Big Bash League 2021 winner predictions, odds and cricket betting tips

Best bets, predictions and outright picks for the 2021-22 Big Bash League.

Best bet

Brisbane Heat to win the Big Bash
1pt each-way 15-2 bet365

Harry Brook to be top Big Bash runscorer
1pt each-way 33-1 bet365

Tournament preview

After winning each of the last two Big Bash League tournaments, the star-studded Sydney Sixers will take some stopping in pursuit of an unprecedented three-peat.

Sixers skipper Moises Henriques described winning the franchise competition for the third time in a row as "very possible" and there is little reason to doubt the 7-2 shots can go all the way again.

The Sydney side won last year's final by 27 runs against Perth Scorchers and do not look as though they will be massively impacted by red-ball commitments this year.

They have retained reliable batsman James Vince and 2020-21 Player of the Tournament Josh Philippe, while Chris Jordan arrives for the first five games to bring some added firepower.

But no side have ever won three Big Bash titles on the spin and they were far from invincible in the 2020-21 regular season, losing five matches before the playoffs.

And there could be better value elsewhere.

The Scorchers and Melbourne Stars are among the other sides high in the outright market but Brisbane Heat could be a worthwhile bet at 15-2 with bet365.

The Heat finished third in last year's competition, losing to Perth in the Challenger final, and could go well again.

Losing star batsman Marnus Labuschagne to the Australia Ashes squad is a tremendous blow but that does not mean they are out of the running.

Chris Lynn, who was the fourth highest runscorer with 458 runs in 13 innings in the last Big Bash, is once again in their squad while the arrival of Englishman Ben Duckett is a big plus.

Duckett spent time with Hobart Hurricanes in 2018 but this will be his debut Big Bash campaign and he is one to watch, having starred with 232 runs in eight innings for Welsh Fire in The Hundred earlier this year.

Young Afghan bowler Mujeeb Ur Rahman has also arrived to enhance their spin attack and, like last season, they should again be in the mix.

Alex Hales of Sydney Thunder was the top runscorer in the 2020-21 Big Bash and along with D'Arcy Short and Marcus Stoinis, he is once again among the leading contenders for this year's accolade according to bookmakers.

But at 33-1 with bet365, Harry Brook could be a great outside bet in the top runscorer market.

The 22-year-old scored was named PCA Young Player of the Year after scoring 486 runs for Yorkshire Vikings in this year's T20 Blast and then piling on another 189 runs for Northern Superchargers in The Hundred.

Team profiles

Adelaide Strikers

Adelaide Strikers managed to sneak into the playoff spots in the 2020-21 edition of the Big Bash courtesy of their net run rate but will be without Travis Head, who has been called up to the Ashes squad, this time around and are yet to properly replace Phil Salt.

Brisbane Heat

Having lost in last year's Challenger final, Brisbane Heat will be determined to go a step further this time around. Losing Marnus Labuschagne to the Ashes was not ideal but Ben Duckett, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Tom Abell could all enjoy strong tournaments.

Hobart Hurricanes

The Hurricanes just missed out on the playoffs last season but have given themselves a great chance of improving on their 2020-21 performance by recruiting Harry Brook, who excelled in the T20 Blast and The Hundred this year.

Melbourne Renegades

Looking to avoid a third straight last-placed finish in the Big Bash, the Renegades will not be helped by the early absences of Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh for this year's competition.

Melbourne Stars

Wicketkeeper Joe Clarke is a great capture for the Stars, who can also look forward to a potentially full Big Bash campaign with Glenn Maxwell in their ranks. They can force a challenge for the title.

Perth Scorchers

Runners-up in the previous edition of the Big Bash, the Scorchers will be hoping Colin Munro can remain a threat at the crease but losing Jhye Richardson, who was top wicket-taker in the 2020-21 competition, could be detrimental to their chances.

Sydney Sixers

The Sixers are the red-hot favourites and it is clear to see why with dangerous willow-wielders James Vince and Josh Philippe in the squad along with Tom Curran, one of the favourites to be the tournament's top wicket-taker.

Sydney Thunder

Likely to once again be reliant on big-hitter Alex Hales, Sydney Thunder finished third in the regular standings in 2020-21 but will be without Ashes-bound Usman Khawaja in the coming months.

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