BBL06 Thunder vs. Heat betting news, match odds & free tips

Last year’s T20 Big Bash League champions have looked well off the pace in the early rounds of the 2016-17 season.

Two defeats from two games see them bottom of the table and in real danger of going from rags to riches and back to rags again.

That’s why they are so keen to get Shane Watson on the park.

The Thunder captain has missed the opening week of BBL06 with a calf injury, but he is pushing hard to make himself available for Brisbane Heat’s visit to Spotless.

“If everything continues to progress well with my running I’ll be back Wednesday,” Watson told News Corp media.

“The reason I’ve given myself an extra couple of days to get right is so when I do come back and play, I’m hopefully right to get through the rest of the tournament.

“I don’t want to risk doing it again (by returning early) and then being out the rest of the tournament.

“I had two weeks of no running when I first did it, then had about four or five running sessions.

“I ran between wickets yesterday, I’ll run again tomorrow, recovery Christmas Day, then run again Boxing Day.

“If it continues to improve the way it has, I’ll be right.”

Watson also voiced support for Andre Russell.

The West Indian allrounder’s efforts so far this season have drawn criticism from certain sections of the cricket media, but his skipper isn’t concerned.

“He’s executing with the ball, some days it will come off with the bat, other days it won’t, but Andre is a big-game player, so that doesn’t worry me,” Watson said.

Things are looking much rosier up in Brisbane.

The Heat kicked off their campaign in flamboyant fashion, defeating Adelaide Strikers away from home in a shootout for the ages.

The Queensland club’s oft-maligned bowling attack stood up in the late overs to peg back the Strikers from 0/133 and seal a 10-run win.

Both Brendon McCullum and Chris Lynn showed ominous form on return from injury, while young wicketkeeper Jimmy Peirson and new recruit Alex Ross also impressed.

Perhaps the clinching factor in that game was McCullum’s captaincy, which showed all the optimism and positivity we’ve come to expect from the former New Zealand skipper.

The Heat have lost Josh Lalor to a side strain, but that has made space for the long-awaited recall of Nick Buchanan.

The 25-year-old allrounder will be part of the 12-man matchday squad on Wednesday after missing four years of Big Bash cricket through injury and illness.

You wouldn’t know Buchanan had been that long out of the game if you saw him in the nets, according to Joe Burns.

“When he came down to training he started bowling rockets again,” the Heat and Australia batsman said.

“He is in a really good place mentally. Some time away from the game was what he needed.

“He is certainly 140km/h plus and he is a very tall lad who hits the bat hard.

“He has all the attributes you need as a bowler and the fact he can hit sixes as well makes him a very exciting player.”

Brendon McCullum top batsman odds

Who doesn’t like ‘Baz’ McCullum?

The Kiwi slogger showed at Adelaide Oval just why he was such a big loss for the Heat last term.

Besides his signature hitting at the top of the order – a lazy 42 from 21 balls – he also impressed with his on-field leadership and a willingness to back in his under-fire bowlers.

Peirson, Lynn and Ross were all excellent in Brisbane’s opening win, but McCullum is the star man in what could well emerge as the most dangerous batting roster in the Twenty20 Big Bash.

To score 100 – $13 at Bet365

Man of the match – $9 at Bet365

Top match batsman – $5.50 at Sportsbet

To hit most sixes – $5 at Bet365

To score 50 – $4 at Bet365

Top Heat batsman – $3.75 at Sportsbet

McCullum vs. Lynn and Gibson – $2.60 at William Hill

Over 22.5 runs – $1.85 at Sportsbet

Thunder vs. Heat match tips

The Thunder just aren’t quite there right now.

Michael Hussey and Jacques Kallis have retired, Usman Khawaja is busy on Test duty and the likes of Dre Russ and Pat Cummins haven’t been at their absolute best.

Watson is a big inclusion, but who knows what kind of touch he will be in after a few weeks on the treatment table?

The Heat were excellent against the Strikers and showed plenty of grit when the game looked to be getting away from them.

If they play anything like that up at Spotless, they should go two and zero.

Match result – Brisbane Heat to win ($1.68 at CrownBet)

Highest first six overs – Brisbane Heat ($1.80 at Bet365)

Fall of first wicket – Over 20.5 runs ($1.90 at Bet365)