The Big Bash kicks off with last year's winners the Adelaide Strikers taking on the Brisbane Heat at the Gabba on Wednesday and Richard Mann has a few bets picked out for the early matches.
Brisbane Heat v Adelaide Strikers
The Big Bash is finally here and we're treated to a mouthwatering opening clash on Wednesday between Brisbane Heat's powerhouse batting line-up and Adelaide Strikers' brilliant bowling attack.
The Heat can boast an impressive record at the Gabba with Chris Lynn and Brendon McCullum making full use of the true surface on offer in the powerplay overs, while the excellent Joe Burns can usually be relied upon to provide the glue at the other end.
However, they come up against a strong Adelaide Strikers outfit who house a number of top-class operators with the ball and, in Rashid Khan, can call upon the best T20 bowler on the planet.
The Afghanistan leg-spinner holds the key to this clash as, for all Lynn and McCullum are formidable foes, both are more comfortable against pace than spin and Khan might just have too many tricks up his sleeve for the Heat.
The Strikers were deserving winners of this competition last season, proving a fiercely well-drilled unit with very few weaknesses and although they are even more deadly in home conditions, quotes of evens for Wednesday's clash look far too big.
It's been said before but Bowlers win matches and I'm happy to bank on the Strikers' stronger attack getting off to a winning start.
Melbourne Renegades v Perth Scorchers
Three-times Big Bash winners Perth Scorchers begin the latest campaign by taking on Melbourne Renegades on Thursday and look a good bet to make a winning start.
Perth are comfortably the most successful side in the history of the competition and enjoyed another good year last time, topping the group stages before losing in the semi-finals.
Given the amount of injuries the Scorchers suffered in that season, particularly to key fast bowlers, that run represented another fine effort and it is testament to their squad depth and strong team spirit that they were able to perform so well despite so many setbacks.
This time around the Scorchers look in much better shape with the likes of Nathan Coulter-Nile, Jason Behrendorff, Jhye Richardson, Andrew Tye and Joel Paris forming a battery of pace bowlers to compliment high-class finger spinner Ashton Agar.
With the batting boasting experienced heads Michael Klinger, Mitchell Marsh and Ashton Turner, they look to have few weaknesses and as well as looking a strong bet for outright glory, the 10/11 for them to beat the Renegades is well worth taking.
The Renegades are short of quality ahead of this season following the departure of Dwayne Bravo to neighbours Melbourne Stars and, with skipper Aaron Finch currently on international duty with Australia, they have plenty of holes to plug.
Veteran batsman Cameron White will no doubt do his best but his side are up against a very sound Scorchers outfit here and look set for a tough day.
Posted at 1615 GMT on 18/12/18
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