The Big Bash League returns on Boxing Day with a double header of action which begins in Sydney as the Sydney Sixers look to maintain their perfect record when they play host to the Melbourne Stars at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Sydney have played three matches and won the lot while the Stars have also played three and they have the exact opposite record having lost all three of their games. It will be interesting to see if that is how it plays out here or whether there is a switch in the form.
Sydney Sixers
The Sydney Sixers have won their opening three matches but I don’t really think they have hit their full stride yet. It is never a bad thing for a team if they are winning when they haven’t been playing well because in a season like this one teams tend to find their best stuff eventually. We have seen through the seasons that they don’t always need to be at their best in order to win matches but when they are at that level they are very tough to beat.
Sydney haven’t really hit their straps with the bat just yet. They have been doing enough to get over the line with the bat in hand but there is a lot more to come from them and you wouldn’t think it is long before it comes out. The big thing for the Sixers is that they have won all three matches despite not really having their best bowling attack on the park. They will continue to miss some key components for this match but that doesn’t seem to impact them.
Melbourne Stars
This is already looking like a season which is going to be in line with so many that has gone before it. They are flattering to deceive already and after three pretty ordinary batting efforts you already wonder if they have what it takes to make it through to the knockout stage. There are still plenty of matches to go in their campaign but you would find it hard to believe that a team who are 0-4 with a terrible net run rate can make the postseason so this is must-win for the Stars.
The problem for the Stars is there has been no sign of a win around the corner for them. They do have Imad Wasim in their ranks for the first time this season here and he is a player with a lot of T20 experience which could help the Stars but it is going to need an infinitely better showing from them for them to have any chance in this one. The positive for the Stars is they still possess some marquee players who could win a match on their own if they have a day out but they might need one of those here.
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Key Players
Jordan Silk reminded everyone of why he has been one of the stalwarts of this Sydney Sixers side in their last match when his innings got his team over the line by a solitary run. More runs from him certainly wouldn’t go amiss here.
Imad Wasim has been charged with being the man to turn the fortunes around for the Melbourne Stars. He replaces Liam Dawson in the squad and the Stars will need the very best of the Pakistani with the bat and the ball.
Betting
I’m not convinced we are going to get a high scoring match here. There has been a fair bit of rain in Sydney in the lead up to this match so the pitch might be a little underprepared and is likely to do a bit for the seamers. This isn’t always the easiest ground to score runs on and although we might be to the side of the square here, bowlers are becoming better at making sure batters aim at the bigger side which will help with negating the run scoring.
The run line for this one is up at 304.5 which doesn’t sound like a particularly high line but when you consider that two of the Melbourne Stars innings this season have yielded just 111 and 101. Even the 172 last time out was probably less par on a small ground. The Stars go up against a decent Sydney attack here but Sydney still look a batter light to me and Imad Wasim might bring some control to the proceedings. This line feels a tad too high to me.
Tips
Back Under 304.5 runs for a 3/10 stake at 1.83 with Bet365
