The new Big Bash League season begins on Sunday when two teams at the opposite ends of the expectation scale open up the tournament as the former winners Perth Scorchers meet the Melbourne Stars at Optus Stadium.
Crazily, the Melbourne Stars are still looking for a first success in this tournament whereas Perth begin a quest for a sixth title in this match and it will be interesting to see whether the form holds up or there is a shock in the making.
Perth Scorchers
The Perth Scorchers are generally the benchmark side in this competition. There have been 13 previous seasons of the Big Bash League and the Scorchers have won the tournament on five occasions. They were beaten in the elimination final last term so they are pretty consistent and have a method of playing which works. It also helps that their conditions are generally a little more alien to the rest of the country and they have a pretty decent home record as a result of that.
Perth suffered a little bit last season with injuries to a number of key bowlers and one or two others being away with Australia. That isn’t the case this time around and although they will be without Mitchell Marsh, the bowling attack looks to have significant depth to it. They have recruited well in the batting department, especially if Lancashire keeper-batter Matthew Hurst can come off in the middle order so there is no reason why Perth can’t open up strongly here.
Melbourne Stars
The Melbourne Stars have been searching for the magic formula that would take them to the edge of success in this tournament pretty much since it started. It has to be said when you consider the calibre of player that has represented them down the years that they have a horrendous record in this competition, one which they will hope to put right under a new captain in Marcus Stoinis this term. Already though they are starting without a couple of recruits and it all feels a bit mish mashed.
If the Stars are going to progress deep in this tournament then their Australian stars Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell are probably going to need good campaigns not just with the bat but with the ball too. Unfortunately for them, the latter is expected to miss this match which will put a bit of pressure on the former. To be fair, the Stars’ bowling attack looks to have plenty of options and quality but in the Maxwell absence there could be a slight lack of depth with the bat.
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Key Players
Jhye Richardson has a huge reputation with the ball for the Perth Scorchers and his record for the team when he is fit is very good. Keeping him fit is a major problem but he is available to start this season and Perth will hope he goes well here.
Marcus Stoinis is taking on the captaincy for the Melbourne Stars now but it looks like he will continue to bat in the middle order for his side. He will need to come up trumps with the bat and contribute to the ball if they are going to have any success.
Betting
I’m not completely sold on the Perth Scorchers this season but I do expect them to get off to a winning start in front of their own fans here. Melbourne Stars are missing three players to international duty and perhaps worse than that they will be without Glenn Maxwell who is such a big part of everything they do whether it is with the bat or the ball. This is a team who haven’t really gone all that well in recent times anyway.
Perth Scorchers have one or two questions to answer going into the campaign but one which doesn’t need answering is how good their bowling unit is. Historically this unit is the best in the competition and it is at full strength with plenty of options going into the campaign. If their batting can go well, and even without Mitchell Marsh there is enough in there to go well, they should be hard to beat. I think the Scorchers will cover a small handicap.
Tips
Back Perth Scorchers (-3.5wickets/9.5runs) to beat Melbourne Stars for a 3/10 stake at 1.91 with Bet365
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