Melbourne Renegades vs Perth Scorchers Prediction: Scorchers are defending champions

Melbourne Renegades and Perth Scorchers are going head to head in the 4th Match of Big Bash League at GMHBA Stadium, Australia on 10 Dec 2023. Defending chanpions Scorchers are going to start the champaign against Renegades in this game. Who will win this game of cricket?

The Renegades had a disappointing start to their season with a loss against the Sydney Sixers in their first match. However, it is still early in the tournament and the team hopes to recover from this setback. The Renegades have a strong batting line-up and will rely on their batsmen to perform well. Nic Maddinson and Joe Clarke are expected to open the innings. Jake Fraser-McGurk has been in exceptional form, carrying his successful performances from the domestic circuit into the T20s with a score of 48 runs. Will Sutherland, the all-rounder, showed great skill with the bat, scoring 51 runs, despite being on the losing side. He also contributed with the ball, taking 2 wickets for 21 runs. The team will also have Tom Rogers and Kane Richardson as part of their seam attack, while Mujeeb ur Rahman and Adam Zampa will lead the spin department.

Nic Maddinson (c), Joe Clarke (wk), Jake Fraser-McGurk, Jordan Cox, Aaron Finch, Jonathan Wells, Will Sutherland, Tom Rogers, Kane Richardson, Adam Zampa, Mujeeb Ur Rahman

The Perth Scorchers secured their fifth championship title in February of this year, solidifying their position as the most successful team in the league. With a talented lineup, the team aims to continue their winning streak in the upcoming season. However, there have been changes to the squad, as Cameron Bancroft, Cameron Green, and Peter Hatzoglou have departed, creating opportunities for emerging players. Liam Haskett and Hamish McKenzie are set to make their debut in the Big Bash League, while Sam Whiteman makes his return to the Scorchers after a stint with the Sydney Thunder. Aaron Hardie, the highest run scorer in BBL 12, will continue to be a key player in the team's batting lineup, and Josh Inglis, a member of the World Cup-winning squad, will contribute in the middle order. 

In terms of bowling, Jhye Richardson and Andrew Tye are expected to lead the attack with the new ball, with Jason Behrendorff providing support. However, the team might face challenges in the spin department due to Ashton Agar's calf injury.

Stephen Eskinazi, Josh Inglis (wk), Aaron Hardie, Mitchell Marsh, Ashton Turner (c), Nick Hobson, Cooper Connolly, Andrew Tye, Jason Behrendorff, Matthew Kelly, Ashton Agar

It is likely that the team that wins the toss will choose to bowl first. The pitch at Simmonds Stadium is well-balanced, providing a fair competition between the batsmen and bowlers. Initially, the ball can seam and move around, requiring the batsmen to exercise caution. However, as the ball ages, it becomes easier to bat on. The team batting first will aim to score a minimum of 150 runs to provide a challenge for the bowlers. The weather is forecasted to be overcast with temperatures around 17 degrees Celsius throughout the day. Based on historical records, the Perth Scorchers have consistently outperformed the Melbourne Renegades and are expected to do so again in this match. It is advisable to place bets on the Perth Scorchers to win.