Big Bash Tips Matches One and Two: Heat could make hot start

• Bash gets underway with blockbuster

• Chase bias at Perth

• Availability issues for teams

• Bat second at Geelong, too

• Read the team guide HERE

Perth Scorchers v Sydney Sixers
Sunday 14 December, 08.15
TV: Live on Sky Sports

Perth Scorchers v Sydney Sixers Big Bash tips

This is a corker to start off the Bash season with the two most storied franchises and it wouldn't be a huge surprise if this ended up being the final. Both have had a dip in recent years but the squad rebuilding from Scorchers and Sixers suggests they have a strong chance to dominate again.

For Scorchers the availability of Mitch Marsh at the top of the order is a major boost while Sixers have picked up Babar Azam. Babar is not usually a T20 hitter of note but he really should be able to take down teams at this level.

There is, however, already squad churn. Scorchers are without Josh Inglis and Jhye Richardson who are with the Test squad. David Payne is in the ILT20 while Lance Morris has been ruled out for the season. Pacer Matt Kelly is a doubt with a finger injury.

Sam Curran (ILT20), Steve Smith, Mitch Starc (Test squad), Jordan Silk (personal), Sean Abbott (hamstring) and Jafer Chohan (illness) are unavailable for Sixers. 

The Sixers availability issues provides value straight off the bat. We would expect Moises Henriques to bat at No 4 as a result so Sportsbook's [9/2] is of interest. On two-year win rates Henriques returns 25% of the time.

There is a toss bias at Perth in night games. The chaser wins 60% of the time from a healthy 25-game  study. That would suggest Sixers at 2.285/4 are value as the market is highly unlikely to budge much post flip.

Melbourne Renegades v Brisbane Heat
Monday 15 December, 08.15
TV: Live on Sky Sports

Melbourne Renegades v Brisbane Heat Big Bash tips

Renegades begin their campaign in Geelong with a mini-crisis with a long list of players unavailable against a Heat side who, Ashes players aside, should be well prepared.

There's no Nathan Lyon, Brendan Doggett, Will Salzmann (hamstring), Adam Zampa (paternity leave), Callum Stow (back) and Tom Rogers (injury). Zampa and Rogers leave significant holes. So much so that AJ Tye has been signed as a replacement player.

They do hand Bash debuts to Mohammad Rizwan and Hassan Khan. Rizwan could open the batting. Tim Seifert is fit after a finger injury but the likelihood is that he bats at No 4, which isn't so smart.

Heat will miss talisman Michael Neser, of course they will. But they field an experienced and smart XI low on superstars but high on efficiency. Shaheen Shah Afridi adds gold dust.

The match odds market makes this a choice affair but we would favour Heat's gumption and familiarity winning the day at around 2.021/1. There is another chase bias under lights. Seven of 12 results have gone to the side batting first. 

Xavier Bartlett, the Heat pacer, is our top player to follow. He is 16/54.20 for most Heat wickets, a price pushed out because of Afridi. Bartlett has a win rate of  32%.

Now read our dedicated Ashes section here.