they are unchanged in this contest although you would think they would want to look at their bowling options. Joe Burns, Marnus Labuschagne and Mitch Swepson are all away with Australia.
The Adelaide Strikers will be forced into a change here because Alex Carey was unable to make the trip due to border restrictions. Harry Conway also misses out for the same reason so Harry Nielsen and Liam O’Connor come into the squad. Travis Head and Michael Neser are with Australia.
Betting
While it would be better if the Adelaide Strikers had Alex Carey at their disposal for this match I still can’t ignore them here. They have drifted out quite a bit since it was announced that their stand in captain wasn’t going to be available and while there is no hiding the fact that it is a massive blow that he isn’t around, ultimately if you bet against the Strikers you are backing a side who have offered very little in their two matches so far.
The Heat have a light looking batting line up but unlike the Strikers they don’t have the bowling resources to make up for that so unless Chris Lynn goes big then you would expect the Heat to struggle here. The chances of Lynn going mad will be reduced with him facing a few Adelaide spinners. Adelaide aren’t blessed with batting depth but I still think they have enough in their ranks to get the job done here at a bigger price than they would be ordinarily.
Tips
WON – Back Adelaide Strikers to beat Brisbane Heat for a 3/10 stake at 1.91 with Coral
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