Dean Etheridge
We’re now over half way through the round robin stage of the 2022/23 Big Bash League from Australia, and it’s as you were in the betting, with pre tournament favorites, the Perth Scorchers, still favored to win the trophy with the top cricket betting sites.
The Scorchers are the defending champions, having won the title last year with a 79 run win over the Sydney Sixers in a one sided final at the Marvel Stadium in Melbourne. The franchise sits top of the table this year, and with five wins and just two defeats from their seven matches to date, they still look like the team to beat in the second half of the current BBL season.
| Big Bash League 2022/23 Winner Betting |  |  |  |
| Perth Scorchers | +225 | +225 | +200 |
| Hobart Hurricanes | +400 | +400 | +450 |
| Sydney Thunder | +425 | +425 | +425 |
| Sydney Sixers | +425 | +425 | +425 |
| Adelaide Strikers | +750 | +700 | +750 |
| Melbourne Renegades | +1400 | +1300 | +1400 |
| Melbourne Stars | +2200 | +2500 | +2500 |
| Brisbane Heat | +2800 | +3000 | +3000 |
The betting supports this with the best cricket betting sites all making the Scorchers their favorites. The Scorchers are +225, with the Hobart Hurricanes at +400, and the two Sydney teams (the Thunder and the Sixers) both at +425, their closest rivals in the betting.
Just clinging to those four are the Adelaide Strikers at +750, with the next three teams cut adrift and with little chance of winning in the eyes of top sportsbooks such as BetOnline. You can read more about them here, in our BetOnline sportsbook review.
What’s next for the Scorchers?
The Scorchers are next in action on Saturday, when they take on the struggling Brisbane Heat at the Western Australia Cricket Ground (WACA). The Heat are struggling with just two wins in their last five fixtures, sitting second bottom of the table.
And with the Scorchers just having tasted defeat for only the second time this season on Tuesday, a match against one of the strugglers could be just what the doctor ordered.
The loss at the hands of the Sydney Thunder was a bad one for the defending champions in a number of ways.
First; It was a pretty convincing defeat, losing by 6 wickets with 18 balls remaining. Second; It handed one of their main rivals not only two points for the win, but a massive confidence boost ahead of the crucial second half of the competition. Third; The Scorchers elite fast bowler, Jhye Richardson left the field injured. And as things stand, the Scorchers are unsure if their premier strike bowler will be able to continue in this season’s competition.
JHYE RICHARDSON UPDATE 👇
“He felt something in his hamstring. Not sure where it is, he’s walking around in the changerooms and has got ice on it.” – @ScorchersBBL captain Ashton Turner on star quick Jhye Richardson’s injury 🤕#BBL12 pic.twitter.com/evjpnHp8nH
— Dylan Bolch (@BolchDylan) January 4, 2023
But by a complete twist of pure fate for the Scorchers, they not only take on the Heat on Saturday, but also in their following match (albeit away in Brisbane) next Wednesday. This represents a great opportunity to go back-to-back and put themselves in the perfect position to qualify for the playoffs heading into the final few regulation-season matches.
Who can stop the Scorchers?
From the list of betting favorites, the top sportsbooks see the Hurricanes, Thunder, and Sixers as the biggest threats. As things stand, the Hurricanes are in the lower half of the table, albeit, with games in hand.
The sportsbooks seem to be factoring the Hurricanes winning these matches into their odds. So far this season, they have lost three of their six matches, so is this misguided judgment, or are the Hurricanes going to come good and win their matches in hand? I’m not convinced.
The Sydney Thunder is a side who always seem to be there or thereabouts at the end of the season in the playoffs, but can never quite get the job done when it really matters. As ever, they have immense firepower at the top of the order, this year with Matthew Gilkes, Alex Hales, and Rilee Rossouw. But their bowling looks a little bit suspect again.
Daniel Sams (11 wickets) and Nathan McAndrew (11) are both in double figures in the top wicket takers this season. But neither would be a viable cricket pick to be the top bowler. Either a lot more will be needed from these two, or a couple of other guys will need to put their hands up if the Thunder are to win their first title since 2016.
Elsewhere, and the Sydney Sixers are the team that stands out. They lost in the final to Perth last season, and they won the previous two Big Bash League titles. They’re well placed to push on in the second half of the season. But with three defeats in eight games already this season, they’re far from their previous fluent best.
Our BBL Pick
With just under half the season to go, there is still a lot that can change this far out – meaning it’s more difficult to make cricket betting picks.
If the injury to Jhye Richardson doesn’t turn out to be too bad, then the Scorchers immediately become a bigger threat. So far this season, Richardson (15) and his pace partner Andrew Tye (13) have 28 wickets between them. If one of them goes down, it leaves a huge hole in the team.
Can Steve Smith fire the Sixers to another win?
The Sydney Sixers will have former Australia captain Steve Smith joining them when the current Test series against South Africa ends this weekend.
Steve Smith is back! Be at the SCG on Sunday, January 15th to see Smudge make his return against the Perth Scorchers. Get your tickets now via the link below! 😎
Tickets 🎫: https://t.co/OVzx8RQkhG pic.twitter.com/MZDFFvJsgB
— Sydney Sixers (@SixersBBL) December 30, 2022
Smith will add to the SIxers, who already have proven pedigree. They’re usually favorites to win this competition though. And if they can come good, then the +425 currently available on the Sydney Sixers is good value.
If we take the Sixers at this price and they make the final, we will be able to hedge our bets for a guaranteed profit.
