Richard Mann previews the upcoming matches in the Big Bash and thinks he has unearthed some value on Friday.
Sydney Thunder v Melbourne Stars
All eyes will be on Jos Buttler and Joe Root as they begin their Big Bash season for Sydney Thunder against Melbourne Stars on Friday morning.
The Thunder won the competition three years ago and with the likes of Shane Watson and Callum Ferguson sitting alongside Buttler and Root in a stellar batting line-up, they have every right to be confident of a big run this year.
Their bowling attack looks less intimidating but they might still have too much firepower for a Melbourne Stars outfit that have the look of a team in transition this year.
Still, the visitors house the likes of Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis in their ranks while the signing of Dwayne Bravo is a shrewd addition.
Bravo is one of the finest T20 all-round performers on the planet, a flamboyant and aggressive batsman whose clever variations with the ball have made him one of the best death bowlers going.
The bookmakers slightly favour the Thunder at 4/5 while the Stars can be backed at evens but making much more appeal for a bet is Callum Ferguson in the top batsman market for Sydney.
Ferguson is a class act with a fine all-round game who really should have represented Australia more than he has to date. Indeed, Ferguson averages 41.43 in ODIs for Australia while he has really cracked T20 cricket in the last year or so.
The South Australian made 390 runs at an average of 48.75 for Worcestershire in the Vitality T20 Blast last summer and so impressive were his performances in all forms of the game, he has been snapped up to return to New Road next season.
The Thunder have also made note of his improved T20 form - to sit alongside his impressive first-class record - and he stroked an unbeaten half-century when batting at number three in their latest warm-up match.
The presence of Buttler, Root and Watson and in the same team certainly makes for a competitive top batsman market but assuming Ferguson bats at first drop for the Thunder in Friday's Big Bash opener, quotes of 13/2 about him look plain wrong.
He is pencilled to come in before Root yet the England man is half the price at 7/2 while aggressive openers Buttler and Watson are priced up 5/2 and 3/1 respectively.
Take the value about Ferguson while it lasts.
Sydney Sixers v Perth Scorchers
Perth Scorchers suffered a shock defeat to Melbourne Stars on Thursday and bid to get their campaign back on track when taking on Sydney Sixers on Saturday morning.
The Scorchers never got going with the ball when stumbling to 103 all out but displayed their potency with the ball when reducing to the Renegades to 17-4 in reply.
An eventual four-wicket defeat was a disappointing start but they know what is required in this competition and won't be panicking for all they will want their top-order to find some form quickly.
More concerning will have abject displays from David Willey and Usman Qadir and don't be surprised if one, or both, make way for any one of the number of the talented home-grown performers they have waiting in the wings.
The Scorchers are 10/11 to bounce back with a win but I'd be inclined to sit this one out unless the men in Orange bat first and post another under-par score.
Were that to be the case, I'd be happy to take a chance on Perth's excellent bowling attack in-running to pull off the sort of rescue act they came close to achieving on Wednesday.
Posted at 1240 GMT on 20/12/18
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