The 2017/2018 Big Bash League is just around the corner and we are set for what is set to be an ultra-competitive edition of the tournament.
There is very little in betting between all eight franchises in the competition and the Melbourne Stars and Perth Scorchers are currently locked in a battle for favourtism.
We have analysed every team in the tournament this season and our complete 2017/2018 Big Bash Preview can be found below.
Adelaide Strikers
In: Colin Ingram, Rashid Khan
Out: Brad Hodge, Kieron Pollard, Adil Rashid, Tim Ludeman, Kane Richardson, Craig Simmons
Squad: Wes Agar, Alex Carey, Jonathon Dean, Ben Laughlin, Jake Lehmann, Michael Neser, Peter Siddle, Billy Stanlake, Jake Weatherald, Colin Ingram, Travis Head, Kelvin Smith, Jonathan Wells, Rashid Khan
Last Year’s Finish: 6th
Predicted Finish: 7th
The Adelaide Strikers struggled for consistency with both the bat and the ball in the Big Bash last season and this is a squad that does not have a great deal of depth.
Their batting is very reliant on Travis Head and if he fails to fire they are an outfit that is prone to collapse.
Ben Laughlin and Billy Stanlake lead a bowling attack that is capable of tearing through a top-order on their day, but their fourth and fifth bowlers are a weakness that can be exploited if they don’t take early wickets.
The signing of Afghan star Rashid Khan is a positive and he was a star in the Indian Premier League, but that will not be enough to get the Strikers back into the finals mix.
Back Rashid Khan Adelaide Strikers Tournament Top Bowler
Brisbane Heat
In: Max Bryant, Brendan Doggett, Shadab Khan, Matt Renshaw, Cameron Valente, Yasir Shah
Out: Sam Badree, Alex Doolan, Andrew Fekete, Nathan Reardon, Jack Wildermuth, Tymal Mills
Squad: Max Bryant, Joe Burns, Ben Cutting, Brendan Doggett, Jason Floros, Cameron Gannon, Sam Heazlett, Shadab Khan, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Lalor, Chris Lynn, Brendon McCullum, Jimmy Peirson, Matt Renshaw, Alex Ross, Mitchell Swepson, Mark Steketee, Cameron Valente, Yasir Shah
Last Year’s Finish: 2nd (Lost In Semi-Finals)
Predicted Finish: 4th
Batting was the obvious strength for the Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash last year and there will be no change of strategy this season – they are all about setting their rivals big totals.
Chris Lynn is the star for the Heat and his fitness will be key to their chances of making the Big Bash Finals once again.
It would not surprise if Lynn was slightly slow out of the gates as he returns from a shoulder operation, but he is too quality a player to be kept down for long and he is on top of our Top Tournament Runscorer betting market.
Lynn is ably supported by the likes of Joe Burns, Brendon McCullum, Alex Ross and Jimmy Peirson with the bat and this is a side that can post totals that simply can’t be chased down by the majority of the sides in this competition.
Their bowling is not as strong and closing out games with the likes of Ben Cutting and Mark Steketee has been an issue.
Yasir Shah has an excellent record in the Big Bash and he is a shrewd replacement for Sam Badree, but the Heat really need the likes of Cameron Gannon and Mitch Swepson to improve to be a genuine powerhouse in this competition.
In saying that, the Heat’s explosive batting line-up gives them the chance to win every single game and they are a team with the upside to win this tournament.
Back Brisbane Heat To Win @ $6
Hobart Hurricanes
In: Jofra Archer, Tymal Mills, Tom Rogers, David Moody, Matt Wade
Out: Stuart Broad, Kumar Sangakkara, Shaun Tait, Beau Webster, Jonathan Wells, Dominic Michael
Squad: George Bailey (captain), Jofra Archer (overseas), James Bazley, Cameron Boyce, Dan Christian, Hamish Kingston, Ben McDermott, Simon Milenko, Tymal Mills (overseas), David Moody, Tim Paine, Jake Reed, Sam Rainbird, Tom Rogers, Clive Rose, D’Arcy Short, Matthew Wade
Last Year’s Finish: 7th
Predicted Finish: 6th
It has been a tough couple of seasons for the Hobart Hurricanes and they are once again missing the overall quality to be a serious player in this tournament.
They have gotten rid of the deadweight of Stuart Broad and Kumar Sangakkara and the signing of Tymal Mills is an excellent one, but Jofra Archer is definitely a risk.
Their batting is fairly reliant on George Bailey and while their bowling attack is solid, they lack a true game-changer that Bailey can turn to when his side is in trouble.
It would be a surprise to see the Hobart Hurricanes return to the Big Bash Finals.
Back Tymal Mills Hobart Hurricanes Tournament Top Bowler @ $3.50
Melbourne Renegades
In: Tim Ludeman, Kane Richardson, Jack Wildermuth, Brad Hodge, Jon Holland, Joe Mennie, Mohammad Nabi, Will Sutherland, Beau Webster, Kieron Pollard
Out: Peter Nevill, Peter Siddle, Callum Ferguson, Matthew Wade, Sunil Narine
Squad: Aaron Finch, Dwayne Bravo, Tom Cooper, Marcus Harris, Brad Hodge, Brad Hogg, Jon Holland, Tim Ludeman, Joe Mennie, Mohammad Nabi, James Pattinson, Kieron Pollard, Kane Richardson, Matt Short, Will Sutherland, Chris Tremain, Guy Walker, Beau Webster, Cameron White, Jack Wildermuth
Last Year’s Finish: 5th
Predicted Finish: 8th
The Melbourne Renegades may have the most overrated squad in the Big Bash and they are a team that I am keen to take on throughout this tournament.
They have signed a number of players that may be past their best and he may be a legend, but Brad Hogg finally showed some signs of slowing day in the Big Bash last season.
The loss of Sunil Narine is absolutely massive – he was the best bowler in all of the Big Bash last season and his replacement Kieron Pollard is one of the most overrated players in world cricket.
They do have plenty of batting firepower in their top order, but they are another side that could be in trouble if they lost early wickets and they have a number of bowlers that are overrated in this format.
I will be keen to oppose the Melbourne Renegades in just about every scenario this season.
Back Melbourne Renegades To Finish Last @ $11
Melbourne Stars
In: Jackson Coleman, Ben Dunk
Out: David Hussey, Tom Triffitt
Squad: Michael Beer, Scott Boland, Jackson Coleman, Ben Dunk, James Faulkner, Seb Gotch, Evan Gulbis, Peter Handscomb, Sam Harper, John Hastings (captain), Ben Hilfenhaus, Glenn Maxwell, Kevin Pietersen, Rob Quiney, Marcus Stoinis, Dan Worrall, Luke Wright, Adam Zampa
Last Year’s Finish: 4th (Lost In Semi-Finals)
Predicted Finish: 3rd
The Melbourne Stars are always competitive without actually winning the competition and it looks sets to be a similar season for the competitions glamour outfit.
Outside of the Perth Scorchers, the Melbourne Stars have the most well-rounded side in the Big Bash and the fact that they have kept a very similar squad to last season is a big positive.
Their one big signing is that of Ben Dunk and no batsmen has been more consistent across the history of the Big Bash.
Depth is the big advantage for the Stars and captain John Hastings has a wide-range of top quality bowlers that he can turn to and hopefully this is the year that the Stars realise Ben Hilfenhaus is not the man to close out games for them.
Adam Zampa was the key man with the ball for the Stars last season and there are few Australian bowlers that are better in this format.
I would be very surprised if the Melbourne Stars missed the Big Bash Finals for the first time in their history, but whether they can take that next step and actually win the competition is a big question mark.
Back Adam Zampa Top Melbourne Stars Bowler @ $11
Perth Scorchers
In: Cameron Green, Josh Inglis
Out: Ian Bell, James Muirhead
Squad: Ashton Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Jason Behrendorff, Hilton Cartwright, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Johnson, Michael Klinger, Mitch Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Joel Paris, Jhye Richardson, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, Adam Voges, Sam Whiteman, David Willey
Last Year’s Finish: 1st
Predicted Finish: 1st
The Perth Scorchers have won three of the seven editions of the Big Bash and they will once again go into the tournament as the team to beat.
The Scorchers have never missed the Big Bash Finals and they have played in all but one of the Big Bash Finals – a truly outstanding record for one of the best-run franchises in Australia sport.
There are simply no weaknesses in this Scorchers outfit and they have plenty of depth with both the bat and the ball.
Michael Klinger is one of the best Twenty20 batsmen in the world and he is the anchor for this side that has plenty of big hitters in the form of Ashton Agar, Shaun Marsh, Mitch Marsh and Adam Voges.
The addition of Mitchell Johnson last season boosted a bowling attack that was already right up there with the best in the competition and this bowling outfit are capable of winning games on their own.
Jason Behrendorff has been one of the best bowlers throughout the history of the Big Bash and David Willey and Nathan Coulter-Nile also have an outstanding record in this competition.
Perth are the benchmark in the Big Bash and they will be the team to beat once again.
Back Perth Scorchers To Win @ $5
Sydney Sixers
In: William Somerville, Henry Thornton, Harry Conway and Ryan Carters.
Out: Ryan Carters, Brad Haddin, Michael Lumb and Joe Mennie
Squad: Sean Abbott, Sam Billings, Jackson Bird, Johan Botha, Ben Dwarshuis, Mickey Edwards, Jack Edwards, Moises Henriques, Daniel Hughes, Nathan Lyon, Nic Maddinson, Peter Nevill, Steve O’Keefe, Jason Roy, Jordan Silk, Mitchell Starc, Henry Thornton
Last Year’s Finish: 3rd (Lost In Final)
Predicted Finish: 2nd
The Sydney Sixers were beaten in the Big Bash Final by the Perth Scorchers last season and they will be in the mix once again.
The big issue for Australis is that a number of their best players – Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon and Jason Roy – may miss a chunk of this tournament due to international commitments, but their full-strength side is right up there with the best in the competition.
The bowling is the big strength for this side and they have shown an ability to take plenty of early wickets, which they need to do as they don’t have the most explosive batting line-up in the competition.
A top four finish is on the cards for the Sydney Sixers, but there is no real value at their current price.
No Bet
Sydney Thunder
In: Blake Macdonald, Callum Ferguson, Arjun Nair, Jos Buttler
Out: Jake Doran, Alister McDermott, Eoin Morgan, Andre Russell
Squad: Shane Watson, Fawad Ahmed, Aiden Blizzard, Jos Buttler, Pat Cummins, Callum Ferguson, Ryan Gibson, Chris Green, Jay Lenton, Usman Khawaja, Mitchell McClenaghan, Arjun Nair, Clint McKay, Kurtis Patterson, Ben Rohrer, Gurinder Sandhu, Blake Macdonald
Last Year’s Finish: 8th
Predicted Finish: 5th
It would not surprise if the Sydney Thunder were the big improvers in the Big Bash this season.
They may have finished on the bottom of the ladder, but they were only one win away from finishing in the top four and they would have done just that if not for a slow start.
A lack of depth in their batting was their biggest problem last season and the signings of Callum Ferguson and Jos Buttler should help to fix that issue, while they have gotten rid of the deadweight that was Andre Russell.
They lack an out and out star with the ball, but they still have a fairly well-balanced bowling line-up and Clint McKay continues to be a consistent performer.
The Thunder are still one bowler and one batsmen away from being a genuine contender, but I think that they will be able to avoid the wooden spoon.
No Bet