Two more franchises get their Big Bash League 2022-23 campaign underway on Thursday when the competition heads to Cairns for the first time in its history as the Brisbane Heat take on the Melbourne Renegades.
These two were the bottom two in the league last season and it goes without saying that they will be looking for a much better campaign this time around and a winning start here would send them on their way for that.
Brisbane Heat
The Brisbane Heat finished second from bottom last season but we have to cut them some slack because they were one of the teams who had Covid ravage them. At one stage they had to field a bunch of local players who were making their franchise debuts and while they gave it all they had that was never going to be a success. With the protocols different this year they don’t need to worry about all that so they can just go about performing with a fresh start.
The Heat have undergone some surgery to their squad. That was needed regardless of the Covid situation because they just don’t see enough of their international players. They have gone down the route of loading up their batting with overseas talent but that comes at a cost with the ball. They will be relying heavily on their home bowlers and the fact that Michael Neser misses the start of the tournament doesn’t really help them out any.
Melbourne Renegades
The Melbourne Renegades propped up the table for the third time in succession last term. In fact, since they won the title in BBL 8 they have won just 10 out of 42 matches and it goes without saying that is pretty pathetic and so you get the feeling this is a big match for them. If they lose this one and then the next one the doubts will start creeping in again but if they can win this opening game it would give them something to build on and some early confidence.
There was always going to be a number of changes to the Melbourne Renegades squad but such has been their luck since they won the title they put all their eggs in the Liam Livingstone basket only to see England call him away and then he got injured so he won’t be around at all. To be fair they have signed experienced replacements but you do begin to wonder if this franchise is cursed. The Renegades have to bat a lot better than they have been doing if they are to achieve any success this season.
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Key Players
Sam Billings has been one of the better players in the Big Bash in his time at the Sydney Thunder so he looks an excellent recruit for the Brisbane Heat. They’ll be hoping he hits the ground running as he can do some damage in that middle order.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman will be going up against the team who has played for in the Big Bash previously. Usually you would say that team will know all about him but such has been the refurbishments in the Heat batting that might not be the case so his overs could be crucial.
Betting
While I like the signings that the Brisbane Heat have made this season, I do think they have left themselves exposed with the ball in hand, especially while Michael Neser is away on international duty so I can see the Heat being involved in some high scoring matches, particularly when they head back home to The Gabba. The Renegades have reacted to their dismal showings in recent times but they still look better with the bat than the ball in the main.
That makes me think we are going to get something of a high scoring contest here. This is the first ever BBL match in Cairns and the only one here this season so I’m sure everyone will want to put on a good show so we should get a decent pitch and one which the batters can score freely on. The boundaries here are accessible but there are big pockets for twos as well which should see the scoreboard keep ticking over. If you throw in Andre Russell there are four overseas batters on show here as well as the likes of Aaron Finch, Nic Maddinson, Max Bryant and Jake Fraser-McGurk. The runs line is 319.5 and I’m not convinced that is high enough. I’ll play the over.
Tips
Back Over 319.5 runs for a 3/10 stake at 1.83 with Bet365
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