Adelaide Strikers vs Melbourne Stars – Big Bash League Betting Tips, Latest Odds, Team News and Predictions – 22/1/2020
The Melbourne Stars, who are the favourites to win the 2019-20 Big Bash League, will take on the Adelaide Strikers, who are among the few teams who can upset the Stars. Both teams will have stars back from India, where Australia recently played three ODIs.
The teams met earlier in the tournament, when the Strikers gave the Stars one of their two defeats for the season so far. Jonathan Wells and Peter Siddle stole the limelight then, with a half-century and three important wickets, respectively.
Adelaide Strikers vs Melbourne Stars – Match Preview
Where: Adelaide Oval
When: Wednesday, 22 January 2020
Start Time: 13:40 (IST), 8:10 (GMT)
Adelaide Strikers vs Melbourne Stars – Latest Odds
Bet365 have the Strikers and Stars priced at 2.00 and 1.85, respectively to win the match. If you’re looking for longer odds and better value, opt for both teams to hit the same amount of sixes at 7.50. For the first wicket method markets, lbw at 10.00 is really attractive as well.
Adelaide Strikers vs Melbourne Stars – Team News
The Strikers have Alex Carey back. He was sharp behind the stumps and put in a couple of brisk cameos with the bat for the Australian ODI team in India recently. Carey has replaced fellow wicketkeeper-batsman Harry Nielsen in the Adelaide squad.
Once again, the Strikers have Wells, Travis Head, Phil Salt and Jake Weatherald at their disposal in the batting ranks. Head, Wells and Matt Short impressed in victory over the Hobart Hurricanes last week. Returning to the Adelaide Oval, they will relish the opportunity to go big again in home conditions.
Despite being in the squad, Harry Conway will probably miss out on the XI as the Strikers beef up their seam department with Wes Agar, Michael Neser and Peter Siddle again. That’ likely mean no space for Billy Stanlake again as well. Siddle’s bowling at the death of the innings continues to be really good – and will probably needed again if this match goes down to the wire.
While the Strikers have understandably rushed Carey back into the squad, the Stars have done the same with Adam Zampa and Peter Handscomb. Zampa is a big boost to a bowling department that has been performing solidly without him anyway. Handscomb will bolster the batting order.
Zampa enjoyed a particularly good challenge against Virat Kohli earlier this month. Having tested himself against arguably the world’s best batsman in Indian conditions, the leg-spinner will welcome a return to the familiarity of Australian pitches. He’ll be relying on bounce and variation more than he will turn in Adelaide.
The Stars, of course, have the season’s top run-scorer in Marcus Stoinis. A bit further down the pack is Glenn Maxwell. The Strikers’ attack certainly has their work cut out against these brutal hitters. Stoinis isn’t really bowling at the moment and has transformed from a good limited-overs all-rounder to a great T20I opening batsman.
Adelaide Strikers vs Melbourne Stars – Betting Tips
The Strikers and Stars are in third and first position, respectively, in the BBL log. This is pretty much a top-of-the-table clash, then, which promises plenty of really good bets.
Siddle on song for Strikers
This format is often dominated by the batsmen, so it’s really nice when a bowler of Siddle’s experience, age and pedigree comes along and sticks it to the big-hitters. His death bowling has been wonderful, with yorkers wide of the right-handers and really good lines to the left-handers impressive throughout the BBL so far. He’s retired from international cricket, but still has so much to give at domestic level. He mixes good economy with genuine strike bowling, and is a solid choice at 4.00 with Bet365 to be the Strikers’ top bowler against the Stars.
Cartwright to get it right again
Hilton Cartwright has had to compete with Stoinis and Maxwell, who are much bigger names in T20 cricket. But he’s fashioned a really good role for himself at the top of the order. He is calculated and able to time an innings well. This will count for plenty against a challenging Strikers bowling attack. Cartwright to squeeze the Man of the Match award at 13.00 with Bet365 is a good tip.
Adelaide Strikers vs Melbourne Stars – Prediction
It’ll be really good for the Strikers to win this one, to keep things interesting at the top of the table, instead of stretching the Stars’ lead even further.
Best Bet: Marcus Stoinis to be Player to Score Most Sixes at 6.00 with Bet365