BBL7 - Strikers v Stars Recap - My 5 Takes
1. Strikers Go Top
The Strikers surged to the top of the BBL table with a comprehensive 8-wicket victory over the winless Melbourne Stars at Adelaide Oval last night. The Strikers made light work of the Stars total of 6/151, passing it in the 18th over, with half centuries from Alex Carey and Travis Head igniting the home side. The Stars were helped by a classy 60 from Glenn Maxwell, however their top order struggled once again, despite a reshuffle and new opening batsman Marcus Stoinis making 39. The Stars have now lost their opening five games and, stunningly, look to be out of finals contention altogether just half way through their campaign.
2. Head Signs Off In Style
Travis Head signed off from BBL7 with his best innings of the season, crashing 53 from 32 balls, as the skipper heads off to the Australian One-Day team with his side sitting on top of the table. Head has looked in great touch all tournament, but played with more aggression last night, targeting the Stars’ struggling bowling pair of Scott Boland and John Hastings. Head was especially savage through the leg side as he crashed three 6’s to help ease the nerves after a sluggish start to the run chase. Whilst the Strikers’ batting has been pretty good this season, they will struggle to replace a lynchpin like Head at Number 3.
3. Carey Controlling Games From The Top
Alex Carey has reminded me a bit of Michael Klinger this year as a T20 opener, in the way he is controlling games for the Strikers. He isn't the biggest hitter or most dynamic player in the world, however he has batted very intelligently and is able to find the boundary in several different areas. Carey is the most surprising name in the Top 5 run scorers currently in the tournament, with 223 runs at an average of 56 and a more than respectable strike rate of 128. Carey, far from being overwhelmed by being given the opening role, has been busy and shown intent in his stroke play, always looking to score, even if not crashing everything for boundaries. Carey has shown shown exactly why there was a lot of hype about him being plucked into the Australian Test team earlier this season, before the selectors opted for the experienced Tim Paine. Carey, with his tidy glove work and expanding batting game, looks a certainty to be next in line after Paine.
4. Stars In Need Of A Rebuild
The Stars, like the Sixers, look like a franchise in need of some rebuilding. Outside of the Perth Scorchers, the Stars and Sixers have been the most consistently successful sides in terms of winning games and making the final’s series. They have done this lately by sticking with the players that have brought them relative success, however, without a title in eight years, it’s time for changes in Melbourne. Ricky Ponting didn't hold back last night in his assessment of the team, saying 5-6 changes are needed, as well as looking for potential trades of older players. The likes of overseas import Luke Wright would be feeling the pressure as well, with several teams opting for mystery spinners with outstanding success this season.
5. Hastings Struggling With Captaincy
Stars’ skipper John Hastings is having a real baptism of fire in his debut season as captain. If truth be told, Hasting would be lucky to be in the side if he didn't have the C next to his name right now. Hastings has taken just three wickets through five games, and is going for over 9 runs per over. Whilst he gives his side depth with the bat, he is averaging just 11, and in my opinion is struggling as a captain. Last night the game was virtually gone, and the Stars’ two best bowlers, James Faulkner and Adam Zampa, had only bowled a combined three overs between them.