PERTH SCORCHERS v SYDNEY THUNDER: Our cricket tipster The Edge previews the Big Bash clash on Thursday with a recommended BETDAQ bet.

MATCH OVERVIEW:

The Big Bash returns to the Carrara Oval on Thursday morning as the league battles multiple issues this season. We have a big double header on BETDAQ Betting Exchange this morning, but I’m happy to focus on Perth Scorchers v Sydney Thunder as this looks a top quality affair. As is the case pretty much around the world at the moment, Omicron means there’s so much more Covid19 cases, and Cricket Australia is trying to deal with all the cases in multiple teams.

Perth Scorchers were involved in the postponed game against Melbourne Stars, but Cricket Australia have decided the show much go on given the situation is unlikely to get better. I have to say, and I know this is a lot easier said than done, but wouldn’t it be better to just move all the teams to a select few grounds and stop travelling around the country? These aren’t IPL teams on private planes, they are mixing with regular people on planes. This is another “home” Perth game that they can’t play at home because of Western Australia’s border controls and now they have lost Tymal Mills to England’s T20 squad. He took nine wickets in five games. They’ve also lost Mitchel Marsh to Australia.

Sydney Thunder have been massively affected by Covid19, and it was a surprise that their game against Adelaide Strikers went ahead on New Years Eve – they have recorded back-to-back wins against Adelaide however, with their batting really firing when batting first. The players they have brought in have done really well, but the likes of Alex Hales and Alex Ross tested positive for Covid19 and they have also lost Sam Billings. An interesting game ahead!

WEATHER AND PITCH WATCH:

This is the third game here. We had a game earlier in the season here between Melbourne Renegades and Brisbane Heat, with Melbourne Renegades only managing 140/6 batting first and the Heat chasing it down in 16.5 overs. I don’t think we learned anything from that game to be honest, especially with those two involved. We will learn more from the game on Tuesday morning between Brisbane Heat and Sydney Sixers, but I would definitely go into this game with an open mind on conditions and play it as you see it. Last season the average score batting first was 165 from the four completed games. It looked like chasing provided an edge.

RECOMMENDED BET:

Although the players that have come in for Sydney Thunder have done very well, there is a gulf in class here. The Perth Scorchers are one of the two best sides in the league. They sat on top after everyone had played eight games, but there wasn’t much between them and Sydney Sixers. The Thunder aren’t too far away in third, and they will be a force in the Playoffs when they get some of their star batsmen back. Hales is a big loss at the top of the order and this Perth Scorchers bowling should be able to deal with the Thunder batting. I know they batted well against Adelaide Strikers, but this is a big step up and this is where the replacements will come up short.

The Edge Says:
Two points win Perth Scorchers to beat Sydney Thunder at 1.74 with BETDAQ Exchange.

View the market here -> https://bit.ly/BDQPerSyd

IN-RUNNING STRATEGY:

I would be keen to support the Perth Scorchers bowling against the Sydney Thunder openers and middle order here. Adelaide Strikers were bottom of the table after everyone played eight games, and I know Thunder batted very well against them, but this is a different level. The Scorcher bowling is fantastic, and I’d be happy to support them. This definitely looks a high scoring venue based on last season though, so don’t be surprised to see reasonably high scores. Chasing provided a little edge last season, so I’d be keen to get on the chasing side here if the game looks pretty even. It would be ideal if Scorchers chased so I could support their bowling first up and then their batting later.