Perth Scorchers v Brisbane Heat Big Bash Tips: Connolly worth a crack at 9/1

• Perth short favourites

• Crawley departs

• Heat guaranteed top spot

Perth Scorchers v Brisbane Heat
Saturday 12 January, 05:15
TV: Live on Sky Sports

Perth Scorchers v Brisbane Heat team news

Scorchers are without Zak Crawley, who has left to prepare for England's test series in India. Stephen Eskinazi should slot in as opener. Sam Whiteman may get another hit but Cooper Connolly is another option as his opening partner. Nick Hobson could come into the middle order. If Whiteman opens, Hamish Mackenzie may be dropped. Laurie Evans will miss the play-offs

Possible XI: Whiteman, Eskinazi, Hardie, Inglis, Evans, Connolly, Hobson, A Agar, Richardson, Tye, Morris

Colin Munro and Sam Billings play their final matches before departing for the ILT20. Looking ahead to the play-offs they will also be without Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne, who are both expected to be rested here.

Possible XI: Munro, Brown, McSweeney, Renshaw, Billings, Walter, Neser, Bartlett, Johnson, Swepson, Kuhnemann

Perth Scorchers v Brisbane Heat pitch report

Fifteen of the last 25 first-innings at the Optus have busted 160 with eleven won by the chaser but eight of those came in the last eleven. Economy rates of 7.6 and 7.3 for Perth and Heat respectively, though, mean a high par line could be taken on, perhaps in the low 170s.

Perth Scorchers v Brisbane Heat match odds

Scorchers are 1.768/11 with Heat 2.245/4. In the contest of the league season and the head-to-head on Wednesday, the odds don't make a huge amount of sense.

Heat gave Perth, who have lost two of their last three, a thumping at The Gabba. But it was a win which guaranteed them top spot and home qualifier. The rationale for the odds is a strong Perth home record and the fact the hosts need to win. Heat don't. Therefore we're not up in arms about the pricing.

Perth Scorchers v Brisbane Heat player bets

There's not a wealth of value available on the player markets aside from a long-held view that Connolly could get another crack at opening. He is 9/110.00 to reprise the role he held before Crawley's arrival. Michael Neser is 14/115.00 to repeat his outstanding all-round show for man of the match.

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