#3 Veterans shine for Scorchers
Last season’s semi-finalists Perth Scorchers began their Big Bash League with a 48-run win over the Adelaide Strikers, who succumbed to their second consecutive defeat of this season’s BBL. Two veterans played a major role in their victory, one with the bat and the other with the ball – Ian Bell and Mitchell Johnson.
While the 35-year old Johnson has already retired from the national team, Bell is still in contention for a spot in the English team, but hasn’t played a match for England since November 2015.
When the Perth Scorchers lost Michael Klinger in the first over, Bell came in to join Sam Whiteman on the crease. In his very first delivery of the BBL, Bell was given a second life as a top-edged pull from him was dropped by Jake Weatherald at midwicket. Bell took full advantage of this as he played a well-made 61 off just 42 deliveries, hitting 6 fours and two sixes that included a brilliantly lofted six over extra cover from a full and wide delivery from Chris Jordan.
In the bowling department, it was Mitchell Johnson who did the most damage for the Scorchers, picking up three wickets for 33 runs in his four overs, including those of Kieron Pollard and Brad Hodge, who was looking very dangerous at the crease despite the Adelaide Strikers losing wickets quickly.
These performances are enough to say that both these players still have a lot of cricket left in them despite not being a part of the national team for more than a year, and that both Bell and Johnson will be crucial to the Perth Scorchers chances of winning the BBL.
Brand-new app in a brand-new avatar! Download CricRocket for fast cricket scores, rocket flicks, super notifications and much more! 🚀☄️
