LIVE COVERAGE: Big Bash - Perth Scorchers v Adelaide Strikers
What: Big Bash League
Who: Scorchers v Strikers
When: Monday, December 22 – 7.10pm (AEDT)
Where: WACA Ground
I Can Watch It On: Channel 10
Form Guide:
Scorchers 2013/14: Champions
Strikers 2013/14: Seventh
20-20 Vision:
Having dominated the competition so far, the Perth Scorchers enter BBL 4 having undergone some drastic roster changes and with a squad that appears considerably lighter than past ones. Gone are key leadership figures like Marcus North and Simon Katich, leaving Adam Voges with the responsibility of taking the side to a potential back-to-back title. Fortunately, the Perth team retains Justin Langer as coach and their ace in the hole, evergreen spinner Brad Hogg, the man vying to be the next Kerry O’Keefe on ABC radio. And, it will be interesting to see how former England opener Michael Carberry performs as Perth’s new big import.
The Adelaide Strikers, meanwhile, have opened their account with a convincing victory over the Melbourne Stars. Tim Ludeman and Craig Simmons were the big hitters on the night but the match was still tinged with sadness following the tragic death of Phillip Hughes. Indeed, Hughes was the Strikers’ best batsman the last time these sides met last January.
Reason To Watch:
Craig Simmons – The master blaster from last summer for the Scorchers with two centuries – including the fastest in the BBL against the Strikers – Simmons will be public enemy no.1 on Monday night when he returns to the Furnace having defected to Adelaide. Simmons has already formed a brutal partnership with Tim Ludeman, who belted the league’s fastest half-century off 18 balls against the Melbourne Stars last week. The pair put on 83 runs off 5.3 overs in total.
Reason To Turn Away:
For Scorchers fans, there could be every reason to turn away as a piece-meal attack missing Nathan Coulter-Nile (injured), Mitch Marsh (injured), Pat Cummins (Sydney Thunder) and Michael Beer (Melbourne Stars) goes up against the Strikers power batting.
Say What:
"That is a bonus, I suppose.” – Tim Ludeman’s understated response to scoring the competition’s fastest half-century.
Final Word:
The Scorchers have made being underestimated an art form in their short history. Written off before the first two seasons they responded by making the championship game on both occasions before nailing that elusive title last summer. Now the league’s most successful team is looking to go back-to-back but to do so has to overcome some serious obstacles as they face life without some star performers. How that affects the team’s form and the team’s spirit remains to be seen.
As a result, the Strikers are probably favourites heading into this game, although the Adelaide side have often been fairly inconsistent over the competition’s first three years. But with such a power-packed batting line-up at their disposal, we think the Strikers can get the job done this time around.
Teams:
PERTH SCORCHERS: Adam Voges (c), Ashton Agar, Yasir Arafat, Jason Behrendorff, Michael Carberry, Hilton Cartwright, Marcus Harris, Michael Klinger, Simon Mackin, James Muirhead, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, Sam Whiteman.
ADELAIDE STRIKERS: Johan Botha (C), Brad Hodge (vc), Travis Head, Jon Holland, Hamish Kingston, Ben Laughlin, Trent Lawford, Tim Ludeman, Kieron Pollard, Kane Richardson, Alex Ross, Craig Simmons, Adam Zampa.