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Wickets trump runs in BBL's power surge

3 minute read

Wickets have proven more important than runs during the power surges of this year's Big Bash, with teams unable to recover from a flurry of wickets.

Wickets have trumped runs in importance in the Big Bash's power surge, with teams struggling to recover from mid-innings collapses.

The surge - where the batting team can choose two overs to limit fielders on the boundary - has been the most successful of the BBL's rule changes this summer.

While initially expected to empower batting teams, it has almost become a weapon for bowlers to take wickets as batsmen feel the need to up the ante.

An analysis of the 31 games played this summer where both sides have had the surge, shows just eight times has a team won after losing more wickets in the two-over period.

In comparison in 14 games a side has won after losing less wickets than their opposition. Eight games both teams have lost the same amount of wickets.

The Melbourne Stars, Renegades and Hobart Hurricanes have each lost the most wickets in the surge, and are all in the bottom three of the ladder.

Runs meanwhile matter far less, with 14 games being won by the team who has scored quicker in the surge and 14 won by the team who scored slower.

"If you get an early wicket and teams try to keep going they can lose two or three wickets and it can change the momentum of the game," Thunder coach Shane Bond told AAP.

"We've certainly viewed it like that.

"Teams are getting a bit too finicky with it. It's almost as if you have to score 35 or 40."

Brisbane are so far the best in the power surge, taking seven more wickets than they have lost while going at 13 an over with the bat and 10.63 with the ball.

Meanwhile the high-flying Thunder, who have taken a different tact to most, have scored the quickest in the surge at 13.43 an over.

They prefer to use their surge later with the bat, with Bond arguing it is easier for middle-order batsmen to accumulate with the field spread before launching late.

"You see some teams try to take it too early to try and ice games and have come unstuck when they realise there is a long way to go," Bond said.

"It is trying to find that sweet spot where you maximise it but you don't screw yourself," Bond said.

"If you've watched any T20 cricket if you get two set batsmen in, whether there are five fielders or not out you can score a hell of a lot of runs."

"With the batters we have, we allow them some time to get settled and then you take it at the back end."

BIG BASH POWER SURGE RUN RATES

Thunder: 13.43

Heat: 13

Scorchers: 12

Strikers: 11.09

Sixers: 11.05

Stars: 10.43

Renegades: 8.87

Hurricanes: 8.75

BIG BASH POWER SURGE ECONOMY RATES

Scorchers9.64

Stars9.86

Strikers10.01

Heat10.63

Hurricanes10.64

Sixers11

Renegades11.72

Thunder13.2

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