Big Bash League 2021-22 – Melbourne Renegades vs Adelaide Strikers – 3rd Match Prediction
Big Bash League 2021 got off to a great start, setting the tone for the rest of the season. The Sydney Sixers laid a solid foundation stone by registering the largest ever win in the competition’s history. This competition’s opening match has certainly drawn some attention to Australia’s marquee domestic tournament.
Next up in the competition, the Melbourne Renegades will face the Adelaide Strikers in what promises to be another exciting match. We anticipate that the upcoming match will be much closer than the previous one.
The match will take place on December 7, 2021, at the Docklands Stadium in Melbourne.
Match Details to Note
Match: Melbourne Renegades vs Adelaide Strikers, 3rd Match, Big Bash League 2021-22
Date: December 07, 2021 (Tuesday)
Time: 1:45 PM IST
Venue: Docklands Stadium, Melbourne
Melbourne Renegades vs Adelaide Strikers Team Previews
Melbourne Renegades (Match Odds – 2.00)
Team Melbourne Renegades will be looking to change a lot after a disappointing season last year. For starters, they have changed their leadership with Aaron Finch stepping down from captaincy. Even if he had not been in the form he is known for, his experience as a skipper with the World Cup-winning squad could have come in handy. Having said that, Nic Maddinson is set to take over as captain, and he’s not a bad choice.
With captaincy no longer a burden to bear, Aaron Finch could return to being the batsman he once was. He is the competition’s second-highest run scorer, and his role at the top will be critical for the men in red. Apart from him, Shaun Marsh had a good run last year and would like to improve on it this year.
Unmukt Chand’s signing is the most surprising. He may not be a typical signing, but he has certainly turned heads. His experience in the Indian leagues will come in handy, and it will be interesting to see how well he adjusts to the conditions in Australia.
Melbourne Renegades have the bowling department pretty well covered with players like James Pattinson and Kane Richardson available. Furthermore, the Australian pair have a plethora of front-line bowling options in Will Sutherland, Jack Prestwidge, Mohammad Nabi, and Reece Topley. However, this is a lineup that has struggled with injuries in the past, and we are likely to see it again in this tournament.
Overall, the Renegades’ biggest concern will be their batting department, which, despite having some of the game’s biggest stars, has not been in the form they would have liked to be in. Renegades’ experienced stars will have a lot of work to do if they want to regain the batting stature they once had.
Melbourne Renegades Squad
Aaron Finch, Sam Harper(w), Mackenzie Harvey, Will Sutherland, Jake Fraser, Mohammad Nabi, Kane Richardson(c), Josh Lalor, Jack Prestwidge, James Pattinson, Zahir Khan, Reece Topley, Cameron Boyce, Zak Evans, Mitchell Perry, James Seymour, Jonathan Merlo
Predicted XI: Aaron Finch, Unmukt Chand, Shaun Marsh, Nic Maddinson, Sam Harper, Mohammed Nabi, Cameron Boyce, Jack Prestwidge, Josh Lalor, James Pattinson, Kane Richardson
Adelaide Strikers (Match Odds – 1.80)
Adelaide Strikers, like the Renegades, have only won the competition once, but they have come close a number of times. They made the playoffs last year, only to be eliminated in the Eliminator by the Brisbane Heat, who beat them by a six-wicket margin. Adelaide Strikers, led by Travis Head, have a good number of T20 starts at their disposal.
Rashid Khan, the most successful overseas bowler in the competition’s history, is undoubtedly the Strikers’ most valuable asset. Aside from him, George Garton is available to try his luck after a disappointing season in the Indian Premier League. With the IPL’s mega-auction coming up soon, he’ll be looking to make a name for himself.
Even without Travis Head and Alex Carey, the Strikers appear to be a formidable unit. Their bowling attack is adequately stocked, with Wes Agar, Peter Siddle, and Rashid Khan available to lead. The absence of Michael Neser, on the other hand, could be decisive. In the batting order, the Strikers have Jake Weatherald and Matt Renshaw, who will need to step up in the absence of Carey and Head. Furthermore, the Strikers lack a specialist finisher and will rely heavily on Rashid Khan to perform admirably in that incredibly difficult role.
Overall, the Adelaide Strikers would have had a fantastic squad a few weeks ago, but with some of their key players likely to be absent for various reasons, their strength has taken a hit. Make no mistake, they are still capable of toppling any given side on their day and will be looking to do so in their first encounter. It will be a difficult task, but if they can get their combination right, beating them will be extremely difficult.
Adelaide Strikers Squad
Ryan Gibson, Matthew Short, Jake Weatherald, Harry Nielsen(w), Jonathan Wells, Liam Scott, Rashid Khan, Wes Agar, George Garton, Peter Siddle(c), Thomas Kelly, Daniel Drew, Daniel Worrall
Predicted XI: Jake Weatherald, Jonathan Wells, Mathew Short, Matt Renshaw, Liam Scott, Harry Nielson, Wes Agar, Peter Siddle, George Garton, Rashid Khan, Fawad Ahmed
Melbourne Renegades vs Adelaide Strikers Toss Prediction
The tournament has two matches left, and the honours have been split evenly between the teams batting first and the teams batting second. This is a new surface, and both teams will be unsure how the wicket will perform. Also, because rain is likely to cause an interruption here, the Duckworth-Lewis method may be used. Given that, and the general trend in T20s, the captain who wins the toss should opt to field first.
Pitch and Weather Conditions
Docklands Stadium is Melbourne’s second ground, and it isn’t as good a batting venue as the MCG. The drop-in surface here ensures that bowlers have opportunities, which are further enhanced by the presence of relatively long boundaries – both straight and side. Having said that, it is early in the tournament and the surface should have some moisture, implying that batsmen will have a decent pace to work with. The weather is also not expected to be favourable to the batters. It’s going to be a cloudy, if not rainy, day, and bowlers should have a good time on this surface. They would, however, prefer to target stumps on this surface rather than other surfaces. Seamers are more likely to succeed here at the start of the competition, and both sides will be wary of that. A total of more than 165 could prove difficult for the team batting second.
Melbourne Renegades vs Adelaide Strikers Match Prediction
The Adelaide Strikers are missing two key batting players, but they still have a strong lineup of quality and experienced players. They also have a strong bowling attack, and their only major weakness is a lack of all-rounders. Melbourne Renegades enter this match with a new captain and will be hoping for a strong performance from their new–look team. They, too, have a strong bowling attack but a lack of depth in the middle order. However, we believe Adelaide Strikers will win the game.
Adelaide Strikers is the favourite to beat Melbourne Renegades at the odds of 1.80.
- Melbourne Renegades won their only BBL trophy in the 2018-19 season and finished last in the following two seasons.
- Adelaide Strikers won the BBL in 2017-18 and advanced to the playoffs in two of the next three seasons.
- In the BBL, the Adelaide Strikers have a 9-5 win-loss record against the Melbourne Renegades.
