The second half of the Boxing Day double header in the Big Bash League takes us to the Optus Stadium as the Perth Scorchers look to return to winning ways when they go up against the defending champions Brisbane Heat.
The Scorchers have suffered successive defeats going into this match which is unlike them. The Heat have opened up their title defence with a pair of wins so it will be interesting to see whether that form line holds up or whether there is a shock here.
Perth Scorchers
We are not used to seeing the Perth Scorchers going into a match in this competition with a negative record to their name but that is the situation that we are in here. They have a win and two losses but the win was over the Melbourne Stars and that isn’t looking like the best form guide at the minute. Since then they have lost to the Hobart Hurricanes and the Melbourne Renegades so will be looking to return to winning ways in this one.
The Scorchers have been surprisingly ordinary with the bat so far this season. That hasn’t been helped by Finn Allen registering single figure scores in each innings. He is the man who is assigned the task of getting the Scorchers off to a flyer and putting the opposition under pressure but that hasn’t happened yet. The Scorchers still have the attack to rescue the job but it does open them up to individual innings getting the better of them which happened against the Hurricanes. They’ll be hoping the batters come good here.
Brisbane Heat
The Brisbane Heat have played twice and won them both this season and a third win here would have them set up nicely to make a strong impression when it comes to making a successful defence of the title. The good thing for the Heat is it is fair to say that they haven’t completely hit their straps yet so for them to be 2-0 while they are building their way into the campaign certainly bodes well for them for the second part of the year.
The one thing we do know is that Brisbane have plenty of firepower at their disposal with the bat now that overseas players have arrived and there will be more to come when Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne return from international duty. We haven’t yet seen the best of the Heat with the ball yet but injuries and international absences are partly the reason for that. Brisbane generally warm into a season though so we shouldn’t be too concerned yet.
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Key Players
Cooper Connolly is the leading batter in the tournament so far and he is probably the one Perth Scorchers batter who is hitting the ball sweetly. He could also be useful with the ball here with the Scorchers without a key bowler.
Nathan McSweeney probably had a point to prove when he returned to the Brisbane Heat side having been shunted from the Australia squad for the match against India. He did that in the last game and another big knock from him here would be nice.
Betting
I like the Brisbane Heat in this match. Perth Scorchers are being messed around a little bit with Josh Inglis and Jhye Richardson away with the Australia squad even though it was plainly obvious that neither were going to feature at the MCG but they won’t be around for this match and although Aaron Hardie returns which will help, he is only expected to play as a batter only which isn’t helpful. The Perth top order haven’t got going yet and Richardson leaves a hole in the bowling unit.
Brisbane Heat are entitled to continue to build into this season when they have had a couple of issues with overseas players and things so the fact that they have already won both of their matches this term has to bode well. In addition to that, they have Spencer Johnson back for the first time this season and Tom Banton will sort out the shortcomings at the top of the order. Perth don’t quite look on it at the minute and the champions can take full advantage of that.
Tips
Back Brisbane Heat to beat Perth Scorchers for a 3/10 stake at 2.10 with William Hill
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