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BBL06 Heat vs. Scorchers free tips, top odds & team news

  • MATCH UP STATS

    BBL06 - Match 23

    • 2016-17 Big Bash form

      Brisbane Heat: W W W L W
      Perth Scorchers: W L W W L
    • Top runscorer tips

      Brisbane Heat: Brendon McCullum - $3.25 at William Hill
      Perth Scorchers: Ian Bell - $4.50 at CrownBet
    • Top wicket-taker picks

      Brisbane Heat: Mitchell Swepson - $4.50 at Sportsbet
      Perth Scorchers: Mitchell Johnson - $4 at CrownBet

6:40pm local time – Wednesday, January 11, 2017 – The Gabba, Brisbane.
BRISBANE Heat’s fast start has surprised a few.

Five games in, they are top of the 2016-17 Big Bash League table with four wins and the best net run rate in the competition.

But this is that time of the season when star players leave for international duty and things start to level out.

The question is: can Brisbane cope without Chris Lynn?

The 26-year-old Queenslander’s stunning displays in BBL06 have earned him a deserved call-up to Australia’s ODI squad for the five-match series against Pakistan.

That means he is unlikely to feature for the Heat again this term unless they reach the final.

According to Brisbane coach Daniel Vettori, it is all up to Lynn’s clubmates to prove they can win without his signature hitting.

Sportsbet.com.au

“Any time we can get him back we’ll do everything to make that happen, so the onus is on us now to try to win some games,” the former New Zealand captain said on Monday.

“It just means that other guys are going to have to do the job.

“It’s always difficult to cover for what Chris does, but I think we’re reasonably comfortable with the batting depth that we’ve got.

“We’ve got a number of batters in the squad we can select from.”

One of Alex Doolan, Sam Heazlett, Marnus Labuschagne and Nathan Reardon will have the unenviable task of trying to fill Lynn’s sizeable shoes when Perth Scorchers visit the Gabba on Wednesday.

“Chris does it in a more belligerent manner than most guys can but the other guys can do it in their own different ways given the opportunity, so that’s the challenge we have for us coming up,” Vettori added.

The Scorchers have also been affected by international call-ups.

Star English seamer David Willey left for India last week and now Mitchell Marsh – the club’s top runscorer in BBL06 – will join up with the Aussie squad.

But Perth’s roster is as deep as they come in the T20 Big Bash, which is why they remain a genuine title threat despite losing star quicks Joel Paris and Jason Behrendorff to injury in preseason.

That roster goes deeper still with the return of recent Test debutant Hilton Cartwright, who should be available for the trip to Brisbane after missing out on Australia’s one-day squad.

Whomever makes the matchday XI will be charged with reversing the events that unfolded at the WACA last Thursday, when a blistering 98 not out from Lynn led the Heat to a nine-wicket victory inside 15 overs.

Shaun Marsh top batsman odds

The laws of probability dictate that a chance event or outcome is never overdue, no matter how long since its last occurrence.

In the case of Shaun Marsh, however, a big score has to be right around the corner.

Normally such an asset in Twenty20 cricket, the West Australian lefty has delivered nothing like his best in BBL06 so far.

Three consecutive single-figure scores preceded his run-a-ball 32 against the Heat last week – hardly a triumphant return to form, but an improvement nonetheless.

Even though that effort was wholly outshone by his little brother’s 70 off 41 balls, time at the crease will have done Marsh the elder a world good.

If he wants to work his way back into contention for national selection, the son of ‘Swampy’ must step up for the Scorchers and prove his worth in the business end of the campaign.

Man of the match – $8.50 at Sportsbet

Top match batsman – $6.50 at Sportsbet

Top Scorchers runscorer – $4 at William Hill

To score 50 – $3.75 at Sportsbet

Most runs vs. McCullum and Peirson – $2.50 at CrownBet

BBL06 Heat vs. Scorchers match betting tips

Lynn’s absence opens this game right up.

You can see that in the online bookmaker odds, which are as tight as any BBL06 match betting market to date.

One cannot help but think Brisbane will really struggle if neither Brendon McCullum nor Jimmy Peirson can conjure a big score at the top.

But let’s not forget that the Scorchers are also missing their main man.

2016-17 Big Bash bonus at Bet365.com.au

Mitch Marsh has responded to his axing from Australia’s Test team with some of his very best hitting.

He has also snared a handful of key wickets, although Perth are well covered for pace options with Mitchell Johnson, Jhye Richardson and Andrew Tye.

It’s almost impossible to call with any confidence, but depth of experience probably makes the visitors an ever-so-slightly safer bet.

Match result – Perth Scorchers ($1.91 at William Hill)

Highest opening partnership – Perth Scorchers ($1.93 at Sportsbet)

Century to be score in the match? – Yes ($7.75 at Sportsbet)

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