In this article, we preview Melbourne Renegades vs Perth Scorchers, the Big Bash League Season 10 match in Hobart on 12 December. Both sides will be looking to give a better account of themselves compared to what they did last season. While MR finished at the bottom of the table, PS were not much better, just two rungs above them, placed 6th.
Renegades won the BBL eight and were considered favourites to defend their title in season nine. However, Renegades suffered consecutive losses in their first eight games, on the watch of Michael Klinger appointed head coach in season 9. Needing to win their remaining six games to stay in contention for the playoffs, they won only three.
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Match Preview: What to Expect
Regardless of their poor showing in season nine, Renegades will continue with Klinger at the helm of their coaching staff. The team have signed Noor Ahmad, making the teenaged spinner the second Afghan in the team alongside Mohd Nabi. The bowling attack has been bolstered with the addition of James Pattinson and Imran Tahir.
Nabi, Ahmad Absent for Renegades
However, with overseas players having to satisfy quarantine requirements at the start of the season, Renegades will be without Ahmad and Nabi. Tahir is due to join only in January. In the absence of Nabi, there will be a greater batting burden on Finch who was Renegades’ most accomplished batsman last season with 363 runs in 9 innings at an average of 45.38 and a strike rate of 139.08. Nabi himself scored 160 runs in 6 innings at an average of 53.33 and a strike rate of 160. In the absence of their overseas bowlers, all eyes will be on Cameron Boyce who took 14 wickets in 14 games in season nine at an economy rate of 7.45 and Will Sutherland who took 4 wickets in 7 innings at an economy rate of 8.26.
Scorchers Will Miss Roy, Livingstone
Perth Scorchers will also not have the services of English players Jason Roy and Liam Livingstone until after Christmas. PS have signed Colin Munro to bolster the batting which includes the likes of Josh Inglis, Cameron Bancroft and Mitchell Marsh. Incidentally, Livingstone was one of the successful batsmen of season nine, with 425 runs in 14 innings at an average of 30.36 and a strike rate of 142.62. In his absence, the team will rely on Josh Inglis to repeat his form of last season when he scored 405 runs in 14 innings at an average of 28.93 and a strike rate of 153.99. Fawad Ahmad was Scorchers’ best bowler last season, grabbing 15 wickets in 14 innings with an economy rate of 6.91. Another bowler who impressed the audience was Mathew Kelly who took 8 wickets in 9 innings while maintaining an economy rate of 9.39.
Summary
Unlike Renegades, Scorchers had a good start to their season nine campaign. However, with a poor showing in the second half of their campaign, they failed to qualify for the playoffs. They were let down by their batting as they ended up losing four of their last five games. Nevertheless, with three titles won in their last seven campaigns, Scorchers have a wealth of experience to fall back on. Scorchers will clearly be the stronger team on Saturday.