BBL7 - Scorchers v Stars Preview (Plus The Lurker's Prediction and Bank)

Perth Scorchers v Melbourne Stars @ The WACA
 
Head to Head History - Melbourne Stars 6, Perth Scorchers 5
 
Last 5 - Melbourne Stars 3, Perth Scorchers 2
 
Perth Scorchers 13-Man Squad - Ashton Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Jason Behrendorff, Hilton Cartwright, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Johnson, Michael Klinger, Mitch Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Joel Paris, Jhye Richardson, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, Adam Voges (c), Sam Whiteman, David Willey
 
Melbourne Stars 13-Man Squad - Michael Beer, Scott Boland, Jackson Coleman, Ben Dunk, James Faulkner, Seb Gotch, Evan Gulbis, Peter Handscomb, Sam Harper, John Hastings (c), Ben Hilfenhaus, Glenn Maxwell, Kevin Pietersen (Eng), Rob Quiney, Marcus Stoinis, Daniel Worrall, Luke Wright (Eng), Adam Zampa
 
Preview - The Scorchers play their first home game of the season with a Boxing Day bonanza against the Melbourne Stars at the WACA. Despite being heavily undermanned, the Scorchers pulled off a convincing upset win over the Sydney Sixers at the SCG on Saturday, winning by 6 wickets. The Melbourne Stars went down by 15 runs in a high scoring game at The Gabba against the Brisbane Heat. 
 
Big Batting Battle - Ashton Turner v Ben Dunk - These two had contrasting fortunes in their first game of the season, with Turner playing a match winning role in the Scorchers win. Dunk was a big money signing for the Stars this year, after being the leading run scorer in BBL6, and he will be desperate to make an impact after missing out first up. Turner's 52 not out included five big 6’s at the SCG, with his ability to clear the ropes much needed in a Scorchers’ batting line up missing some big names at the moment. 
 
Big Bowling Battle - Andrew Tye v Scott Boland - Andrew Tye kicked off BBL7 in style, picking up four wickets including a hat trick, in another superb display against the Sixers. Tye has become a gun for hire in several T20 leagues around the world and made light work of the Sixers’ middle to lower order on Saturday. Boland was well below his best on Wednesday at the Gabba, serving up a number of loose balls in taking 1/48 from 3 overs, and conceding 16 runs per over. Boland was the best of the Stars bowlers last year, and needs to bowl far better if the Stars are to get wickets up front and contain sides at the end. 
 
Ground Dynamic - THE WACA - The Scorchers pace attack has made the WACA wicket a graveyard for opposition teams over the years. Not only do they have a parochial home crowd behind them, but the wicket often has good pace and bounce which is the opposite to what some visiting sides play on at their home ground. The outfield is the fastest in Australia, so batsmen get full value for shots and will enjoy the pace of the wicket once in. The straighter boundaries are small, so expect the spinners to be targeted down the ground, and both team’s pace attacks to try some short stuff. 
 
THE LURKERS PICK (4-2) - Melbourne Stars - "I am backing the Stars to bounce back here after a flat first up run. The Scorchers will be up fired up at home however the Sixers dead set gift wrapped them that game in Sydney" 
 
THE LURKERS'S 10-UNIT BANK (Running Tally = -8 Units) 

(Tab Odds) 

7 Units on Melbourne Stars @ $1.65 

1 Unit on 10-11 overall 6s for the match @ $4.50 

1 Unit on High Bat/Bowler double for Stars of Maxwell/Hastings at $20 

1 Unit on High Bat/Bowler double for Scorchers of Cartwright/Wiley @ $23