The new Big Bash League season begins on Sunday when the Sydney Sixers begin the defence of their title against the Melbourne Stars at the Sydney Cricket Ground as campaign number 11 gets up and running in tasty style.
Unfortunately this part of the world is still battling Covid issues and I’m anything but convinced that this tournament will be completed unscathed so we won’t be providing any outright thoughts but for as long as the competition is running we will cover all the matches.
Sydney Sixers
It is very rare these days that teams win the same franchise tournament three times in as many seasons but that is the sort of history the Sydney Sixers will be chasing this term. This is a team who know how to perform at their best when the business end of the season comes around. Last term though they were better throughout the campaign and now they get to start the season on their home patch and will be looking to make a fast start.
The Sixers are a relatively changed squad from the one which won them the title last season with the three overseas players from last term all leaving in Carlos Brathwaite, Jake Ball and Jason Holder. Chris Jordan has come in and joined the side along with Tom Curran and James Vince who have been regulars for the Sixers when they have been available. Sydney have a very early chance to lay down a marker to be the team to beat in this competition.
Melbourne Stars
It remains one of the biggest mysteries in franchise tournaments that the Mebourne Stars have never got their hands on this trophy. They have been beaten in the final on three previous occasions but last season was just the second time they failed to make the finals, as a terrible end to their campaign saw them go from title challengers to also-rans in no time at all. The task is clearly to deliver a much stronger showing this time around.
This doesn’t look like a Stars squad which has been as strong as those which have gone before them. You get the impression that if Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell don’t fire then the Stars are going to struggle this term and even if they do there are still question marks over whether they have enough about them with the ball to be one of the better teams in the competition. It might be that lesser expectation is a blessing in disguise.
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Team News
There are positives and negatives in the team news ranks for the Sydney Sixers. Chris Jordan is in line to make his debut while James Vince and Tom Curran are also in a squad which doesn’t include the injured Ben Dwarshuis but does have Sean Abbott in it.
Melbourne Stars are looking a little on the light side for this one with Qais Ahmad and Joe Burns not around. Joe Clarke is likely to make his debut and there looks to be a reliance on Adam Zampa as well as Maxwell and Stoinis.
Betting
I think the Sydney Sixers are getting the Melbourne Stars at the right time here. That doesn’t necessarily mean that the champions are going to win this match because Marcus Stoinis or Glenn Maxwell could take any game away from any opponent on any given day if they come off, but what it does mean is that more often than not the Sixers will win this match because all round they are the better team.
I always favour the team over the match winners when these sorts of clashes come along and it just so happens that Sydney have home advantage and the stronger looking side at their disposal. I’m not sure what I make of the Melbourne Stars this season but whatever comes from them you would think they will need more players coming into their squad before we see them at their best. I like the Sixers in this one.
Tips
Back Sydney Sixers to beat Melbourne Stars for a 3/10 stake at 1.73 with Coral
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