Big Bash Tips Matches 23 and 24: Wood and Bartlett to star

• Scorchers find hot form

• Strikers add Shamsi

• Wood has great numbers

• Sixers need the win

• Bartlett underrated

Perth Scorchers v Adelaide strikers
Sunday 4 January, 10.15
TV: Live on Sky Sports

Adelaide Strikers v Perth Scorchers Big Bash tips

Strikers have been given a much-needed boost with the signing of South Africa spinner Tabraiz Shamsi. Shamsi joins for the remainder of the campaign after it was confirmed that Luke Wood and Jamie Overton would both miss the play-offs due to England call-ups.

Not that at this stage that seems to be an issue. Strikers have won two from four and look to be a poor side. It is a surprise that they have dropped Hassan Ali from the squad for this one.

Perth are beginning to find form. They have won their last two and they breathed a huge sigh of relief with Mitch Marsh smashing a century to dispose of Hobart Hurricanes. 

Marsh is 11/43.75 for top bat again and 5/16.00 to be top match bat. Going over Perth total match runs at 167.5 is tempting but it does appear to be toss dependant. There are worries about this Adelaide batting unit.

The top-rated bet is over 20.5 performance points for Luke Wood at 6/52.20. He has beaten the mark in nine of the last ten and has an average make-up (1 pt per run, 10 for a catch and 20 for a wicket) of more than 50 in the study period. 

Sydney Sixers v Brisbane Heat
Monday 5 January, 08:15
TV: Live on Sky Sports

Sydney Sixers v Brisbane Heat Big Bash tips

Sixers are 1.804/5 with Brisbane 2.0811/10. This feels like a watershed match for Sixers, who have managed two wins from their last three but now is the time to build momentum.

A fourth defeat in sixth will give them an uphill challenge to make the play-offs. And Heat provide a stern test. They are masters of the comeback win, getting up from the canvas against Perth and Stars to claim the points.

Sixers have been boosted by Babar Azam finding his form while Heat have welcomed back skip Nathan McSweeney. Shaheen Shah Afridi has been ruled out of the tournament don't forget.

Xavier Bartlett led Heat in McSweeney's absence and he should feel more free to play his natural game. He has appeal to go overs on the performance line at 32.5. He has beaten this mark in seven of the last ten so it is cheap.

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