BBL: What We Learnt In Week One
Week One of BBL|06 is done and dusted so it’s time to make some early (and maybe over analysed) calls for the rest of the season.
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Here’s what we learnt in week one:
The Stars have serious hitting power
Chasing 188 might have seemed like a bit of a task when the Stars set out to take down the Hurricanes total. That wasn’t the case though, with the team going about it in almost surgical style. The men in green managed the task with 2.2 overs still to be bowled, led by Rob Quiney, Luke Wright and Glenn Maxwell. You only need one of those three to fire for any chase to be possible, but when all three do, it’s almost guaranteed.
The second game blues are real
Over the history of the BBL teams have had a habit of losing their second game of the fixture. The Hurricanes and Sixers have both managed the feat so far. The Sixers host the Scorchers tonight and will be hoping to add the West Australians to the list with them.
Buy up on batsman in Hobart
Spin usually plays a significant role in Twenty20s now, but that isn’t the case in Hobart. If the pitch we saw when the ‘Canes hosted the Stars is anything to go by they won’t be getting much help there. Add to this the short boundaries and the occasional prevailing wind and you have plenty of batsman liking their lips.
The Thunder of old are back
Before winning last years tournament the Thunder had finished bottom or second bottom on the ladder for every season of the BBL. The premiership hangover seems to be in full effect if the first two games of BBL|06 are anything to go by. Here’s hoping they can turn things around, but we’re not holding our breath.
It’s a batsman’s game
We probably knew this one beforehand, but it’s been confirmed in week one. Through 12 innings so far this season, only 5 batsman have been given LBW. Now if the decision isn’t there to give there’s no issue, but we expect that things might just be going the batsman’s way just a bit too much.
Lynn and Paine look cherry ripe
If these two carry on the way they’ve started they they are both a lock for national duty in the ODIs. Get in on them while you can and have them in your lineup before they’re gone.
Age is no barrier
One of the best things about the BBL is that you get to see the champions of seasons gone by come out and have a run in the short format, not having to battle away all day in the field. What we’ve seen in week one though is that these guys still have plenty of value. Crowd favourite Brad Hogg looks right at home with the Renegades and won’t be slowing down anytime soon, taking 2/22 at the age of 45. Ben Hilfenhaus turned back the clock as well, though only 33, he looked back to the top of his game when he gave himself a shot at a hat-trick.
BBL SCORING SYSTEM
Batting
Per Run Scored = 1 point
Boundary Bonus: 4 = 1 point
Boundary Bonus: 6 = 2 points
Strike Rate Bonus = 1 point
For every run a player scores above the amount of balls faced: (e.g. if a player scores 40 off 26 balls, they score an additional 14 points)
Bowling
Dot Ball = 1 point
Maiden Over Bonus = 15 points
Wicket = 25 points
3 or More Wicket Bonus = 10 points
Extras Penalty (wide or no-ball) = -1 point
Economy Rate Bonus (4 or less runs per over) = 25 points
Economy Rate Bonus (4.01 – 5 runs per over) = 20 points
Economy Rate Bonus (5.01 – 6 runs per over) = 15 points
Economy Rate Bonus (6.01 – 7 runs per over) = 10 points
Economy Rate Bonus (7.01 – 8 runs per over) = 5 points
Fielding
Catch = 10 points
Stumping = 15 points
Run Out = 20 points