Adelaide Strikers vs Melbourne Stars – 22/1/2020

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