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This week marks the halfway point of the Big Bash League regular season, with the 32nd of 61 matches due to be played this evening.
It’s been a rollicking four weeks so far, and with half of the Big Bash fixtures played already, we’re still no closer to knowing who our winner will be this year. The Sydney Sixers have their nose in front on the Big Bash points table for 2022, while the Perth Scorchers and Sydney Thunder are both just one point behind. With plenty of matches still to be played this season, playoff spots are still very much up for grabs.
We recap the first half of the Big Bash League season so far, looking at all of the top performers and their stats so far, before previewing the upcoming Big Bash League schedule and analysing this year’s playoff contenders.
Contents
- 1 The Big Bash League 2022-23 Season So Far
- 1.1 1 – The Sydney Sixers (five wins, three losses, one no result)
- 1.2 2 – The Perth Scorchers (five wins, two losses)
- 1.3 3 – The Sydney Thunder (five wins, three losses)
- 1.4 4 – The Adelaide Strikers (four wins, four losses)
- 1.5 5 – The Melbourne Renegades (four wins, four losses)
- 1.6 6 – The Hobart Hurricanes (three wins, four losses)
- 1.7 7 – The Brisbane Heat (two wins, four losses, one no result)
- 1.8 8 – The Melbourne Stars (two wins, six losses)
- 2 Key Performers and Stats from the Big Bash League 2022-2023
- 3 Big Bash League Schedule: Upcoming Big Bash Fixtures to Watch
The Big Bash League 2022-23 Season So Far
A little over half of the regular season Big Bash fixtures have been played so far, and it’s been an entertaining season. Here’s a look at how each team is placed on the Big Bash points table 2022 heading into the back end of the season.
1 – The Sydney Sixers (five wins, three losses, one no result)
Sitting atop the table is the Sydney Sixers, on 11 points. After a slow start that saw the Sixers lose their opening two games by 51 and 38 runs, the Sydney side has found their stride, winning five of their last seven. Since December 17th, their only loss has been to the Brisbane Heat, where despite losing they still managed a respectable 209 all out, attempting to chase 224.
2 – The Perth Scorchers (five wins, two losses)
Nipping at the Sixers’ heels is Perth side the Scorchers, who are only one point behind and on the same amount of wins. The Scorchers were on a four match winning streak until earlier this week when they dropped their most recent match against the Sydney Thunder after stuttering to 142/9. The Scorchers’ best performance came last year when they put 229/7 on the Melbourne Stars and held their opponents to 168/8.
3 – The Sydney Thunder (five wins, three losses)
Even with the Scorchers are the Sydney Thunder, also on 10 points. To say it’s been a tumultuous season for the Thunder would be an understatement. From being rolled for 15 runs by the Adelaide Strikers and losing by 124 runs, to posting 228/6 over the Hobart Hurricanes and winning by 62 runs, this has been a hit and miss season so far. However, four wins in a row show that the Thunder have levelled out, and can be a real threat this year.
4 – The Adelaide Strikers (four wins, four losses)
With an even win-loss ratio, the Strikers have run hot and cold in the Big Bash League so far. The season began with three straight wins, followed by four losses in a row, and rounded out by a win most recently. Having scored over 175 in their past three matches, the Strikers have no issues with batting but will want to tighten up their bowling efforts.
5 – The Melbourne Renegades (four wins, four losses)
Also sitting right on the fence with wins and losses are the Melbourne Renegades. In fact, their season has been an exact mirror of the Strikers’, with a strong start, poor middle and now stepping back into the winners’ circle. Only twice this year have the Renegades passed 155 however, an area they’ll want to improve in the back end of the season.
6 – The Hobart Hurricanes (three wins, four losses)
The Hurricanes are desperately unlucky to not be tied with the Renegades and ahead of the Strikers, having narrowly lost to the Strikers earlier this week. Having posted 229/4, the Hurricanes conceded 230/3 off 19.3 to lose the match, continuing their pattern of alternating wins and losses this season.
7 – The Brisbane Heat (two wins, four losses, one no result)
If it wasn’t for the Renegades and the Thunder, Brisbane would be in a good position. Both of their consecutive home-and-away fixtures against these two sides produced losses, meaning that the Heat and languishing towards the bottom of the Big Bash League table with only two wins so far.
8 – The Melbourne Stars (two wins, six losses)
Bringing up the rear of the Big Bash League standings at the halfway point of the season is the Melbourne Stars. Twice the Stars have scored 180+ batting first to secure strong wins. Outside of this, they’ve been miserable, slipping to six losses and failing to get across the line in tight games.
Key Performers and Stats from the Big Bash League 2022-2023
Looking at the Big Bash League fixtures that have taken place so far, here are some of the key stats that stand out:
Top Run Scorer: Chris Lynn on 324
Twenty20 specialist Chris Lynn has once again been thriving in the Big Bash League, plundering runs for the Adelaide Strikers. His highest score this season has been 87, with an average of 40.50 across his eight innings and a strike rate of 140.87.
Top Wicket Taker: Henry Thornton on 16
Also featuring for the Strikers is the top wicket taker, Henry Thornton. Thornton has 16 wickets already this season from seven games, picking up top figures of 3/5 against the Thunder, and averaging 13.19 for the season.
Highest Total: 230/3 by the Adelaide Strikers
This week, the highest total of the Big Bash League 2022-23 was posted, with the Strikers chasing down 229 posted by the Hurricanes. They made 230/3 with three balls to spare, with Matt Short unbeaten on 100*.
Lowest Total: 15 by the Sydney Thunder
It was a night that grabbed headlines all over the world—the lowest-ever total in men’s first-class cricket. With a top scorer of four (and a miserably mishit that ran to the boundary at that), the Sydney Thunder simply could not hit the ball and be rolled for 15 by the Adelaide Strikers.
Big Bash League Schedule: Upcoming Big Bash Fixtures to Watch
Looking at the upcoming Big Bash League schedule, there are several exciting fixtures to keep an eye out for over the next three weeks. Here are our top five games to watch:
- Sydney Thunder vs Sydney Sixers (Sunday 8 January)
- Sydney Sixers vs Perth Scorchers (Sunday 15 January)
- Sydney Sixers vs Adelaide Strikers (Tuesday 17 January)
- Adelaide Strikers vs Perth Scorchers (Friday 20 January)
- Melbourne Renegades vs Sydney Strikers (Tuesday 24 January)
Each of these matches will be hotly contested, and likely will have a significant impact on the final make up of the playoffs. Can the Sydney Sixers hang on to their top-of-the-table spot for the remainder of the Big Bash League 2022-23 season? Or will the Adelaide Strikers continue their strong form and make a run to the title in February?
Keep watching for our betting previews and predictions of every match in the Big Bash League schedule over the next month.
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