BBL 14: Big Bash Cricket Betting Tips & Betting Offers
Brisbane Heat aim to go back-to-back in the Big Bash League
Will Jackson
There is plenty of English involvement in the Big Bash this winter, and Graham Hardcastle has had a look at some cricket betting tips ahead of the tournament.
Brisbane Heat will be looking to go back-to-back in the T20 competition, which begins on December 15 and runs for around six weeks. Follow our latest cricket betting tips plus the top cricket betting offers from the best betting sites.
- KFC Big Bash League 14
- Sunday December 15, 2024 - Monday January 27, 2025
- Australia (11 venues)
Big Bash Cricket Betting Tips
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First of all, let’s have a look at the English players involved. Across the eight teams, there are 15 signed up to play. Not all will be available for the duration of the tournament because of international commitments, but there is at least one Englishman signed up in every team.
Then you include coaches. Peter Moores, for example, returns for a second season as head coach of the Melbourne Stars.
Anyway, those players are as follows…..
Tom Alsop (Brisbane Heat), Jacob Bethell (Melbourne Renegades), Sam Billings (Sydney Thunder), Jafer Chohan (Sydney Sixers), Joe Clarke, Tom Curran, Ben Duckett (all Melbourne Stars), Laurie Evans (Melbourne Renegades), Matty Hurst, Keaton Jennings (both Perth), Chris Jordan (Hobart Hurricanes), Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope (both Adelaide Strikers), James Vince (Sydney Sixers) and Paul Walter (Brisbane).
Back in January, Brisbane Heat beat Sydney Sixers by 54 runs in a one-sided final. But they aren’t the favourites this time around, that tag going to Perth Scorchers at 4/1.
Having looked down the squads and considered things such as international availability, I do think the Scorchers will be in the mix. They have recruited Lancashire pair Matty Hurst and Keaton Jennings as two of their overseas players, who will be available for the entire tournament. New Zealand opener Fin Allen joins them.
The Scorchers, the most successful BBL franchise, are chasing their sixth title.
But I really like the look of the Melbourne Renegades squad, which seems to have great balance. Jacob Bethell, Jake Fraser-McGurk and Adam Zampa stand out in their squad.
Betfred have them at 10/1 to win the tournament, something they did in 2018/2019. And they would be my title pick this time around. Of course, if they do lift the crown, they will replicate the success of their women’s side, who triumphed earlier this month.
Renegade(s) Master
It may sound boring, but Sydney Sixers should be there and thereabouts again. They look strong, with the likes of Sean Abbott, Daniel Hughes and James Vince at their disposal. As aforementioned, Perth too.
However, the Renegades look the real deal. Will Sutherland is emerging as a key performer, fellow seam bowling all-rounder Fraser O’Neill as well. Leg-spinner Zampa is a gun and should excel on the slow and low surface at their Marvel Stadium (Docklands) home.
I will continue this cricket betting tips preview with a 7/5 shot with Unibet on the Renegades to secure a place in the top four knockout qualifying positions.
One thing which always makes me nervous about betting in such competitions is that there are always comings, goings and competition clashes.
The SAT20, the ILT20, England’s white-ball tour of India and Australia’s Test commitments against India and Sri Lanka loom large on the calendar in December and January.
Matt Short-priced but difficult to see a rival
Let’s continue with some team top performer bets.
I will start with opener Matt Short at 1/1 with bet365 to be Adelaide Strikers’ top batter in the tournament.
Australia international Short was the leading run-scorer in the tournament last year with 541 from 11 matches and second the year before with 458 from 14.
Chris Lynn is an obvious rival, but I’d be wary of his consistency as he gets older. He could well miss a few games through injury. He has a long-standing shoulder issue.
Leg-spinner Adam Zampa is my pick to be the Melbourne Renegades top tournament wicket-taker, at 17/10 with betfair. He needs little explanation. He should be available all tournament and stands on 343 T20 career wickets.
Beau Webster is having a decent Aussie summer, both with bat and ball. The tall Melbourne Stars’ batting all-rounder has, for example, hit 303 runs in four Sheffield Shield four-day matches for Tasmania and is the second leading wicket-taker with 11 in their One-Day Cup.
He is likely to bat in the top three for the Stars and is available at 13/5 with betfair to be their top tournament run-scorer.
New signing Wes Agar is an enticing 9/2 shot with bet365 to be Sydney Thunder’s top tournament wicket-taker, something he was for the Adelaide Strikers in 2022/23 with 18. He was disrupted by injury last term but is fit again now.
A long shot to finish for this section. How about Josh Brown of the Melbourne Renegades to be the top tournament batter, available at 18/1 with betway?
The strapping opener has moved from champions Brisbane Heat and is an excellent signing having been last year’s second leading run-scorer in the competition with 366 runs from nine matches, including a huge 140. Incidentally, if you fancy him to lead the way for the Renegades alone, he is 21/10 with betfair.
Heat power to the fore but Adelaide to struggle
I’m no fan of the Adelaide Strikers’ squad, I’m afraid. No Rashid Khan, no Wes Agar, they won’t have the likes of Alex Carey and Travis Head for long.
I can see them finishing bottom of the table, which is available at 7/2 with William Hill.
While I haven’t tipped Brisbane Heat to go back-to-back in terms of the title, there’s no denying they have plenty of power with the bat in their ranks in the form of Colin Munro, Max Bryant and even down to all-rounders Paul Walter and Michael Neser.
Their Gabba home is a fast-scoring venue, and last summer they hit the two highest totals of the tournament, 214-3 and 214-7. They are 4/1 to hit the highest total of the tournament this time around, a price I would be siding with.
Finally, Paddy Power are offering 20/1 on Melbourne Renegades’ spinner Adam Zampa to be named the player of the tournament. I think that has every chance of coming in amidst a title-winning campaign.
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