Free Big Bash cricket betting preview and tips for Boxing Day

Cricket betting tips: Big Bash League

2pts Daniel Sams top Sydney Thunder bowler at 5/2

2pts Sydney Thunder to beat Melbourne Renegades at 21/20

2pts Sydney Sixers to beat Melbourne Stars at 6/5

1pt double Sydney Thunder and Sydney Sixers at 3.51/1

• Big Bash: Sydney Thunder v Melbourne Renegades
• When: Dec 26 0710 GMT
• Where: Canberra
• TV: BT Sport

The Big Bash League is warming up nicely and a Boxing Day double-header begins when SYDNEY THUNDER look to continue their excellent start to the competition when taking on Melbourne Renegades in Canberra.

Following a rusty performance against Melbourne Stars in their opening match, the Thunder produced a brutal run chase to down Brisbane Heat before a more calculated one saw Callum Ferguson's side cruise to victory over Perth Scorchers on Tuesday.

Despite neither Alex Hales or Usman Khawaja firing yet, the Thunder's batting looks really strong with Ferguson leading the way and been ably backed up a by a brutal middle order that will be further bolstered by the impending arrival of Englishman Sam Billings.

The bowling has depth, quality and variety with Adam Milne's pace and spin duo Chris Green and Tanveer Sangha ably supporting the impressive DANIEL SAMS, who finished last season as the leading wicket-taker in the competition.

Sams has started this season in much the same vain and with Ferguson entrusting him to bowl the bulk of his overs at the end of the opposition innings, this highly-skilled left arm paceman should continue to pick up plenty of wickets.

Sams is 5/2 to be Thunder's top bowler on Boxing Day, and having had to settle for a tie in each of the last two matches - a horrific dropped catch from Ferguson catch costing him dearly on Tuesday - it shouldn't be long before he picks up a big haul.

A two-way tie would ensure a tidy profit, while a three-way tie will get you your stake back, but I'm expecting Sams to put a couple of luckless performances behind him here and pay an outright winner.

Even with the Renegades expected to welcome back captain Aaron Finch for this clash having missed the recent defeat to Hobart Hurricanes, their stuttering start to the new campaign doesn't inspire a great deal of confidence in them.

Finch and Shaun Marsh form a potent and experienced opening partnership but they will face a quality Thunder bowling attack here, one that promises to outgun their own.

As such, I'm surprised to see the Renegades priced up as favourites and I'm happy to take the 21/20 on offer for the Thunder to claim their third win on the bounce.

• Big Bash: Sydney Sixers v Melbourne Stars
• When: Dec 26 1020 GMT
• Where: Cararra
• TV: BT Sport

The second instalment from the Big Bash on Boxing Day sees high flyers SYDNEY SIXERS take on Melbourne Stars.

There is certainly history between those two teams after the Sixers defeated the Stars in last year's final, but both remain very strong outfits, as demonstrated by their fast starts this time around.

The Sixers continue to defy the doubters by prevailing against the odds and Dan Christian proved what a fine signing he is for this season when powering a 16-ball half-century against Adelaide Strikers on Sunday, turning the match in its head in a matter of overs.

That's what the Sixers can do; they have unsung heroes who take it in turns to be matchwinners with the bat and in Steve O'Keefe, they can call upon an experienced spinner to control the opposition innings in those crucial middle overs.

If any side is capable of halting the Sixers' momentum, it is the Stars who are the only unbeaten side in the competition so far and whose own bowling attack continues to prove more serviceable than it promises on paper.

Marcus Stoinis' presence at the top of the order should ensure the Stars get more good starts than bad and it is worth remembering that he plundered an unbeaten 147 against the Sixers last season in one of the greatest Big Bash innings of all time.

With Glenn Maxwell leading a formidable middle order, the Stars are going to enjoy plenty of success again, though the 6/5 about the Sixers is probably too big in a match that ought to be closely contested.

I'm happy to play the prices and go with the Sixers, especially while the suspicion remains that the Stars own bowling attack could be more vulnerable than we have seen so far this year.

Posted at 1000 GMT on 23/12/20

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