BBL06 Adelaide Strikers vs. Brisbane Heat free betting tips

WEDNESDAY night’s T20 Big Bash League clash at Adelaide Oval features two teams that have added plenty of firepower for 2016-17.

Adelaide Strikers have brought in the big hitting of Ben Dunk, who won the BBL 2013-14 Player of the Tournament gong with 395 runs at 43.88.

This is a guy who holds the Australian record for the highest score in domestic one-day cricket – a blistering 229 not out in the 2014 Matador Cup.

The last couple of seasons haven’t been quite as fruitful for Dunk, but one of his new comrades in the Strikers batting order believes the former Australia T20 player is a red hot chance to top the pops in BBL06.

“Ben Dunk could do it again,” Travis Head told cricket.com.au this week.

“Coming over here, a new franchise, I think Adelaide (Oval) will suit him well. The wicket is unbelievable and the boundaries will suit him.

“And he’s done it before.”

Strikers had to send Hamish Kingston to Hobart Hurricanes in order to land Dunk, but Head said the new recruit’s experience was worth the sacrifice.

“He’s a fantastic pick up,” the 22-year-old ODI star continued.

“(It’s) unfortunate to lose Hamish, he was great last year as an all-round cricketer. But to get someone like Dunky with his experience and also he’s been the best in the comp before.

“If he can give us one or two of those games, he’s definitely a match-winner and that’s what we want in this side.”

The Strikers have also added the all-round abilities of Chris Jordan to fill the void left by star leggy Adil Rashid, who is away on tour with the England Test team.

But it’s the visitors who will hold the biggest drawcard this Wednesday.

Having withdrawn from Big Bash 2015-16 due to international commitments, Brendon McCullum will add some much-needed quality to a Brisbane Heat side that hasn’t played finals since winning the title in 2013.

Coach Daniel Vettori told reporters this week that his former New Zealand colleague would make a huge difference both on and off the park.

“The guys are pretty excited to have him around,” Vettori said.

“He’s one of the premier cricketers around the world, not only with his batting but his leadership.

“We were hoping to have him last year, but now we’ve got him, guys are excited to experience what he’s about and I think they’ve got a taste of it so far.”

The prospect of McCullum batting in tandem with slogger extraordinaire Chris Lynn is one that will delight not only Heat fans, but every Australian cricket viewer.

Neither have had much preparation to speak of, as the Kiwi is returning from back surgery and Lynn hasn’t played any domestic cricket since dislocating his shoulder in September.

But Vettori said: “I think they know what to do to get themselves up to speed pretty quickly.”

2016-17 Big Bash League squads

Adelaide Strikers: Brad Hodge (captain), Wes Agar, Alex Carey, Jono Dean, Ben Dunk, Travis Head, Jon Holland, Chris Jordan, Ben Laughlin, Jake Lehmann, Tim Ludeman, Michael Neser, Kieron Pollard, Kane Richardson, Craig Simmons, Kelvin Smith, Billy Stanlake, Jake Weatherald.

Brisbane Heat: Brendon McCullum (captain), Samuel Badree, Joe Burns, Ben Cutting, Alex Doolan, Andrew Fekete, Luke Feldman, Jason Floros, Sam Heazlett, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Lalor, Chris Lynn, Jimmy Peirson, Nathan Reardon, Alex Ross, Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson, Jack Wildermuth.

Strikers vs. Heat match tips

Twenty20 cricket at Adelaide Oval comes down to which side can best limit the other’s scoring opportunities on that glorious batting deck.

One team has a clear advantage in that department.

In the likes of Laughlin, Richardson and Pollard, the Strikers have one of the most experienced and canny medium-pace collectives in the competition.

Star spinner Rashid might be away, but ‘Dutchie’ Holland is enjoying a rich vein of form for Victoria and should be up to the task.

Brisbane’s Ben Cutting showed plenty in this year’s Indian Premier League and Sam Badree can do a job just about anywhere, but are the likes of Feldman, Fekete and Steketee good enough?

Combine that with Head’s excellent touch in ODI cricket and all signs point to an Adelaide win.

Team of top match batsman – Adelaide Strikers ($1.83 at Sportsbet)

Highest opening partnership – Adelaide Strikers ($2 at Bet365)

Adelaide most runs/wickets double – Dunk/Jordan ($19 at William Hill)

Travis Head betting specials

It’s hard to choose between Dunk and Head in Adelaide’s team betting markets.

We like the former for the bit of value he offers, but the latter’s form is impossible to ignore.

Head was excellent in Australia’s 3-0 series win over New Zealand, racking up important 50s in the first two games and contributing a handy 2/37 with his spinners in the third.

That all-round ability makes him a top choice in the man of the match betting and a sneaky outsider for most wickets.

Man of the match – $8 at Sportsbet

Top match batsman – $6.50 at Sportsbet

Top Strikers batsman – $4 at William Hill

Top Strikers bowler – $11 at Bet365

To score 50 – $3.75 at CrownBet

To score 100 – $12 at William Hill

Most player sixes – $5 at Bet365