3 minute read

The Big Bash continues to provide the hottest tickets in town all across Australia and this season’s tournament again promises to serve up some of the most entertaining cricket imaginable. I have had a look in to my crystal ball to identify how the sides are likely to perform and who will emerge as their key performers.

This will be the 14th edition of the Big Bash and the tournament to this point has been very much dominated by two franchises, the Perth Scorchers, who have won 5 titles, and the Sydney Sixers who have won 3 championships.

Last year the Brisbane Heat secured their second Big Bash title while the Melbourne Renegades, Adelaide Strikers and Sydney Thunder have all won it once. The Melbourne Stars and Hobart Hurricanes are still chasing their first Big Bash crown.

  TEAMS & PLAYERS TO WATCH  

 ADELAIDE STRIKERS
Tournament Winner: $9
Top 4: $2.20

 The Adelaide Strikers hopes are likely to rely heavily on last year's leading tournament run scorer Matt Short (541 runs in 11 innings) to go big again. Veteran big hitter Chris Lynn will be available all tournament and his 304 runs in 7 innings last season showed he still has some sting in his tail. Darcy Short and Jake Weatherald have key roles at the top of the order with the bat and the Strikers will be hoping that their English Imports Test Vice Captain Ollie Pope and All Rounder Jamie Overton can play to their brilliant best. The Strikers will be looking to their spin trio of Cameron Boyce, Lloyd Pope and West Indian Fabian Allen to put the clamps on their opponents through the tournament. Adelaide have enough quality to cause some headaches for most opponents but to go deep they will need Matt Short, Chris Lynn and Ollie Pope to all fire on full cylinders.

Most Runs: Matthew Short $2

Matt Short has quite simply dominated the Big Bash for 3 straight seasons now. Third on the list for Most Tournament Runs in 21/22 with 493 runs in 16 innings, Second in 22/23 with 458 runs in 14 innings, and then in 23/24 he was the leading tournament run scorer with 541 runs in 11 innings (175 runs in front of the 2nd best runs scorer Josh Brown!) The $9 available for him to be the Top Tournament Runscorer is also very appealing when you consider his recent history.

Most Wickets: Wide open!

Jamie Overton is perhaps worth a play at $5.50 but leg spinners Boyce and Pope can both take wickets in clumps when teams chase quick runs.

  BRISBANE HEAT  

Tournament Winner: $6
Top 4: $1.70

Last year's winners who have lost the services of the big hitting Josh Brown and English keeper batsman Sam Billings but they have one of the most reliable and dangerous bowling attacks in the competition. They have retained the leading wicket taker Xavier Bartlett (20 wickets in 11 matches), second leading wicket taker Spencer Johnson (19 wickets in 11 matches) and equal third leading wicket taker Paul Walter (17 wickets in 11 games) as well as gun quick Michael Neser and quality spinners Mitch Swepson and Matthew Kuhnemann. From a batting perspective the Heat do appear a bit light on with New Zealand white ball jet Colin Munro their clear stand out. Outside of him Matt Renshaw, Jimmy Peirson and Max Bryant will need to up their recent run production and English middle order imports Tom Alsop and Paul Walter will need to contribute. The Heat are likely to restrict their opponents to some moderate totals this season but the big question mark on them will be run production.

Most Runs: Colin Munro $2

Colin Munro is one of the most dynamic white ball cricketers in world franchise cricket and his last 3 seasons in the Big Bash illustrate that (21/22 : 390 runs in 13 innings / 22/23 : 278 runs in 8 innings / 23/34 : 224 runs in 7 innings). Due to his popularity and need to hop from tournament to tournament he rarely plays for the entire quota of matches but should thrive in the matches he plays.

Most Wickets: Xavier Bartlett $2.75

The Big 3 of Bartlett, Johnson and Walter were stunning last season and they all look a handful again. I believe Xavier Bartlett has developed in to one of the best new ball white bowlers going around though now and would lean his way.

  HOBART HURRICANES  

Tournament Winner: $7.50
Top 4: $1.95

The Hurricanes have failed to flatter in recent seasons and will be hoping the injection of hard hitting West Indian Shai Hope can reinvigorate the group. Ben McDermott has been one of the Stars of the competition when at his best – in the 21/22 season he was the leading tournament run scorer with 577 runs in 13 innings and last season he managed 261 runs in 8 innings. Veteran Matt Wade is always a threat and Tim David is one of the most powerful middle order tonkers in the business. From a bowling perspective Riley Meredith and Nathan Ellis are always serviceable, import Chris Jordan is a very reliable professional and their spin options of Paddy Dooley and Peter Hatzoglou can pose a threat in the right conditions. The Hurricanes have proven very hit and miss in recent seasons and that looks set to continue in 24/25.

Most Runs: Ben McDermott $2.10

While the odds are not very exciting Ben McDermott is the logical play here. Finished 7th on the overall most tournament runs list last season with 261 in 8 matches and only 3 seasons ago was the tournament's leading run scorer with 577 runs in 13 matches.

Most Wickets: A race in 3

Recent history over the last three seasons would suggest there will be not much separating Riley Meredith, Nathan Ellis and Chris Jordan.

  MELBOURNE RENEGADES  

Tournament Winner: $10
Top 4: $2.40

It's been a forgettable period for the Renegades but they have recruited well and their 24/25 roster appears one of the most potent in the competition.  Josh Brown was the 2nd leading run scorer in the tournament last season for the Brisbane Heat scoring 366 runs in 9 innings and the inclusion of him to join Jake Fraser-McGurk at the top of the order has the potential to pile on some serious power play pressure to their opponents. Run machine Laurie Evans has played some phenomenal innings in the last few seasons of the Big Bash and he is a massive pick up for the boys in red. New Zealand Keeper Batsman Tim Seifert and emerging English talent Jacob Bethell are also top class players and are canny recruits. From a bowling perspective the Renegades have Australia's premier white ball spinner Adam Zampa along with Kane Richardson, Will Sutherland, Tom Rogers and Gurinder Sandhu. I think the Renegades can have a strong campaign and I am staggered that they are the $10 outsiders of the field. Worth a small speck at that price. Can improve sharply this season.

Most Runs: Pass

The Renegades have a number of high risk high reward players in their top order which makes this a pass for me. Laurie Evans will miss games late in the tournament as he has to jet off to the UAE's ILT20 tournament – this is the only thing stopping me from backing him for most runs. My advice will be to back him for most runs in the individual games rather than for the series bet. He will be at good odds and if the top order go cheaply he is likely to show up.

Most Wickets: Pass

Zampa's best would win it but he was plain last season and I'm happy to pass at the $2.35 on offer.

  MELBOURNE STARS  

Tournament Winner: $9
Top 4: $2.20

The Stars have often had the biggest name players and the most hyped squads on the way through but to this point it has mattered little with the trophy cabinet still empty at Stars HQ. At face value the Stars have done some solid recruiting for this season with English opener Ben Duckett, gun All Rounder Tom Curran and prolific scorer Joe Clarke all added to the outfit. They will join Stars stalwarts Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell and Hilton Cartwright and in Beau Webster the Star's have one of the most in form players in the country. Pakistan Leg Spinner Usama Mir and new recruit Hamish McKenzie add some spin options while Brody Couch and Mark Steketee are likely to play a part from a seam perspective. This Stars outfit has plenty of potency with the willow and plenty of experience but the bowling depth would be my major query on them.

Most Runs: Beau Webster $3.50

Beau Webster is one of the most improved players in world cricket. He seems to get better every season and he now has enormous self-belief in his own game. I can see him being the player that the Stars will bat around in a string of games and while the more explosive types like Maxwell and Stoinis are threats they tend to play higher risk games which leaves them vulnerable to cheap dismissals. While Duckett will miss some games he is worth having on side in individual matches that he plays as he is a genuine talent.

Most Wickets: Pass

No clear stand out and happy to watch on.

  PERTH SCORCHERS  

Tournament Winner: $4.50
Top 4: $1.35

The Perth Scorchers are quite simply the powerhouse of this competition, a franchise that regardless of injuries or lack of runs on the board just find ways to keep on winning. It will be a very different looking batting lineup for the Scorchers this season with Black Caps opener Finn Allen and English opener Keaton Jennings setting the tone at the top of the order with Josh Inglis and Aaron Hardie likely to play major roles again. Injuries to Ashton Turner, Ashton Agar and Cooper Connolly in the build up to the tournament have the ability to restrict their availability. The bowling unit at the Scorchers have been very stable and clutch for a very long time now. The likes of Jason Behrendorff, Jhye Richardson, Lance Morris and AJ Tye continue to deliver. Always a major threat.

Most Runs: Josh Inglis $3

Has had a wonderful start to the domestic Summer and has emerged as one of the most potent white ball players in the country. Appears to be right at the peak of his powers. Aaron Hardie has been magnificent over the last 2 seasons (22/23 Leading Tournament Runscorer 460 runs in 15 games / 23/24 3rd Leading Tournament Runscorer 334 runs in 11 games) and looms as the logical danger. Big watch on Allen and Jennings.

Most Wickets: Pass

The big 4 of Behrendorff, Richardson, Morris and Tye are all a chance.

  SYDNEY SIXERS  

Tournament Winner: $5.50
Top 4: $1.60

One of the most experienced and successful teams in the business. Experienced batsman such as Josh Phillipe, James Vince, Dan Hughes, Kurtis Paterson, Moises Henriques and Jordan Silk have scored most of the Sixers runs in recent seasons and they all remain on this very stable list while the ever reliable duo of Shaun Abbott and Ben Dwarshius lead their attack. The addition of West Indian Import Akeal Hosein is a big boost to their spinning ranks and his partnership with Todd Murphy will cause headaches for opposition batting lneups. A number of the Sixers players are getting towards the end of their careers but they are still delivering and importantly they know how to win big games! A huge chance again.

Most Runs: Moises Henriques $4.25

Henriques has been in the top 15 runscorers for the tournament in his last 3 straight seasons (21/22 : 440 runs in 16 innings -7th overall / 22/23 : 306 runs in 16 innings – 15th overall / 23/24 : 257 runs in 11 innings – 10th overall.) I rate and respect Josh Phillipe but he is a lot shorter price than Henriques and 3 seasons ago Henriques outscored Phillipe by 11 runs, 2 seasons ago Henriques outscored Phillipe by 40 runs and last season they both scored 257 runs. On those numbers the $4.25 Henriques appears the logical value bet.

Most Wickets: Pass

It looks a race in two between Abbott and Dwarshius who are both proven guns of this tournament. On spinning surfaces watch out for Akeal Hosein in Most Wickets markets on individual games – will show up.

  SYDNEY THUNDER  

Tournament Winner: $8
Top 4: $2

Now retired from International Cricket Dave Warner returns to the Big Bash and he will be a big part of the Thunder's push for another title. While Warner was not at his brilliant best late in his international career you would expect he is still talented enough to pile on plenty of runs at the domestic level. One of the most discussed young cricketers in the country Sam Konstas is likely to get some opportunities with Warner at the top of the order and Cam Bancroft and Ollie Davies will play their part with West Indies middle order player Sherfane Rutherford. White ball wizard Sam Billings is one of the recruits of the Summer. His ability to up the ante late in games is first class and he will prove worth his weight in gold. Bowling wise veteran Pro Daniel Sams will be joined by New Zealander Lockie Ferguson and former Striker Wes Agar while the spinning stocks look solid with Tanveer Sagha and Chris Green to do the majority of the work. They may lack a genuine killer blow within their attack but they have a lot of experienced players and will win plenty of games.

Most Runs: Dave Warner $1.80

As short as I would want to take but Warner will back himself to face a lot of balls in this tournament and score plenty of runs in the process. Has been a prolific run scorer and likely to pile on plenty again here.

Most Wickets: Daniel Sams $2

Has been the Thunder's best bowler for a number of seasons now and his changes of pace are a huge asset. Often takes a wicket early and them comes back later in the innings when sides are teeing off and goes again.

  PREDICTIONS  

MOST TOURNAMENT RUNS: Matthew Short $9

Matt Short has quite simply dominated the Big Bash for 3 straight seasons now. Third on the list for Most Tournament Runs in 21/22 with 493 runs in 16 innings, Second in 22/23 with 458 runs in 14 innings, and then in 23/24 he was the leading tournament run scorer with 541 runs in 11 innings (175 runs in front of the 2nd best run scorer Josh Brown!) Loves those short square boundaries at the Adelaide Oval and looms as a super bet at $9!

Has developed in to one of the most dangerous players in the country. Has started the Aussie Summer in top form and can carry that momentum in to this year's Big Bash.

MOST TOURNAMENT WICKETS: Xavier Bartlett $13

Took his game to a whole new level last Summer and was the leading tournament wicket taker with 20 wickets in 11 games. Has since stepped up to represent Australia in fine style and he can really make the new ball talk. Sides that take him on early in the power play regularly find themselves in awkward positions.

TOURNAMENT WINNER: Perth Scorchers $4.50

Season in season out the Perth Scorchers find ways to deliver and despite once again having a few question marks on a couple of players with injuries they have great depth and their top end talent generally finds a way to cover any holes. Their bowling stocks are as strong as anywhere and they have some high quality international experience at the top of the order. Likely to play a major part again.

Melbourne Renegades $10

The Renegades are certainly not a chips in job but at the $10 I think they are over the odds and worth a small bet. They have genuine gun powder in their batting with the likes of Fraser-McGurk, Brown and Seifert and the inclusion of Laurie Evans is big. If Adam Zampa brings his international white ball form to the Big Bash he can prove a handful too.

*Odds correct at the time of publication.

  MARKET