Brisbane Heat vs Melbourne Renegades – Big Bash League Betting Tips, Latest Odds, Team News and Predictions – 19/1/2020
The Brisbane Heat have won as many matches as they have lost this Big Bash League season. The Melbourne Renegades, who won the tournament last season, have won just one game this time and are very much out of the running for a second title. The Renegades upset the Sydney Thunder in a rain-affected fixture a few days ago, while the Heat want to bounce back from a heavy 10-wicket defeat to the Adelaide Strikers recently.
Brisbane Heat vs Melbourne Renegades – Match Preview
Where: Brisbane Cricket Ground, Woolloongabba, Brisbane
When: Sunday, 19 January 2020
Start Time: 13:40 (IST), 8:10 (GMT)
Brisbane Heat vs Melbourne Renegades – Latest Odds
Betway have the Renegades priced at 2.30 for another upset win in this fixture, while the Heat are offered at 1.53. You can also back each team to hit the same amount of fours (9.50) and sixes (7.00).
Brisbane Heat vs Melbourne Renegades – Team News
The big news for the Heat is the return of Sam Heazlet. He is back in the squad after being sidelined by illness. They might be tempted to get him straight back into the XI to boost the batting. Not that a batting order powered by Chris Lynn and AB de Villiers needs that much more boosting.
The spin duo of Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mitchell Swepson could come into play quite nicely if Brisbane’s seamers are not getting things quite right. That said, it’s hard to see Ben Laughlin and company not doing well in these circumstances and conditions.
Andrew Fekete and Mohammad Nabi will probably be retained for the Renegades. They were standouts in the win over the Thunder. Melbourne will be without Aaron Finch again. He’s still captaining Australia in the ongoing ODI series against India. Finch’s absence leaves pressure on the captaincy of Dan Christian. Shaun Marsh continues to be an absolute gem at the top of the order.
Christian is so experienced in T20 cricket around the world. At the ripe old age of 36, he is still churning out clever seam bowling in the BBL. He isn’t among the frontline bowlers, but he’s a good pick to be among the top wicket-takers against the Heat. His three sticks were so important in the win over the Thunder.
Brisbane Heat vs Melbourne Renegades – Betting Tips
There are some delightful match-ups on the cards. The Heat have a point to prove with some excellent batsmen. The Renegades bowlers, especially, need to be on point.
AB de Villiers to be Brisbane’s top batsman at 2.50
De Villiers will soon be joined by another South African in the BBL, after the Perth Scorchers revealed the recruitment of Morne Morkel. For now, though, the spotlight remains on the former Proteas captain. He was excellent on debut for the Heat and is increasingly likely to come out of retirement for South Africa’s T20 World Cup campaign in Australia later this year. He plays all around the wicket, which makes him so three-dimensional and destructive. He could have a field day against a Renegades bowling attack that has struggled throughout the tournament.
Now here is a real bargain. Christian, as captain, must realise he holds the key with the ball. He is an awkward mix for the opposition batsmen. He doesn’t bang it in quickly and he obviously isn’t a spinner, but he is really good at taking the pace off the ball with off-cutters and other variations. He will again look to make the batsmen force the pace, possibly to their detriment. He did it against the Thunder and is tipped to succeed against the Heat again.
Even if they can’t win the tournament overall and defend their title from last season, the Renegades can again spoil the party for another team. They did it against the Thunder and might do so again versus the Heat. It’s going to take a hang of an effort, with Christian and Marsh unable to do it alone.
Best Bet: Dan Christian to be top bowler for Renegades at 6.00 with Betway.
January 19, 2020 
08:10 
