The race for the Big Semi Finals is really heating up, and the penultimate round of KFC BBL|03 kicks off at #TheFurnace, where the Perth Scorchers will host the Adelaide Strikers.

With only two wins separating Perth in second spot on the BBL ladder, and the Melbourne Renegades is seventh, no team in that middle pack can afford a loss from here on. And just as importantly, as the Renegades found out on Tuesday night, heavy losses can do major damage to net run rates, too.

The big news for the Scorchers is that after nearly two full seasons waiting, young pace tyro Pat Cummins is in line to make his debut for the Orange Nation. Cummins has been approved to make his comeback to top-level cricket by both CA medical staff, and the BBL Technical Committee. WA paceman Ryan Duffield will drop out of the Scorchers squad to allow Cummins’ return.

On the other hand, the Strikers have had mixed news on the injury front, with the welcome return of skipper Johan Botha from a thumb fracture tempered by the loss of class batsman Michael Klinger. Klinger will miss this and possibly the Strikers’ game at Adelaide Oval against the Brisbane Heat on Saturday 18 January with a hamstring strain.

Key Battle: Strikers’ top order v Scorchers’ bowling attack
In the absence of Klinger, Adelaide have also dropped Callum Ferguson, and have brought hard-hitting opener Jono Dean and exciting young batsman Travis Head into the squad for this match. The Strikers need runs from all their batsman, who Klinger aside, haven’t produced the runs they’d have liked in BBL|03.

The task is not an easy one though, with the Scorchers boasting some of the best-performed bowlers in the competition, and a reputation of defending lowish totals. The Strikers’ run drought must end if they’re to win this crucial match.

Dark Horse: Mitchell Marsh
With older brother Shaun on national duty with the Australian ODI side, Mitch Marsh has a great opportunity to cement himself as one of the most important players in the Scorchers’ squad. Currently second on the run-scoring tally and batting average, Marsh is also striking at roughly once per game with the ball, too. Allrounders are all the rage in T20 cricket, and allrounders that can bomb 100m+ sixes and then turn around and bowl at 130km/h are that much more valuable again.

Last Time
December 31, 2013 @ Adelaide Oval: Adelaide Oval put on a New Year’s Eve special for BBL|03, with a packed house taking in fireworks both on and off the field. The Scorchers were rocked by the dismissal of Shaun Marsh in the second over, and at 5/96 in the 13th, a defendable total was looking shaky. Some lusty hitting from allrounder Nathan Coulter-Nile (42* from 25 balls) was crucial, pushing Perth’s score out to 9/159 from their 20 overs.

Alex Hales set off the first round of fireworks, smashing 30 from 21 balls, and he was one of four middle-order wickets that threatened to stall the Strikers’ chase. Michael Klinger (86* from 55 balls) was superb in carrying his bat to anchor the Adelaide innings, and he and Nathan Reardon got the points for the home team, reaching the target in 19 overs. And then the off-field party started in the City of Churches!

Squads
Scorchers: Simon Katich ©, Yasir Arafat, Michael Beer, Jason Behrendorff, Hilton Cartwright, Pat Cummins, Brad Hogg, Mitch Marsh, Craig Simmons, Alfonso Thomas, Ashton Turner, Adam Voges, Sam Whiteman.

Strikers: Johan Botha (C), Jono Dean, Alex Hales, Travis Head, Jon Holland, Phillip Hughes, Trent Lawford, Tim Ludeman, Michael Neser, Gary Putland, Nathan Reardon, Kane Richardson, Shaun Tait.

Facts and Figures
The Scorchers have two bowlers in the top ten wicket-takers for BBL|03, in new cult hero and Pakistan international Yasir Arafat, and Australian ODI rep Nathan Coulter-Nile. Adelaide have just the one in the top ten, young Queensland allrounder, Michael Neser.

Both teams have had one standout batsman this season, namely Simon Katich for Perth (243 runs at 40.5) and Michael Klinger (205 at 68.3), but both sides also have a host of middle-order bats who haven’t yet cracked 100 runs for the tournament. It’s precisely the pressure will be on Adelaide’s batting, who will be missing Klinger, and why Katich remains such a key Perth wicket.

Of the bowlers to have sent down more than 12 overs in BBL|03, the Scorchers have two – wily spinner Brad Hogg, and promising leftie Jason Behrendorff – operating at less than 6rpo economy rates. Strikers skipper Johan Botha has conceded just 5.5rpo from eight overs bowled so far.

And what Yasir Arafat loses in the economy rate argument – he’s still going at the not-at-all unreasonable 6.7rpo from 20 overs – he more than makes up for with his strike rate. Taking a wicket every 10.9 balls puts Yasir up in very good company, while the Strikers’ Michael Neser goes even better, striking at a wicket every 10.1 balls.

Broadcast: from 4:30pm local time, 7:30pm AEDT on Channel Ten, and on Fairfax Radio Network.

Source: www.bigbash.com.au