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After a loss in their opening game, the Perth Scorchers travel to Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium to take on the Melbourne Renegades in the seventh Big Bash League 2011-12 game on Thursday. We’ll bring you the live scores and commentary of the action throughout the opening game, with the match starting at 7.00 pm ADST time on December 21.
The Scorchers needed to score only 141 to notch up their first points in their opener. They fell away 31 runs short but the game was over when they lost half their side for 44.
Their two foreign players, Herschelle Gibbs and Paul Collingwood, showed signs of rustiness and managed only six runs between them.
Mitchell Marsh’s late assault wasn’t enough as the side crashed to Ben Hilfenhaus and Naved-ul-Hasan Rana.
The hosts for this game, Melbourne Renegades had a worse start.
First they allowed the Adelaide Strikers to get away to a mountainous 189. Then, only three of their top-order players managed to get into double figures as they capitulated to a shoddy 122 all out.
It is the most one-sided result of the season so far.
So when the two sides, the Scorchers and Renegades meet at the Etihad Stadium, it is not only their first points that will be at stake. Better effort with the bat and ball will be expected from both teams as well.
Perth will be without Michael Hussey, who returns to the preparatory camp for the Boxing Day Test against India.
His place could well be taken by Shaun Marsh, who will look to use this game to test his fitness ahead of the Melbourne Test. The management may allow Marsh to open the innings and push Marcus North down the order.
The Renegades will need to re-look at their bowling tactics.
Shaun Tait and Dirk Nannes are both fast but equally quick off the bat. With more teams discovering the value behind taking the pace off the ball, it may not be such a bad idea to have someone like Glen Maxwell or even Afridi take the new ball.
Again, batting Afridi at four is a couple spots too high. Captain Andrew McDonald will do well to rope in an extra batsman but it could depend on whether Brad Hodge is fit.
If Hodge is still injured, McDonald could push himself up the order. Nothing like the captain leading from the front.
The Scorchers should have an edge going into the game but Renegades’ home advantage should help.
We will bring you the coverage throughout the game at the Etihad in Melbourne and hope to receive your opinions as the action unfolds.
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