BBL 2021 Predictions & Betting Tips

2019-20 result: third in the table, fourth overall
Captain: Travis Head
Overseas players: Danny Briggs (ENG), Rashid Khan (AFG), Phil Salt (ENG)
Other key players: Head, Alex Carey, Jake Weatherald, Peter Siddle, Jon Wells

Adelaide Strikers finished third in the Big Bash League table in 2019-20 but then crashed out in the play-offs to finish fourth overall.

Led by Travis Head, the key for the Strikers will be star spinner Rashid Khan’s availability after Afghanistan’s ODI series with Ireland – clashing with the second half of the BBL – was announced.

The world’s top T20i bowler according to the ICC rankings, the Afghan leggie has been a key man for Adelaide in the last three seasons.

Beyond Rashid, Alex Carey could be key with the bat and the likes of Jon Wells and Jake Weatherald have showed form in the BBL before too.

Still, they continue to lack the star quality – especially if Rashid misses too big a chunk of the season – to topple the top BBL teams.

Adelaide Strikers BBL 2020-21 odds

Adelaide Strikers are 6.00 to win the 2020-21 Big Bash League with Betway. Bet365 are also offering 6.00 on the Strikers to win BBL|10.

2019-20 result: seventh
Captain: Chris Lynn
Overseas players: Tom Banton (ENG), Lewis Gregory (ENG), Dan Lawrence (ENG), Mujeeb Ur Rahman (RSA)
Other key players: Lynn, Ben Laughlin

While their women’s side sealed a second consecutive title, Brisbane Heat’s men were finishing seventh in the table.

Chris Lynn continues to lead the team and the big-hitting opener remains the key man with the bat at the top of the order.

Lynn lacked form at the Caribbean Premier League and was therefore sidelined at the IPL too, so Brisbane will be dependent on him getting back to their best.

Still the Heat have a big jump to make to go from second-last in 2019-20 to challenging the likes of Melbourne Stars in 2020-21.

Tom Banton has withdrawn his name from the tournament due to bio-bubble fatigue. 

Brisbane Heat BBL 2020-21 odds

Brisbane Heat can be backed at 7.50 to win the 2020 Big Bash League with Betway and at 7.00 with Bet365.

2019-20 result: fourth in the table, fifth overall
Captain: Matthew Wade
Overseas players: Dawid Malan (ENG), Colin Ingram (SA), Will Jacks (ENG), Keemo Paul (WI), Sandeep Lamichhane (NEP)
Other key players: D’Arcy Short, Matthew Wade, Peter Handscomb, James Faulkner

With some smart recruitment for this season, Hobart Hurricanes could be ready to make the step up from mid-table last season to a top team this time around.

They now boast the world’s top-ranked T20i batsman in Dawid Malan, as well as adding other overseas stars such as Colin Ingram, Sandeep Lamichhane and, most recently, Keemo Paul.

The latter was signed at the recommendation of Ricky Ponting after his starring role with Delhi Capitals at the IPL.

If all three fire, they will bolster a side that already boasts BBL batting icon D’Arcy Short at the top of the order and new signing Peter Handscomb too.

In Short, Handscomb, Malan and captain Matthew Wade, Hobart boast a fierce batting line-up and could be dark horses this season. The key will be how well Ingram steps in for Malan when the England ace is away on international duty.

Johan Botha has come out of retirement to be part of hurricanes squad. Botha was confirmed Australian citizenship in 2016 and now has been qualified to play as a local player in BBL 2020.

Hobart Hurricanes BBL 2020-21 odds

Hobart Hurricanes are 8.00 to win the 2020-21 Big Bash League with Betway. They are 7.00 to win with Bet365.

2019-20 result: eighth
Captain: Aaron Finch
Overseas players: Noor Ahmad (AFG), Mohammad Nabi (AFG), Rilee Rossouw (RSA), Imran Tahir (RSA)
Other key players: Finch, James Pattinson, Kane Richardson, Shaun Marsh

Bottom of the pile last season, Melbourne Renegades are rank outsiders again in 2020-21, despite being led by Australia captain Aaron Finch.

There have been some big squad changes for the new season, however, after their dismal title defence last time out.

Dan Christian is one of the most notable absentees, while Jack Wildermuth has also now moved on with Tom Cooper.

Imran Tahir has signed up, however, and the veteran leg-spinner continues to take wickets in T20 tournaments the world over.

If the likes of Finch and Kane Richardson play to their maximum, and they get a good stint out of James Pattinson when he is free of test commitments, they can improve on last season.

Melbourne Renegades BBL 2020-21 odds

Melbourne Renegades are 10.00 outsiders to win the 2020-21 Big Bash League. They are 11.00 outsiders with Betway.

2019-20 result: first in the table, runners-up overall
Captain: Glenn Maxwell
Overseas players: Jonny Bairstow (ENG), Zahir Khan (AFG), Nicholas Pooran (WI)
Other key players: Maxwell, Ben Dunk, Marcus Stoinis, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Adam Zampa

While international commitments will impact how often Melbourne Stars have their full squad available, on paper the runners-up in 2019 and 2020 have a strong side once again.

Glenn Maxwell leads the way and he and Marcus Stoinis deserved to be on the winning side last season, there is no question of that.

Stoinis was in stunning all-round form and Maxwell leads from the front as a key player with bat, ball and in the field too.

Jonny Bairstow has been added to the squad, as has Nicholas Pooran, and the two big hitters add further firepower to what could be a stunning batting line-up.

Melbourne Stars BBL 2020-21 odds

Melbourne Stars were unlucky last year, having been favourites going into the final only for the weather to foil them. This year, they are 5.00 favourites with Betway and 4.75 with Bet365.

2019-20 result: sixth
Captain: Mitchell Marsh
Overseas players: Joe Clarke (ENG), Liam Livingstone (ENG), Colin Munro (NZL), Jason Roy (ENG)
Other key players: Jason Behrendorff, Ashton Agar, Jhye Richardson, Andrew Tye, Ashton Turner

Perth missed out on the play-offs last season, but the Scorchers have the batting firepower to step it up again in 2020-21.

Liam Livingstone and Jason Roy will miss the first three games, but big-hitting Colin Munro could be a top opener and Joe Clarke has a big opportunity to show what he can do on a big stage.

Clarke has been a key player for Nottinghamshire Outlaws previously, and the T20 Blast winner will be knocking on the door of the national team if he stars before Livingstone and Roy arrive.

Elsewhere, Andrew Tye is a long-standing star of the BBL and the likes of Jason Behrendorff and Jhye Richardson – when fit – are key with the ball.

This Scorchers line-up, at full strength and on top form, looks well balanced. The key will be consistency.

Perth Scorchers BBL 2020-21 odds

Perth Scorchers can be backed at 7.00 to win BBL|10 with Betway and at 6.00 with Bet365.

2019-20 result: second in the table, champions overall (second title)
Captain: Moises Henriques
Overseas players: Carlos Brathwaite (WI), Tom Curran (ENG), James Vince (ENG)
Other key players: Dan Christian, Henriques, Josh Philippe, Ben Dwarshuis

Champions last season, Sydney Sixers have retained the services of key overseas players Tom Curran and James Vince and added experience by acquiring Dan Christian.

Christian led Melbourne Renegades to victory in 2019, having previously won the tournament with Brisbane Heat in 2013 too.

Most recently in T20 cricket, he was man of the match in the final as Notts Outlaws won the T20 Blast – his third title in that tournament too.

Christian is a man who knows how to win T20 tournaments and, with Curran among last season’s top wicket-takers and Vince and Josh Philippe key retentions on the batting front, things look bright.

On paper, Melbourne Stars are favourites again – Sydney Sixers being hampered by having players who could have otherwise been key, on test duty. Still it is easy to see why the Sixers are just behind in the betting.

Tom Curran has withdrawn his name from the tournament as it had been challenging for him to stay in bio-bubble. Therefore he will not play for Sixers in the current season.

Sydney Sixers BBL 2020-21 odds

Defending champions Sydney Sixers are second-favourites at 5.50 to win BBL|10 with Bet365 and at the same price with Betway.

2019-20 result: fifth in the table, third overall
Captain: Callum Ferguson
Overseas players: Sam Billings (ENG), Alex Hales (ENG)
Other key players: Usman Khawaja, Ferguson, Ben Cutting, Daniel Sams, Chris Green

Sydney Thunder finished third last season and look set to be among the top teams again this season with a strong squad available to them.

Last season’s top wicket-taker, Daniel Sams, is back in the Thunder squad and key batsman Alex Hales also returns.

Once again, Hales’ England omission is Sydney Thunder’s gain. He hit six half-centuries on his way to 576 runs last season.

As well as Hales being overlooked by England, the Thunder also gain from Usman Khawaja’s absence from Australia’s test squad. He scored 388 runs last season and could also be key with the bat.

If Hales, Khawaja and Sams all deliver, they are certainly a team to look out for in the play-offs again despite the betting odds.

Sydney Thunder BBL 2020-21 odds

Sydney Thunder are outsiders at 10.00 to win the 2020-21 Big Bash League with both Bet365 and Betway.