The 2017-18 Big Bash League season gets underway this Tuesday, the 19th of December and as per usual, is will be the Sydney Derby between the Thunder and Sixers that kicks us off. It’s always tough to predict winners at the start of a new T20 season but we’ll do our best here as we preview BBL07 Round 1 and give our betting tips here.
BBL07 Round 1 Betting Tips
Sydney Thunder vs Sydney Sixers (Tuesday 7.45pm AEDT)
The traditional season opener between the two Sydney teams will take centre stage once again on Tuesday night as the Thunder and Sixers do battle from Spotless Stadium. The Thunder will be looking to bounce back from a horror BBL06 campaign that saw them finish on the bottom of the ladder. They’ve added Englishman Jos Buttler and former Renegade Callum Ferguson, both of whom should sure up the batting line-up.
The Sixers go into the season with a very similar looking squad to the one that finished the BBL06 season in 3rd place. Veterans Doug Bollinger and Brad Haddin depart the team, allowing for a more youthful look in 2017-18. Johan Botha, Jason Roy and Sam Billings are all specialist T20 internationals while home grown talent such as skipper Moises Henriques should hold them in good stead.
Without their best two players in Usman Khawaja and Pat Cummins in the side, a lot of weight will fall onto the shoulders of just a few players in the Thunder’s top order. After the likes of Buttler, Ferguson and Shane Watson, their batting line-up looks a little thin, while the Sixers boast young and exciting talent from top to bottom. Teams on paper is all we have to go on at the moment so we like the Sixers here at decent odds.
TIP: Sydney Sixers to win - $1.78 at Sportsbet
Brisbane Heat at Melbourne Stars (Wednesday 7.45pm AEDT)
The major talking point for the Heat’s home opener against the Stars on Wednesday night will be weather star top order batsman Chris Lynn will suit up for the home side. The hard hitting Australian representative carried the Heat for the majority of last season and has set his sights on a comeback from injury against the Stars, but it’s likely we won’t know until the last minute whether he will play.
The Stars made arguably the signing of the offseason when they acquired the services of BBL06 leading run scorer Ben Dunk from the Adelaide Strikers. Dunk is another name in a ridiculously strong batting line-up that includes the likes of Glenn Maxwell, Kevin Pieterson, Luke Wright, Marcus Stoinis, James Faulkner and Seb Gotch.
We have to assume Lynn is in doubt for this match as they are leaving it so late to announce, and with a Stars squad that is at near full strength and void of international duty absences, we think they can get the job done away from home. The Stars are ahead of the curve, and in my opinion, every top T20 team will look like this in a few year’s time, that is to say, stacked with all-rounders. Maxwell, Faulkner, Stoinis and John Hastings can all change a game with bat or ball. Too much for the Heat to handle sans Lynn.
TIP: Melbourne Stars to win – $1.85 at Ladbrokes
Hobart Hurricanes vs Melbourne Renegades (Thursday 8pm AEDT)
The Renegades had a major overhaul of players in the offseason, waving goodbye to Matthew Wade, Peter Siddle, Peter Nevill, Xavier Doherty, Sunil Narine and Callum Ferguson. They did, however, sign a quartet of big names in Kane Richardson, Brad Hodge, Kieron Pollard and Mohammad Nabi, who should all play a crucial role in the Gades BBL07 campaign.
Hobart lost some experienced heads in Kumar Sangakkara and Stuart Broad from last year’s campaign, but add Matthew Wade and Jofra Archer, who should both contribute in multiple ways. They look a little thin in the batting department, with George Bailey and D’Arcy Short likely going to have to shoulder the load at the top of the order.
A massive blow for the Renegades came a few days ago when fast bowler James Pattinson was ruled out for the rest of the Summer due to scheduled back surgery. However, with Richardson, Chris Tremain, Joe Mennie and Brad Hogg in the wings, the Renegades should have plenty of cover. Hate to take three away teams in a row here but the Renegades just look too strong with their stock of quality internationals combined with dominant Aussie forces like Finch, Harris and White at the top of the order.
TIP: Melbourne Renegades to win - $1.71 at Ladbrokes
Adelaide Strikers vs Sydney Thunder (Friday 8pm AEDT)
The Thunder will be the first team to play two games as they are on the road Friday against the Adelaide Strikers. Hard to get a gauge on how this one will go without seeing the Thunder’s opening game first, but on paper it looks like this one could go either way.
The Strikers finished 6th last season but lost arguably their best batsmen and their best bowler as Ben Dunk and Kane Richardson depart for the two Melbourne clubs. Brad Hodge and Kieron Pollard complete the list of depleting moves, leaving the Strikers with a really young and inexperienced side.
Young Afghan spinner Rashid Khan will give excitement to the Strikers fans, but shouldn’t be relied upon to be a beacon of success here at just 18 years of age. Travis Head will be the barometer for the Strikers, if he is playing well the team has a chance of winning, but we are siding with the away side once again here as we take our first underdog of the season.
TIP: Sydney Thunder to win - $2.00 at CrownBet
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