The Perth Scorchers are turning to the playbook from their famous COVID-affected championship as they prepare for a pair of season-defining away matches in the Big Bash League.
Road Warriors Ready for Finals-Shaping Clash
Sitting in second place after a controversial loss to the Melbourne Renegades on Wednesday night, the Scorchers face a critical road double. They take on the Adelaide Strikers this Sunday before a return clash with the Renegades in Melbourne. Their finals chances and title hopes hinge on performing away from home.
Captain Ashton Turner has declared the club's expectations remain sky-high, stating the squad possesses "too many good players" to not be in the title mix. Despite the recent stumble, Turner views the loss as a minor setback, emphasising the team was on a three-game winning streak and building strong momentum.
Drawing Inspiration from Past Triumph
The Scorchers will actively draw parallels to their successful 2021/22 campaign, where they were largely locked out of Western Australia and claimed the title after playing just one true home game. That season involved a 'home' match at Melbourne's Marvel Stadium and several games at neutral venues.
Six players from that championship-winning final – Josh Inglis, Mitch Marsh, Turner, Laurie Evans, Ashton Agar, and Jhye Richardson – remain on the list. Several others, including Nick Hobson, Cooper Connolly, Aaron Hardie, and Matt Kelly, were also part of that travelling squad.
"I don’t have to rewind too far, to BBL11," Turner said. "We had to find a way to be successful on what were some really used wickets... There’s no doubt that’s a challenge for us and will be again towards the back-end of this competition."
Batting Form Contrasts with Home Struggles
Interestingly, the Scorchers have been formidable with the bat on the road this season, surpassing 200 runs in all three of their away games. This contrasts sharply with their struggles at Optus Stadium, where they have posted modest totals of 150, 156, and 127 on a recently tricky surface.
"We’ve got a lot of power in our batting unit. We have seen that at the Gabba, Hobart and against Sydney Thunder," Turner noted. "Our batters have a pretty clear game plan on conditions like that. The challenge for us is to be good everywhere and win everywhere."
Scorchers paceman Mahli Beardman acknowledged the uncharacteristic nature of the Perth pitch, describing it as slower and more spin-friendly with variable bounce, making batting difficult. Turner challenged his team to adapt, stating it is the mark of a professional to succeed in all conditions.
The squad is set to be bolstered by the return of Test players Jhye Richardson and Josh Inglis for the coming games, along with their full complement of overseas imports. While managing injuries to Ashton Agar and Joel Paris, the Scorchers believe their depth and experience from past triumphs will guide them through this crucial period.
