GMHBA Stadium hosts the next BBL09 fixture between the winless Melbourne Renegades (0-6) and the Perth Scorchers (2-4) for Game 26 of the Big Bash League. These two teams are currently occupying 7th and 8th on the ladder with their seasons looking ominous of no finals action.

First of all, along with our famous  FREE Cheat Sheets and Data Tools in our Data Tools section, new for the BBL09 season, Daily Fantasy Rankings presents the Draftstars Lineup Builder! Using our Data Tools and Projections you will be able to quickly build and import BBL teams into Draftstars by using the CSV upload. Access the Builder including tutorials on how the builder works by clicking the banner below.

 

 

Draftstars have posted a $20,000 contest for a $15 entry, as well as a $1,500 Mini and even a $200 Single Entry contest for a $10 buy-in. Moneyball are offering a $5,000 contest for a $15 entry as well as a $500 guarantee on their $2 contest.

 

These two teams played an interesting game over in Perth for Game 7 of the tournament with the Renegades failing to chase down the big target of 196 runs. Mitch Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Beau Webster and Cameron Bancroft all making 50+ runs in the match. Kane Richardson took 4-22 off his 4 overs in that game. These two teams square off at GMHBA which hosted Game 3, another loss to the Renegades where the Thunder chased down the Renegades total of 169 with 4 wickets in hand.

 

What I noticed from the relocation of the wicket in Geelong is that the boundaries are quite small on sides of the wicket which, Alex Hales and Usman Khawaja were able to exploit in their 99 run opening stand against the Renegades. Unless the weather plays another part (which is unlikely) then I am expecting a very large total from the opening team.

With the Renegades now winless from 6 matches the squad will take on a different look from their opening game. Mackenzie Harvey is now on the U/19 duties which means Andrew Fekete is his replacement. Fekete is a fast bowler that has been bounced around franchises and gets his chance if picked in the final 11. Samit Patel is the latest international signing for the Renegades as Harry Gurney’s hamstring injury will keep out for the foreseeable future. Patel has plenty of T20 experience around the England circuit and has represented his country at Test, One-Day and T20 level. A respectable left-arm orthodox bowler and middle-order batsman, Patel finds himself in a squad with endless all-rounders in Dan Christain, Beau Webster and Will Sutherland. I wouldn’t be racing to pick Patel first up but we should monitor is performance and position in the team.

 
 
For the Scorchers, the excuses are now starting to roll in after their 2-4 start. The travel between Perth and other venues, the “drain” on Western Australian talent from the Scorchers system, the injuries to key personnel. You can make a case for that but they must produce in tonight’s game if they are to remain in finals contention. Only Sam Whiteman comes into the squad for Nick Hobson, but Whiteman is unlikely to play. The Scorchers just gave up too many runs to the Hurricanes on Sunday night, which has become a pattern. The Scorchers have given up 170+ totals on 4 of their 6 games with the Sixers looking to go big as well when they only needed to chase 132 in Sydney (Got the runs with 5 overs spare). The key for the Scorchers tonight is to restrict the Renegades to a modest total but this may prove to be difficult on this small ground.
 

Access our FREE Data Tools for Tuesday's BBL Matchup here

Batsman

 

Love it - Liam Livingstone $17,200 Draftstars

If Livingstone cannot get stuck into this weak Bowling attack (outside of Kane Richardson) then it may be a long backend of the tournament for Livingstone. After fellow countryman Tom Banton put a marker down last night against the Thunder, Livingstone may want to prove he is at the same explosiveness of his fellow countryman. Very handy that he is now bowling spin by picking up a wicket in his last two games. If we can get past 10 balls then we are away!

 

Don’t Love It - Dan Christian ($16,300 Draftstars)

Like the majority of DFS players on Draftstars, Christian has become a very low owned play by putting in a pretty mediocre body of work this season. Not sure if there is a ‘Duck” award in BBL09 but Christian’s 3 ducks have him right up there so far! Only bowled 6 overs for zero wickets. The price is too extreme for his floor and whilst he can produce a ceiling game, just not sure when we are going to get it. 

 

Who Knows - Aaron Finch ($17,400 Draftstars)

His price on Draftstars has plateaued from his opening price at the start of the season but the ownership is starting to wane. Finch has made a start in every single innings so far in BBL09 which includes x2 50’s and x3 scores over 25 runs. I just don’t know which way Finch goes now. You can make a case that his average is the 3rd best on the slate and has the capability to go beyond that. Yet regression could be on the way.

 

Bowlers

 

Love it - Fawad Ahmed ($16,400 Draftstars)

Ahmed is becoming one of the most reliable fantasy scoring players in the competition with a score no less than 20 fantasy points this season. A ceiling game of 118 points against the Heat where he took 3 for 16 from his 4 overs. This Renegades middle order is patcy to say the least and we could see Ahmed feast. The risk of a small ground in Geelong is here but prices out to be one of the better value plays of the slate. 

 

Don’t Love It - Richard Gleeson ($11,400 Draftstars)

Urgh… Not sure how long the Renegades will persist with Gleeson. So far in the tournament he has bowled just shy of 19 overs for 185 runs (9.75 econ) for 3 wickets only. The confidence of captain Finch to throw him the ball is waning and he is a player to avoid.

 

Who Know - Cameron Boyce ($16,900 Draftstars)

Bit of a yo-yo season so far for Boyce who will either make your night or sink it pretty quick. Scoreless on this ground back in Game 7 but backed it up with a 108 fantasy point score on the 29th of December against the Strikers. Hard to trust at this venue but the Scorchers are weak in the middle outside of Mitch Marsh. Low ownership high upside play but with a fair bit of risk.     

 

 

 

Always remember to gamble responsibly. When the fun stops, stop. If gambling is having a negative impact on your life, seek support at Gambling Help Online.  18+ only.