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Cricket Preview

SCORCHERS BIG BASH PREVIEW

Wayne Clark’s Tips

The Perth Scorchers can claim to be the most successful club in the KFC Big Bash; having qualified for every Big Final in the four year history of this league…and of course champions in the last two.

The question is can they achieve the three-peat? Why not??

Justin Langer’s policy of keeping the Scorchers mainly WA based players has been successful, playing with loyalty and passion for each other and their state. The old adage of a “Champion team will beat a team of Champions” has been proven with this group.

At full strength the Scorchers are a formidable unit but availability (due to national duties) of key players; Voges, S Marsh, M Marsh and Coulter-Nile could have a huge influence and pressure will be on younger players such as Bancroft, Turner, Whiteman, Harris & Davis to fill the mantle.

Michael Klinger has been in magnificent touch in all forms of the game and will be an important player yet again for the team. Add the return of Michael Carberry and the inclusion of new recruit David Willey and the Scorchers will be right in the mix. Willey’s inclusion gives the side greater balance and his big hitting in the middle order will be just what Langer is looking for.

My questions-marks:

– Can Brad Hogg maintain his form & influence?
– Can the Scorchers cover the loss of their Australian Squad players?

Dangers to the Scorchers will be the two Melbourne based franchises. Both sides have recruited well and are blessed with a number of match winners. The Renegades with Finch, White, Wade, Gayle and Bravo will be confident but these stars must gel together – a task some star studded sides have struggled to do in previous years.

A similar scenario can be said for the Stars – Maxwell, Pieterson, Stoinus, Wright, Clarke & Hastings. Plenty of champions, exciting individual short form players, but can they play as a team which is required to win this competition. Watch out if they do!!!

Suggested Bets:

– Leading Run Scorer – Michael Klinger / Michael Carberry
– Leading Wicket Taker – Andrew Tye / Joel Paris

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u66HYFCn9IA