What: Big Bash League
Who: Scorchers v Renegades
When: Friday, December 26 – 7.10pm (AEDT)
Where: WACA ground
I Can Watch It On: Channel 10
Form Guide:
Scorchers 2014/15: One-wicket loss to Adelaide Strikers at the WACA in Round 1.
Renegades 2014/15: Eight-wicket loss to Sydney Sixers at the SCG in Round 1.
20-20 Vision:
The Scorchers are a shell of the team that won BBL03, with only three members of the side that beat the Hobart Hurricanes in last season's final playing in the opening loss to the Adelaide Strikers. Mitch Marsh (Test duties/injury), Shaun Marsh (Test duties), Nathan Coulter-Nile (hamstring) and Brad Hogg (hamstring) will again be missing for the men from Perth. Michael Klinger (49 off 33) was the only Scorchers batter who got going against the Strikers as the hosts struggled to 7-146. Jason Behrendorff (4-22) almost bowled the Scorchers to victory before Adam Zampa hit a six and a single to steal a thrilling victory in the final over.
The Renegades have made two changes with Aaron O'Brien and Tom Beaton added to a 13-man squad for Peter Siddle (national duties) and Nathan Rimmington (toe). They are also coming off an opening loss. After being sent in by the Sixers on a good deck openers Matthew Wade (35 off 18) and Aaron Finch (20 off 18) made a fast start but the visitors could only manage a modest 7-154 from their 20 overs. Sixers opener Nic Maddinson then savaged the Renegades attack, with dumped Test quick Peter Siddle (0-29) and leggie Fawad Ahmed (0-38 off four) coming in for the worst treatment.
Reason To Watch:
Aaron Finch. The Renegades skipper is as explosive a hitter as there is and if he fires his team almost always wins.
Reason To Turn Away:
England international Michael Carberry played and missed several times on his Scorchers debut and even lost grip of his bat – it ended up at short fine leg - attempting to play a wild shot. If the Scorchers are relying on Carberry to be their main man up the top of the order they could be in some trouble.
Say What:
"What we have proven in the past is that we can win from anywhere. We nearly pulled it out of the bag tonight. We have that belief in our group that we can win every game," – in-form Scorchers quick Jason Behrendorff.
Final Word:
The Scorchers have won all three past BBL meetings between these two sides but head into Boxing Day as slight underdogs with the bookies. The men from Perth are still missing evergreen 43-year-old Brad Hogg, who remains sidelined with a hamstring injury, while Mitchell and Shaun Marsh are both out of the side. Both side's batters will need to lift after modest first outings and we're backing either Matthew Wade or Aaron Finch to fire and win the game for the Renegades. Renegades in a tight one.
Teams:
Scorchers: Adam Voges (c), Ashton Agar, Yasir Arafat, Jason Behrendorff, Michael Carberry, Hilton Cartwright, Matthew Dixon, Marcus Harris, Michael Klinger, James Muirhead, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, Sam Whiteman.
Renegades: Aaron Finch (c), Fawad Ahmed, Tom Beaton, Dwayne Bravo, Tom Cooper, Callum Ferguson, Andrew Fekete, Aaron O'Brien, Ben Rohrer, Andre Russell, Matthew Short, Matthew Wade, Nick Winter.