Richard Mann takes a look at the forthcoming action in the Big Bash with old favourites the Hobart Hurricanes hard to oppose once more.
Adelaide Strikers v Sydney Sixers (Jan 6)
Last year's winners the Adelaide Strikers have really clicked into gear in recent weeks and are now up to second in the table following their recent dismantling of the Melbourne Renegades.
With the likes of Alex Carey, Colin Ingram and Jake Weatherald starting to fire with the bat, and their excellent bowling attack continuing to impress, they look rock solid at 4/6 to beat the Sydney Sixers on Sunday.
However, the Strikers might still be short of their brilliant best of last season and the Sixers remain a dangerous and dogged opponent.
Despite their own top order failing to get going so far this term, they have still managed to pick up three wins from six matches and went down fighting when losing in the last over to the unbeaten Hobart Hurricanes on Friday.
The Sixers continually punch above their weight and with overseas recruit Tom Curran in splendid form with both bat and ball, they could easily push the Strikers close if the likes of Joe Denly and Moises Henriques were to join the party.
A fascinating clash in prospect, but I can't find a bet for all home captain Ingram made some appeal for Man of the Match honours at 11/1.
Melbourne Renegades v Hobart Hurricanes (Jan 7)
Monday's Big Bash offering is much easier to unravel with the 5/6 on offer about the Hobart Hurricanes looking a gift from the punting gods.
Unbeaten in their opening five matches of this year's competition, the Hurricanes are currently sitting pretty at the top of the table and with their confidence buoyed having played some fabulous cricket so far.
D'Arcy Short and Matthew Wade are forming a destructive partnership at the top of the order and with new signings James Faulkner and Johan Botha beefing up a bowling attack that has often relied too heavily on Jofra Archer, it is hard to find fault with the boys in purple.
Botha's three wickets helped set up a narrow victory over the Sydney Sixers on Friday and for all that game went down to the wire, at no point did the Hurricanes look like letting the game slip from their grasp.
Runners-up last year, they are the real deal and will take some stopping going forward.
In contrast, the Renagades look a moderate side to my eye with stalwarts Cameron White and Tom Cooper both badly out of sorts and needing to find some form.
Following a bright start, the Renegades have lost their last three and in a form of the game where momentum is everything, they are in grave danger of falling apart.
T20 cricket certainly gives them the chance to bounce back - a stellar individual performance from a White or Dan Christian could easily see them to do that - but on what we have seen over the last couple of weeks, the Hurricanes should be much shorter than the 5/6 currently on offer.
Posted at 1645 GMT on 05/01/18
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