Big Bash League 2019 Match 24, Perth Scorchers vs Hobart Hurricanes: Preview, likely XIs, predictions

Perth Scorchers will take on Hobart Hurricanes on Sunday in what will be a lower-half clash in the table, but one that could have wide ramifications to the team’s respective seasons.

While BBL 9 is still young, it’s getting to a point where the stragglers are being separated from the early crusaders. There is already a significant points difference between the teams in each half of the table, and if things go as they have been, that’ll only widen.

Perth are one side who find themselves needing to up their game desperately. They have four points in five matches, and have been inconsistent to say the least: one step forward, two back. They head into this clash after beating Brisbane Heat, but before that, they were seen off by Sydney Sixers and Adelaide Strikers.

The question now is, can they build on the momentum from their win over the Heat? So far this season, they haven’t been able to. But if they can do that, they’ll be on the bink of moving into the top-half of the table, and that’ll shake things up.

That’ll be no easy task, however. Hobart haven’t exactly been the most consistent team in the BBL this season, but they have solid T20 outfit on paper, with D’Arcy Short at the top, David Miller in the middle and the likes of James Faulkner leading the pace attack. They might yet be able to make a late dash for the knockout places.

This should be interesting.

Head to head

This has been a fairly even rivalrly. There have been 11 clashes between Perth and Hobart so far in the BBL. Hobart have won five. Perth have won six. Perth have a chance to break away in the head-count here, but a victory for Hobart will put both teams on level with six wins each.

Key players

D’Arcy Short (Hobart Hurricanes): The Australia opener has been their biggest source of runs so far this season, but he will need to up his game significantly to rise in the top run-getters’ charts. The Perth clash might be where he explodes into form.

Chris Jordan (Perth Scorchers): The all-rounder has been all over the place this season, in a good way: diving around in the field, scoring the occasional runs, but most importantly, taking eight wickets. He is Perth’s leading wicket-taker, and they will turn to him a lot.

Likely XIs

Hobart Hurricanes: D’Arcy Short, Simon Milenko, Caleb Jewell, Ben McDermott (c), David Miller, George Bailey, James Faulkner, Nathan Fills, Clive Rose, Qais Ahmed, Riley Meredith

Perth Scorchers: Josh Inglis, Liam Livingstone, Cameron Bancroft, Ashton Turner, Mitchell Marsh (c), Ashton Agar, Cameron Green, Chris Jordan, Jhye Richardson, Matt Kelly, Fawad Ahmed

Prediction

Hobart to win it.