Sixers need Starc reminder
Mitchell Starc celebrates taking a wicket at the Sydney Cricket Ground on January 18, 2012.
Cricket is perhaps the ultimate numbers game but there’s something beyond the reach of statisticians worth considering before putting your hard-earned on this Saturday’s Big Bash League final. And that’s just who will turn out for the Sixers. If left-arm quick Mitchell Starc is named 12th man for the Test team and is allowed to head to Perth for the final against the Scorchers the home side is suddenly not as warm a favourite.
While it was effectively a dead rubber for the Scorchers, Starc was superb in capturing 3/28 against the West Australians in their one-run win last week. Then, if Australian all-rounder Shane Watson unexpectedly declares his availability after a long stretch out with injury this one could be too close to call.
I’m tipping the home side regardless and here’s why: 40-year-old Brad Hogg has been simply outstanding in this tournament with 12 wickets at an average of 13.5 – however it’s his economy rate of 5.4 that shines brightest. That figure is the lowest of any bowler with more than three wickets in the competition and another tidy spell will go a long way to garnering the inaugural title for the Scorchers.
The other piece of the pie as far as the home side is concerned is Herschelle Gibbs. The South African veteran is enjoying an Indian summer in Australia and when he succeeds the Scorchers win. An injured Gibbs was rested against the Sixers and failed against Hobart in regular season games (the Scorchers’ two losses) but still averages 50.33 at a strike rate 152.52 for this tournament.
Maligned as having the worst attack in the competition and $8.50 outsiders to win the tournament before it began, the Perth side has three of the seven top wicket takers in the competition with Ben Edmondson and Nathan Coulter-Nile backing up Hogg beautifully. With a rejuvenated Marcus North pulling his weight and stylish Mitchell Marsh on song with the bat, the Scorchers are hard to go past.
The Sixers are more of a team package that statistically don’t add up to the sum of their parts. Starc is the only bowler with more than six wickets while Nic Maddinson is the only batsman with more than 200 runs.
Who do you think will win the BBL final and why?
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