[VIDEO] Perth Scorchers vs Adelaide Strikers: Big Bash League live scores, blog

The defending champions of the Big Bash League, the Perth Scorchers, start their 2014-15 campaign tonight as they face the in form Adelaide Strikers at the Furnace.

Join The Roar for live scores and commentary of the match from 7:10pm AEDT.

After winning the final last year against the Hobart Hurricanes, the Perth Scorchers return looking to go back to back in the competition this year.

They face a tough task of doing that if recent history of the competition is anything to go by. In each year of the Big Bash League, the defending champion has failed to finish inside the top four in the next season.

In 2011-12 the Adelaide Strikers – who replaced the Redbacks – finished sixth after winning the competition in 2010-11. In 2012-13 the Sydney Sixers finished seventh after winning the competition in 2011-12. Last year the Brisbane Heat finished fifth after winning the competition in 2012-13.

If Perth is to avoid this, and defend their title, they will have to do it without their two leading run scorers of last season.

Simon Katich – who was the leading run scorer for Perth last year – retired to focus on his coaching duties with the GWS Giants.

Craig Simmons – who scored the fourth most runs in the BBL – returns to the furnace tonight but in the colours of the Strikers.

Simmons, who scored the only century of BBL03, signed a three-year deal with the Strikers and scored 30 runs on his debut with the team on Thursday. He will no doubt get a frosty reception when he comes out to bat tonight.

In return for losing Simmons, the Scorchers managed to poach a former Striker in return. Michael Klinger joins the side after moving to Perth to play for the Warriors after playing for South Australia since 2008.

He is joined by Michael Carberry, who signed for the Scorchers for the season to replace Simon Katich in the team.

In the bowling department Yasir Arafat returns to the Scorchers after shining with the ball last year. Arafat took 12 wickets last year and will be looked on by the team to repeat that this season.

He will be fully supported by Jason Behrendorff who is also a handy bowler in this format.

They will all need to bowl well tonight with the loss of Brad Hogg for tonight’s match. The 43 year old, who signed a one-year deal in August, is out of the match with a hamstring injury. His loss leaves Ashton Agar and James Muirhead as the spin options for the match tonight.

The bowlers will need to perform well after the Strikers smashed the Stars to every part of the Adelaide Oval in game one.

The eight wicket win was a dominant way to start the season and announced their intentions for the season.
Tim Ludeman, who made 92 in the win, was outstanding with the bat and was aided by Travis Head and Craig Simmons.
They will be looked upon again to help the Strikers make a large total.

They also have Brad Hodge and Kieron Pollard in the squad who weren’t used in game one.

While Adelaide batted well on Thursday, they also bowled extremely well against the Stars. Kane Richardson was impressive at the death with Adam Zampa and Johan Botha great during the middle overs of the innings.

The Strikers have made one change from the team that played the Stars. Shaun Tait is out with a hamstring injury with Jon Holland replacing him.

This will be the sixth time the two teams have met in the Big Bash. Perth lead the head to head with three wins to two They also lead in matches in Perth with two wins and one loss at the Furnace.

In the last match between the two Craig Simmons made a century as Perth won by five runs. It would be the second to last match for Phillip Hughes as a Striker.

His 58 would also be the last half century he made as a T20 player for Adelaide.

I expect a similar match to the last one between the two.

Perth’s depth, because of injury, is my only concern for the match and I favour Adelaide to win.

They will be buzzing after their first up win, and that confidence may help them spoil the party of the Scorchers, as they start their campaign as the defending champions.

Prediction: Adelaide Strikers