BBL 7, Match 10, Preview: Renegades and Scorchers go head-to-head in top of the table clash

It will be a top of the table clash in the Big Bash League (BBL) tomorrow as the Melbourne Renegades take on the Perth Scorchers at the Docklands Stadium Melbourne. Both the teams won their opening two games and will look to continue the winning streak. It will be a tussle between the Renegades’ batting and the Scorchers’ bowling more than anything else.

The Renegades boast of a powerful batting line-up which is composed of quite a few Australia internationals and also the overseas signings that they have are very, very good with the bat. The captain Aaron Finch himself at the top of the order is a real force in T20 cricket as he is capable of taking the game away from the opposition. He hits the ball long and clean and can do so against both fast as well as spin bowling.

Cameron White at 3 brings a bit of stability and experience. He likes to bat through the innings and doesn’t quite go bang bag like Finch, but he is capable of bringing that big shot out at any stage he wants. He plays the role of an anchor in the Renegades’ innings, while the likes of Brad Hodge, Dwayne Bravo and Mohammad Nabi have the responsibility of finishing the innings with some power hitting at the death.

However, despite how much quality this batting line-up possesses, it will have its work cut out against the Scorchers bowling which is led by Mitchell Johnson. The veteran southpaw despite having retired from international cricket is still cranking up some good speeds and in Andrew Tye who is probably one of the best bowlers going around in T20 cricket at the moment, he has got an ideal foil for himself.

While Johnson poses a challenge with the new ball, negotiating Tye in the middle overs is an equally difficult task for the batsmen. Also, the left-arm swing bowling of David Willey and the crafty left-arm spin of Ashton Agar are there to make it a well-balanced attack.

Batting wise, however, the Scorchers look a bit light. While Michael Klinger has returned to give them a much-needed boost, they still lack that power in the middle order. Adam Voges looks a pale shadow of what he was in the past and Hilton Cartwright doesn’t seem to be suited for T20s. While he played well in the last game and scored a half century, his strike rate kept hovering around 110-115 which is simply not good enough for this format.

The Scorchers can use somebody like David Willey or Ashton Agar in a pinch-hitting role up the order to give the innings an impetus in the middle period. Willey opens in white-ball cricket back home in England, while Agar has also batted in top 6 at times in T20 cricket.

As far as Renegades are concerned, while batting is clearly their stronger facet, they have got some smart bowling resources as well in the form of Bravo who like Tye is known for his variations and can bowl at any stage of the innings and also Nabi who is a fast off break bowler ideal for T20s. Not to forget the wily, old fox Brad Hogg as well who even at the age of 46 is a tough nut to crack for any batsman.

All in all, it will be a highly intriguing battle and the winner will go 4 points clear at the top of the table.

Predicted XI (Melbourne Renegades): Aaron Finch (C), Marcus Harris, Cameron White, Tom Cooper, Brad Hodge, Dwayne Bravo, Mohammad Nabi, Tim Ludeman, Kane Richardson, Brad Hogg, Jack Wildermuth

Predicted XI (Perth Scorchers): William Bosisto, Micheal Klinger, Hilton Cartwright, Ashton Turner, Adam Voges (C), Ashton Agar, David Willey, Josh Inglis(wk), Jhye Richardson, Andrew Tye, Mitchell Johnson

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