KFC BIG BASH PREVIEW 2011-2012
Hits and Misses, Fantasy Tips and Players to Watch.
By W D Nicolson, 15 December 2011
Follow the Summer of Cricket via our Cricket Tweet - @AustCricket
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE SYDNEY SIXERS - INAUGURAL BIG BASH CHAMPIONS!
They defeated the Perth Scorchers by 7 wickets on Saturday January 28th at the WACA.
Well after months of waiting and a complete retooling of the Australian Summer of Cricket to accommodate it - the KFC Big Bash is here.
The Brisbane Heat will visit the SCG on Friday Night to take on the Sydney Sixers in the season opener for a revamped competition that will run from December 16 through to January 28.
Twenty20 Cricket is being pushed as the 'thing to watch' this summer by Cricket Australia - which is interesting given the Indian Cricket Team's visit is quite a tasty proposition - and they have scrapped all domestic cricket (One Day and First Class) throughout the Big Bash.
There are eight new teams and a host of stars (although no Indian players due to the BCCI not being interested in pumping up the tyres of a IPL rival) on show as the 'hit and giggle' game gets a big leg up over the holidays.
And it might just work.
While the advertising campaign has fallen flat to an extent - seriously the whole 'rivalry' angle is currently a moot point given NONE of the teams have actually played each other yet and that ad is very ordinary - cricket always relies on the emergence of players for its marketing and there are enough stars and young guns on each roster to make a concentrated effort at appealing to the fans.
But as always - the quality of the cricket will be important. Australia have always been a little pessimistic as to the value of the T20 game and if the first two Tests against India are crackers then the Big Bash might be hard pressed to wrest back the fan base to the final games of the regular season.
Another negative when it comes to the scheduling is the fact the two semi finals and the final will be played on the same days as the 4th Test against India in Adelaide... which suggests that the Adelaide Strikers may not be able to have a home final should they qualify.
Because the only option is for the 4th Test to finish at 6pm and then everyone file out of the ground only to come back in for a 7pm Big Bash Final at the same ground.
Anyhoo... prediction time.
After careful consideration and running the scouting report over each team,
www.wdnicolson.com is declaring the Melbourne Stars as the inaugural Big Bash Champions for 2011/2012.
The final standings will be.
- Melbourne STARS
- Brisbane HEAT
- Adelaide STRIKERS
- Sydney THUNDER
- Perth SCORCHERS
- Melbourne RENEGADES
- Hobart HURRICANES
- Sydney SIXERS
The Stars will beat the Thunder and the Strikers will beat the Heat in the Semi Finals, with the Stars and Shane Warne taking out the Final.
NOTE: Injury news through Friday December 16 sees Kieron Pollard ruled out of the Big Bash for the Adelaide Strikers. He's a massive loss but we'll stick by our predictions.
MOST REGULAR SEASON RUNS: Daniel Harris, Adelaide Strikers.
MOST REGULAR SEASON WICKETS: Nathan Rimmington, Perth Scorchers.
PLAYER OF THE SEASON + FINALS: Matthew Wade, Melbourne Stars OR James Hopes, Brisbane Heat.
As for the bookies -
Sportingbet.com.au has their favourites spaced a little differently
$5.50 - Melbourne RENEGADES
$6.00 - Melbourne STARS
$6.50 - Adelaide STRIKERS, Brisbane HEAT
$7.50 - Sydney THUNDER
$8.00 - Hobart HURRICANES, Sydney SIXERS
$9.00 - Perth SCORCHERS
Check out the Full Big Bash Preview below with Fantasy Tips, Rosters and more Scouting Reports on your favourite players.
If you have entered a
Fox Sports Fantasy Cricket Team for the Big Bash - join the Fox Sports League to take on Mark Waugh and Damien Fleming. Code:
1610-2326
If you are playing the
BigBash.com.au League - better prizes but less interesting setup - join here
http://fantasy.bigbash.com.au/
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| This photo is prophetic... because we believe Warnie will lead the Stars to the Big Bash Egg Cup. |
WHO WINS THE KFC T20 BIG BASH THIS SUMMER?
