Over the next week, we will be bringing you comprehensive BBL06 team previews of all eight Big Bash League teams leading up to the much anticipated BBL06 starting December 20th.
In today’s BBL06 team previews, we bring you the 2015/16 BBL Champion Sydney Thunder as well as the most dominant team in BBL history, the Perth Scorchers. You can also check out our Hurricanes and Sixers BBL06 Team Previews here!
Sydney Thunder
Squad: Shane Watson (Captain), Fawad Ahmed, Aiden Blizzard, Pat Cummins, Jake Doran, Ryan Gibson, Chris Green, Usman Khawaja, Nathan McAndrew, Alister McDermott, Clint McKay, Arjun Nair, Kurtis Patterson, Ben Rohrer, Andre Russell, Gurinder Sandhu, Jason Sangha.
Last Year: After finishing fourth on the table and scraping into finals by one game, Usman Khawaja put the Thunder on course to the 2015-16 BBL Championship. With a hundred in the semi and 70 off 40 balls in the final, two of Khawaja’s four games came at the right time which saw Sydney walk away with the trophy.
Key Signings/Losses: The Thunder wave goodbye to long time servant Jaques Kallis, who has been with the team since the competitions inception. Last season’s captain Michael Hussey also departs due to retirement, with the captaincy to go to former Test player Shane Watson for BBL06.
Players to Watch: Andre Russell might be the most talented cricketer in the world, he can do it all. Whether it’s taking crucial wickets in the middle of an innings or blasting a quick fire 50 at the end of one, Russell has the ability to turn a game on its head in minutes. Usman Khawaja finished 2nd in BBL05 top run scorers, from only four games. He scored two 100’s and two 50’s in his four innings and is a dominant T20 player.
BBL06 Championship Odds: $7 at Sportsbet
Prediction: While is looks like the Thunder have lost a lot in Hussey and Kallis going into BBL06, their production was waning towards the end of last season. The Thunder still boast one of the best batting lineups in the competition with Aiden Blizzard, Khawaja, Russell, Watson and Ben Rohrer likely to be the core top order. I have them doing well this year, finishing in 3rd Place.
Perth Scorchers
Squad: Ashton Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Jason Behrendorff, Ian Bell, Hilton Cartwright, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Mitchell Johnson, Michael Klinger, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, James Muirhead, Joel Paris, Jhye Richardson, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, Adam Voges (Captain), Sam Whiteman, David Willey.
Last Year: The Scorchers finished 3rd in BBL05 with five wins and three losses. All the Scorchers do is win. In the BBL’s five-year span, Perth is one of only two teams to make the finals in every season (Melbourne Stars), they have also been to four finals, and are the only team to win multiple championships (2). There must be something in the water over there because year after year the Scorchers seem to get it done despite an absence of star international players.
Key Signings/Losses: English Batsman Michael Carberry will depart Perth after two years at the club while fan favourite Brad Hogg has decided to play with the Melbourne Renegades in BBL06, ending his five-year run with the Scorchers. Mitchell Johnson was the most sought after player going into BBL06, and Perth always had the advantage being Johnson’s home town.
Players to Watch: Obviously, it will be interesting to see Johnson bowling again, the former Test player was one of the most talented fast bowlers Australia has ever produced and if he can have any sort of impact it will bode well for the Scorchers. Cameron Bancroft has been dominating the domestic Shield and ODI formats and is one of the most exciting batsman in Australia at the moment.
BBL06 Championship Odds: $6.50 at Sportsbet
Prediction: With Johnson leading a bowling attack that also features two of last year’s top ten wicket takers in Andrew Tye and Jason Behrendorff, the Scorchers look set for another successful season. Michael Klinger and Cameron Bancroft lead a solid batting attack, I have the Scorchers finishing in 2nd Place, in BBL06.
Always Gamble Responsibly and stay tuned to our big bash betting tips page for tips for every match of the BBL06 season.
