2018/19 Big Bash League: Predicting the champions of BBL 08

The Big Bash League is now winding down for another season, but with 3 big games to go, it's about to get better than ever as teams fight to secure the trophy. It's been a great year with plenty of amazing action, but with 2 semi-finals and one final to go, we are about to see some more quality T20 action. With that being said, here are our predictions for the final 3 games of BBL08.

Game 1 - Hobart Hurricanes vs. Melbourne Stars

After their recent demolition of the Sixers, there's no hotter team in the Big Bash than the Melbourne Stars, but they are pitted against the team that dominated the entire tournament in the Hobart Hurricanes. This game will feature incredible talent up and down both lineups, but with the depth in the Hurricanes' batting and bowling, it's hard to see them falling short.

With Matthew Wade and D'Arcy Short opening the batting, the Hurricanes have been almost unbeatable, because those men have combined to score more runs than any opening pair in this tournament. That's not to take away from the bowling attack either, because Riley Meredith, Jofra Archer and the rest of that lineup have been dominant from start to finish, which will make it hard for the Stars to get a roll going.

With that being said, the lineup consisting of Handscomb, Stoinis, Maddinson and Maxwell are incredibly dangerous, and with all those international players, experience in the big stage will come in handy. Unfortunately, the Stars don't have the bowling lineup to effectively stop the deep batting lineup that this Hurricanes team possess, and the team in purple will end up one step closer to their first BBL title.

Prediction: Hobart Hurricanes Win

Predicted Lineups

Melbourne Stars -

Marcus Stoinis, Ben Dunk, Peter Handscomb, Glenn Maxwell (c0, Nic Maddinson, Dwayne Bravo, Seb Gotch, Jackson Bird, Adam Zampa, Sandeep Lamicchane, Daniel Worrall.

Hobart Hurricanes -

D'Arcy Short, Matthew Wade (c), Caleb Jewell, Ben McDermott, George Bailey, Simon Milenko, Jofra Archer, Clive Rose, Qais Ahmad, David Moody, Riley Meredith.

Game 2 - Melbourne Renegades vs. Sydney Sixers

Sydney Sixers

This game features two of the more consistent teams in BBL 08, and with depth on both sides of the field, this is the harder game to predict. The Sixers are young and have been tampering with their lineup for the entire year, but have now settled on a pretty good team, while the Renegades are full of experience, top to bottom.

When firing, the Renegades have an incredible batting lineup, and feature plenty of variety, but the Sixers have players with the power and x-factor that can stand up in the big moments, and that will make all the difference. This one can go either way, but the Sixers have proven to be a deep lineup that can adapt to any game situation, and for that reason, we believe we will be seeing a Sydney vs. Hobart Final.

Prediction: Sydney Sixers Win

Predicted Lineups

Sydney Sixers -

Daniel Hughes, Josh Phillippe, James Vince, Moises Henriques (c), Jordan Silk, Jack Edwards, Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Lyon, Lloyd Pope.

Melbourne Renegades -

Marcus Harris, Aaron Finch (c), Sam Harper, Tom Cooper, Dan Christian, Cameron White, Mackenzie Harvey, Cameron Boyce, Kane Richardson, Chris Tremain, Harry Gurney.

Final - Hobart Hurricanes vs. Sydney Sixers

Can Archer lead the Hurricanes to the title?

Not often does the team that dominates the entire regular season come out on top in the Finals, but with the lineup that the Hurricanes posses, it's hard to see them falling short. They did lose a few games throughout the year, but when Matthew Wade and D'Arcy Short have gotten going at the top of the order, they've been untouchable.

It's not going to be a walkover, because the Sixers have dynamic players throughout their ranks, all the way down to Sean Abbott, but no one has the strike power of the Hurricanes. In Short, Wade, Archer and Meredith, Hobart have dangerous players opening both their bowling and batting, and that's what will make the difference.

Prediction: Hobart Hurricanes Win

Predicted Lineups

Sydney Sixers -

Daniel Hughes, Josh Phillippe, James Vince, Moises Henriques (c), Jordan Silk, Jack Edwards, Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshius, Nathan Lyon, Lloyd Pope.

Hobart Hurricanes -

D'Arcy Short, Matthew Wade (c), Caleb Jewell, Ben McDermott, George Bailey, Simon Milenko, Jofra Archer, Clive Rose, Qais Ahmad, David Moody, Riley Meredith.

Player Of The Game Prediction: Jofra Archer

Player of The Tournament Prediction: Matthew Wade