Brisbane Heat v Perth Scorchers Big Bash Tips: Hosts are hot value for summit clash

• Heat outsiders

• Two strong bowling units

• Khawaja and Labuschagne return

Brisbane Heat v Perth Scorchers
Wednesday 10 January, 08:40
TV: Live on Sky Sports

Brisbane Heat v Perth Scorchers team news

Heat have Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne available. But they need to be careful about respecting the players who have got them to the top of the table, particularly as the pair return to Australia Test duty next week.

Josh Brown looks vulnerable to Khawaja taking his spot and likewise Matt Renshaw for Labuschagne.

Possible XI: Munro, Khawaja, McSweeney, Labuschagne, Billings, Walter, Neser, Bartlett, Johnson, Swepson, Kuhnemann

Scorchers got back on track with success over Sydney Thunder last time out. They will not include Mitch Marsh in their squad after he was rested by Australia. That opens up the possibility that Cooper Connolly or Stephen Eskinazi returning to an opening role with Sam Whiteman struggling.

Possible XI: Crawley, Eskinazi, Hardie, Inglis, Evans, Connolly, A Agar, Richardson, Tye, McKenzie, Morris

Brisbane Heat v Perth Scorchers pitch report

Thirteen of the last 23 first-innings in the Bash have seen 160 or more busted. Heat managed only 132 against Hobart in the last match at the Gabba but they defended, confirming a hefty toss bias for the team batting first.

The same ratio has been won by the team batting first. With Heat enoying an economy rate of seven with the ball and Perth 7.6, an unders play is the wisest if we can get around 167.5.

Brisbane Heat v Perth Scorchers match odds

Heat are 2.206/5 with Scorchers 1.824/5. This looks to be a choice affair with the market consistent in underrating the hosts.

It's now 13 wins in 15 for Heat and no defeats this season. They don't have Perth's pedigree but they are going to go very close to a title win.

They deserve more respect and are far from a mug bet here in what could be a dress-rehearsal for the final.

Brisbane Heat v Perth Scorchers player bets

Khawaja is boosted to 3/14.00 for top Heat bat. He has two wins in his last nine Bash appearances. Labuschagne is [4/1] with one win in nine.

If we're right about Whiteman coming out for Perth, Connolly and Eskinazi may rate value at 14/115.00 and 5/16.00 respectively.

Read Ed's Big Bash analysis here