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Just to give us a change from discussing Cody Leggett, the silly season is upon us again which means a diet of Kentucky fried 20/20 cricket. Not everyones cup of tea or bucket of fat I know, but it does get exciting at times I have to admit. This year there are some new overseas players involved including AB De Villiers, Dale Steyn, Liam Livingston, Tom Banton ( A new Kevin Peterson according to the pundits) and a number of mystery spinners from Afghanistan and Nepal.
As far as the Scorchers are concerned there has been an exodus of experience since last seasons disappointing campaign with Shaun Marsh, NCN and Cartwright amongst those who have gone to other teams. Coming in are two new overseas players, Liam Livingstone and Chris Jordan. Don't know a lot about Livingstone but Jordon is a good pick up and a excellent death bowler who will make up for the loss of A J Tye who I believe is out injured for the season. Also coming in are Kurtis Patterson and Fawed Ahmed who will be particularly handy on Eastern states pitches.
The loss of Berendorff and Tye has weakened the bowling unit somewhat so the batting will have to be better this year and there will be a lot of onus on Bancroft, Patterson, Mitch Marsh, Cam Green and Ashton Turner to have big seasons.

I think the Scorchers might struggle again Mike as you say they have had a fair few good T20 players leave.
Jordan should be a handy pick up, dont know much about Livingston, Patterson has been injured all cricket season thus far after making his Test debut last summer & Fawad should be an improvement on last years leggie the late great Abdul Qadir's son.
Turner has been abysmal in the SS so far this season hopefully the freedom of T20 stuff can turn around his form, M.Marsh could be back from his brain fade, Bancroft has been horrible in the SS, no Behrendorff or Tye (who I reckon most have worked out anyway now) will be interesting that is for sure!

Looks like BBL IX is off to a reasonable start.Up at the Gabba,Heat V Thunder.Crowd of around 30,000.
Thunder started ok but are losing wickets.3-42 off 5 overs

Boy oh boy don't the Scorchers look like a train wreck early in BBL 9.The 6ers have give the orange+blacks a real spanking. Bowled and batted +fielded badly tonight.

WA boy Phillipe making the Scorchers pay big time tonight GTR.
Amazing to think we have allowed the likes of Phillipe, S.Marsh, Short, Stoinis, Coulter-Nile, Cartwright etc go East whilst we keep the likes of Bancroft & Turner and then recruit the Pom Livingston who to be fair copped an absolutely disgraceful lbw decision.
Another wooden spoon coming up for Voges mob!

Yes it was a very poor performance but the SCG is a graveyard for WA teams. Mind you Josh Phillipe seems to quite like the place. The WA Hierarchy may be driving yet another promising young batsman towards another state due to inept selection. I will hold judgement on the Scorchers to see if they play any better at home this weekend. They will be coming up against Shaun Marsh with a point to prove so it wont get any easier. Really Bancroft and Turner need to go back to grade cricket to try and get some confidence back, the only problem is that Sam Whiteman is one of the reserve batsmen and he is just as out of nick as the other 2. Again Cam Green continues to be the light at the end of the tunnel for both the Warriors and the Scorchers

mikeh wrote: Yes it was a very poor performance but the SCG is a graveyard for WA teams. Mind you Josh Phillipe seems to quite like the place. The WA Hierarchy may be driving yet another promising young batsman towards another state due to inept selection. I will hold judgement on the Scorchers to see if they play any better at home this weekend. They will be coming up against Shaun Marsh with a point to prove so it wont get any easier. Really Bancroft and Turner need to go back to grade cricket to try and get some confidence back, the only problem is that Sam Whiteman is one of the reserve batsmen and he is just as out of nick as the other 2. Again Cam Green continues to be the light at the end of the tunnel for both the Warriors and the Scorchers

They just looked like having a big bash. Too many caught out deep trying to do what Fuzzy ended up doing. Two great sixes & 17 runs off the over..
Sydney played better cricket & all over by 6 overs.. EX WA Phillipe looked at home in Sydney..

This Qais Ahmed playing for Hobart looks a very promising young leg spinner.

Beasley Hutton wrote: This Qais Ahmed playing for Hobart looks a very promising young leg spinner.

A few of the team's have recruited well BH.Dale Stein+highly rated leggie from Nepal at the Stars+AB Devilius at the Heat after new year+Zaheer Khan.

Much needed win for the Scorchers tonight. Lots of theatre with the battle of the Marsh brothers providing a real atmosphere to the game. Both Shaun and Mitch did well and it was good to see most of the Scorchers fans were supportive of Shaun ( although there were a minority of morons that booed - always will be that element)
The Scorchers have got an absolute gun recruit in Chris Jordon if tonight is any indication. His bowling was spot on, his fielding sharp, topped off by that amazing catch in the 18th over and also his sharing the benefit of his experience with the other bowlers and the captain. Fawad Ahmed looks like he will become a crowd favourite as well. His last over turned the whole game around when it looked like the Renegades may have a sneaky chance of snatching the game via an excellent partnership between Marsh and Webster. In the 18th over Fawad removed both Marsh and Christian to pretty much end the game as a contest.

It was pleasing to see the clean striking from Bancroft, Turner and Mitch Marsh and the score of 196 was over par even on the flat wicket. Jury still out I reckon on Liam Livingstone. He batted OK but looked a bit lumbering and awkward in the field. He comes with big wraps so I'm sure he will show his wares at some stage