Register for FREE to read this article.

Already have an account?

You have article views left.
Register for FREE to read more articles.

Already have an account?

Remind me next time

The waiting is over and the much-awaited Big Bash 06 gets underway on Tuesday as the two Sydney sides kick things off at the Spotless Stadium. Our cricket tipster Owen Fulda has been examining the player recruitment in the build-up and now provides his best BBL06 betting tips on the opening matches...

Big Bash Week 1 Tips

Head to our bonus bet page for the latest free bets & offers.

Sydney Thunder vs Sydney Sixers

Thunder To Win @ EVENS - BET NOW

Although they’ll be missing captain Shane Watson and Usman Khawaja I still fancy the Thunder to put in a repeat performance of last year’s opening fixture where they beat their Sydney rivals by 36 runs. Left-handed batter Ben Rohrer will captain the Thunder while Eoin Morgan and Andre Russell will want to score heavily to replace the missing duo’s expertise with the bat.

The Sixers will look to quickie Sean Abbott to make early inroads into the defending Champions batting line-up as is so vital in T20 matches. Their English batting contingent of Jason Roy and Sam Billings will get the bird from the crowd, but the Thunder have the better bowling attack with Pat Cummins and Clint McKay. They're experts in the shortest format of the game and should see them make a winning start.

England’s captain in One Day Internationals Eoin Morgan could be a good shout to be man-of-the-match. He's well rested having pulled out of his country’s tour of Bangladesh with security concerns and is a best price of $11 and as short as $9 elsewhere. He performed well in the Thunder’s warm up game against a Bangladesh XI.

Adelaide Strikers vs Brisbane Heat

Strikers To Win @ 4/5 - BET NOW

Brisbane can be backed at 10/1 to win the tournament but the Strikers are the more realistic threat at 15/2 and I think they’ll get off to a winning start at home over Brisbane. They have recruited well in Chris Jordan and powerhouse hitter Ben Dunk, although they will miss the wickets that Adil Rashid took with his leg-spin last year. They certainly look stronger in the batting department.

Dunk was player of the tournament in BBL03, making 395 runs at an average of 43.88 and he will be looking forward to dining out on the Brisbane bowling attack. He will need to watch out for the World’s number one ranked T-20 bowler Samuel Badree. The 35-year-old leg-spinner has blossomed late on in his career and the West Indian will relish this fixture.

The rest of the Heat’s line-up has a youthful look to it, but they are guided by experienced Kiwi Brendon McCullum who’s looking to take the franchise to their first finals since 2013. His side beat the Hobart Hurricanes in two warm up matches at the weekend but Adelaide are a different proposition and I think they’ll struggle to make enough runs to compete. Strikers to win this one, especially if they bat first.

Get all the best cricket odds at our extensive cricket betting centre!

SIGN UP to Easyodds for daily tips, best odds and free bets as well as access to our competitions, emails and horse alerts.