The Big Bash League returns with a double header of action on Boxing Day and that all begins in the capital Canberra when the Sydney Thunder take on the Melbourne Renegades at the Manuka Oval in a very tasty looking contest.
These two sides sit either side of the playoff line going into this match so even this early in the campaign this feels like an important contest. Whoever wins here will be at least fifth in the table and much higher if it is the Thunder.
Sydney Thunder
The Sydney Thunder go into this match with two wins from their three matches but they will know it should have been all three wins because they coughed up a wonderful winning position in their opening match. To be fair to them they have made up for that in their last two games, delivering excellent run chases which have been well paced and also well planned. The question for the Thunder will be whether they can win a match batting first. If they can they will be a dangerous nut to crack this season.
The reason why the Thunder have been tough to beat in the last two matches is the depth they have in all departments of their side. We saw their batting power and depth in the win over the Brisbane Heat and then we saw the coolness and meticulous planning in their win over the Perth Scorchers last time out. With big players still to come into their side the Thunder have to be considered genuine contenders in this tournament.
Melbourne Renegades
The Melbourne Renegades started off the competition on fire but things have gone pretty sour quite quickly since then. They picked up a very easy win over the Perth Scorchers in the opening match but since then they have been taken to the cleaners by the Sydney Sixers and convincingly beaten by the Hobart Hurricanes last time out. They have had a few days since that last outing to get together and put right where they have been going wrong and it will be interesting to see what they have come up with.
The big problem the Renegades have had in their previous two matches is that they have failed miserably with the bat and the ball. Often when a side is struggling they struggle in one department and not the other and they can rectify the one which they have an issue with but that isn’t the case with the Renegades so it will be interesting to see if they have had enough time to sort everything out. You’d have to say it would be a tough ask.
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Team News
The Sydney Thunder are still waiting for Sam Billings to come out of quarantine and get up to speed but Alex Ross has been named in the squad after recovering from the niggle which kept him out of the previous match.
Aaron Finch is back from his rest for the Melbourne Renegades and he will take over the captaincy of the side. Mohammad Nabi and Noor Ahmad are still in place to continue their overseas stints. Rilee Rossouw is the other overseas player.
Betting
It has to be the Sydney Thunder for me here. You could argue that man for man the Melbourne Renegades are a better side than the Thunder but you’d have to be a brave man to back them after their last two performances, particularly in contrast to the last two which the Sydney Thunder have put together. Melbourne have been terrible in their last two outings and it is going to take more than the return of Aaron Finch to turn that around.
The other thing worth noting is that the Thunder have played all three of their matches on this ground while the Renegades have been based at Hobart so far in the tournament so it might be that the men in red need a few overs to get to grips with the conditions. The one thing we’ve seen about this pitch is that it plays right into the hands of the Thunder bowling attack and so long as they pick the rookie Afghan spinner Ahmad well enough I expect the Sydney side to come through here.
Tips
WON – Back Sydney Thunder to beat Melbourne Renegades for a 3/10 stake at 2.00 with Coral
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