The Thunder and Stars kick off BBL season with the Strikers and Sixers to follow.
Our expert team has analysed all the form and markets for a big opening to BBL 12.
Sydney Thunder vs. Melbourne Stars
13th December 7:15pm
The league’s green teams kick off BBL 12 with significant changes from the last time they took to the pitch. The Thunder have been in the news for their recruitment of David Warner, but he is only available when not on Australian duties and will take no part in this game.
Instead, it is worth looking down the order for value with the bat. Jason Sangha is one of the most exciting talents in Australian cricket, and while he does tend to play in the middle order, if he finds his way to the middle with enough time, he can score big and fast. New recruit Alex Hales is also a solid chance to post a big score, while Daniel Sams and Gurinder Sandhu can wreak havoc with the ball.
As the Thunder will be without their big-name hitter, so will Melbourne, who lost Glenn Maxwell with a broken leg. Maxwell’s absence means the door is open for a variety of Stars batters to step up. We could see significant contributions from Hilton Cartwright and Marcus Stoinis, both of whom have plenty of experience at this level and will relish the extra responsibility.
They have an experienced bowling attack, boosted by the arrival of Kiwi Trent Boult, who was a strong performer in the recent T20 World Cup. That exposed form makes him a compelling option to be the best bowler after getting the better of numerous world-class batting line-ups in recent months.
Suggested Bet: Jason Sangha, top Thunder batter at $5.50
Adelaide Strikers vs. Sydney Sixers
14th December 7:15pm
The Strikers are an unknown quality this season, and it will be fascinating to see how their big names find a rhythm with each other. We should get an indication as early as this game, with Chris Lynn, Alex Hose and Colin de Grandhomme all keen to make a splash with their new BBL home.
Lynn has long been one of the BBL’s drawcards, but a series of injuries have dampened him in recent years. A fresh start after being written off by many may be an extra incentive for the former Heat captain, who, on his day, can hit the ball as well as anyone, and he is worth looking at for a flutter here.
Spin star Rashid Khan is only available briefly before being whisked away on international duty. He will be looking to make a lasting impression in his short window. Khan can shape an innings in a matter of balls and could cause headaches for the Sixers, who will be looking for big things from Daniel Hughes and Moises Henriques. Hughes, especially, has become a mainstay of this team and is key to any hopes they have, while Sean Abbott plays a similar role with the ball and is the safe option to be their number-one bowler, as he has been for a while now.
Suggested Bet: Chris Lynn top Strikers batter at $3.90
