The Big Bash League is back down to just the one match on Tuesday which comes from the Adelaide Oval where the usual home side Adelaide Strikers are actually the away team such is the weird world we’re in at the moment. They take on the Melbourne Renegades in a big match for both teams.
The Renegades have had a terrible time of it and could probably do without playing a home game on their opponent’s ground while the Strikers have flattered to deceive a little and have a few questions to answer here.
Melbourne Renegades
This campaign offered plenty for the Melbourne Renegades and when they won their opening match the thinking was that they were going to justify that expectation. I don’t think anyone will have seen what has followed where they have now lost six on the bounce and in three of those matches they have been shot out for under 100 and lost by 96 runs or more in each game. That is almost unheard of in franchise league cricket and if that doesn’t stop soon this is another campaign of propping up the rest for the Renegades.
If they were decimated by players missing with injuries or international call ups then you could allow them their struggles but there is a legitimate argument for saying this is the best squad they have had with the likes of Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh around for the season. They are just so fragile mentally and have the issue that when they set a target you never feel like they have got enough and when they are chasing a score you don’t fancy them to get within 50. That is not a good position to be in.
Adelaide Strikers
Things are not all rosy in the Adelaide Strikers garden either. They have won more matches than the Renegades and are in a much better position than them but they still have their own issues to address, not least a low amount of runs. Unlike the Renegades, the lack of runs for the Strikers is largely down to their persistence of going in with a very light batting line-up and although Travis Head being away isn’t ideal in that regard, they would have known they would be without him so should really have addressed that situation.
Unlike the Renegades, the Strikers are able to win matches because their bowling attack is very good at sticking to plans, and when teams are able to get away from them they have a world class operator to come back and stick a halt on the scoring rate and take wickets. If the Strikers can just free up and express themselves with the bat, even maybe use a pinch hitter to bolster a total and lengthen their batting, then they could yet do something in this tournament.
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Team News
The Melbourne Renegades have confirmed that Shaun Marsh and Rilee Rossouw are sitting this match out which is an interesting move for a team that can scarcely buy a run at the present time. It means Imad Wasim returns as an overseas option.
The Adelaide Strikers have named the same 18 man squad for this match even though they lost to the Sydney Sixers last time out. Matt Short was left out but with Ryan Gibson not contributing much that switch might be reversed here.
Betting
It is hard to see a high scoring match here. I say that for a couple of reasons. The obvious one is the issues that the Melbourne Renegades are having with the bat, and dropping two batsmen including their top scorer doesn’t feel like a move that will help in that regard. It isn’t as though the Adelaide Strikers are going any better with the willow either and if they lose a couple of wickets early they almost have to shut up shop to ensure they can bat their 20 overs.
The other reason is that contrary to popular opinion, this isn’t actually the highest scoring ground in the world. Although the square boundaries are short, the straight ones are very long and as a result of that the bowlers err on the side of overpitching where getting the boundaries become harder. The Adelaide attack rarely goes for many on this ground but given the issues both are having with the bat I don’t see an avalanche of runs here. The 316.5 run line feels way too high here.
Tips
Back Under 316.5 runs for a 3/10 stake at 1.83 with Bet365
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