Betting on the Top Wicket-Taker in the 2021 Big Bash League – Can Anyone Stop Jhye Richardson?

Did you know that you can bet on the leading wicket-taker in this year’s Big Bash League?

The regular season may have finished, but we still have the small matter of the playoffs to be decided. This means that placing your Golden Arm wager now could prove to be hugely profitable come the end of the campaign.

Jhye Richardson currently leads the way in the wicket-taking charts, while the Scorchers are the betting favorites to win BBL 10. But with players like Mark Steketee, Wes Agar, and Tanveer Sangha hot on Richardson’s heels, we are set for a thrilling finale.

Below, I discuss the odds for the top wicket-taker in BBL 10. After seeing what the bookies make of the situation, I analyze the favorites and weigh up their chances.

Let’s start by taking a look at the bookmakers’ odds for the leading wicket-taker in BBL 10. The prices below are courtesy of 10bet.

There are only seven players involved in this market, with one obvious frontrunner to be crowned this season’s Golden Arm.

Even if you have only been following the Big Bash League sporadically this year, chances are that you won’t be too surprised to see Jhye Richardson (1.10) as the clear favorite here.

Mark Steketee (9.00), Wes Agar (10.00), and Tanveer Sangha (13.00) are all relatively evenly priced, while Ben Dwarshuis (26.00) is more of an outsider.

Veteran Peter Siddle (51.00) is in the mix, although he is a massive longshot, much like Andrew Tye (101.00).

It’s now time to analyze the top wicket-takers in BBL 10.

I don’t think anybody can argue that Jhye Richardson hasn’t been the best bowler in the Big Bash League this season – and the bookies’ odds clearly reflect that.

The Scorchers paceman has picked up a whopping 27 wickets already, five more than his closest rival – Mark Steketee.

Not only has he claimed more scalps than anyone else in BBL 10, but he also boasts a remarkably low economy rate (7.08). Furthermore, he is the only player to have recorded two four-wicket hauls this term.

With lightning-quick pace and a lethal yorker in his locker, it is going to take something special for Richardson to be overtaken in the wicket-taking charts.

Having said that, there are plenty of players that are more than capable of snatching the accolade from the 24-year-old.

With the potential of four games in the playoffs, Mark Steketee has an advantage over the majority of his Golden Arm competitors. The Heat face the Strikers in the Eliminator, meaning Steketee could have more opportunities than Richardson to pick up wickets.

The Queenslander has been pretty expensive this season, with a high economy rate of 9.44. However, that hasn’t stopped him from claiming 22 wickets in 13 games.

Game 5⃣0⃣ for our new all-time leading wicket-taker, Mark Steketee! ?#BringtheHEAT #BBL10 pic.twitter.com/P95WvBMYXs

— Brisbane Heat (@HeatBBL) January 26, 2021

Following a slow start, it feels like Steketee has grown into the tournament recently. After claiming season-best figures of 4/33 against the high-flying Sixers, he took 3/41 in the penultimate group match.

Steketee may trail Richardson by five wickets at the moment, but that could change pretty quickly. Odds of 9.00 seem pretty high here.

Like Steketee, Wes Agar could also still have four games in which to add to his impressive tally. Having already taken 21 wickets this season, I wouldn’t be surprised if he excels in the playoffs.

The powerful paceman has undoubtedly been one of the standout performers in BBL 10. He featured sparingly across the previous four campaigns, but he has quickly become an integral part of Adelaide’s bowling attack this year.

At just 23, the 2020 Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year still has plenty of developing to do. But that doesn’t mean to say that he can’t finish as the leading wicket-taker this season.

If Agar can replicate his recent performance against the Heat in the Eliminator, it will set him up nicely for chasing down Richardson in the latter stages of the tournament.

Having shone throughout BBL 10 up to now, Tanveer Sangha has gained international recognition for his efforts. That’s right – the teenage leg-spinner has been given a place in the Australia squad for the upcoming T20I series in New Zealand.

Pretty impressive for a 19-year-old, right?

In fairness, it is difficult to argue with the Aussie selectors. Sangha has definitely been one of the best bowlers this season – and his statistics back that up.

As well as remaining hugely economical, Sangha has continuously picked up wickets at a rapid rate. In fact, only two players – Richardson and Steketee – have claimed more scalps.

Finishing at the top of the Golden Arm leaderboard in his maiden BBL campaign would cap off a memorable few months for the youngster.

It is worth pointing out that Ben Dwarshuis has only played 11 matches this season. With most of the leading wicket-takers remaining ever-present throughout the campaign, the left-armer should be given credit simply for featuring in this market.

Despite his lack of game-time, Dwarshuis still stands an outside chance of upsetting the odds here.

The Sixers are one of the strongest batting sides in the competition, with the likes of Josh Philippe, Jordan Silk, and James Vince scoring consistently. But when it comes to bowling, Dwarshuis has proven to be the Sixers’ main source of wickets.

Having claimed standout figures of 4/13 against the Renegades in December, a couple of similar displays during the playoffs could easily see Dwarshuis fly up the Golden Arm charts.

We all know that Peter Siddle is one of Australia’s best-ever Test bowlers. But this season, the old-timer has established himself as a deadly T20 bowler, too.

The 36-year-old was forced to miss a couple of games earlier in the campaign through injury, yet he has still managed to rack up 18 wickets in 12 outings.

Peter Siddle REALLY enjoyed taking that one! https://t.co/z6evhjg7YD #BBL10 pic.twitter.com/4Xggv984r4

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 24, 2021

Of course, Siddle’s outstanding figures of 5/16 against the Hurricanes distort his overall tally somewhat. However, every time he charges in for the Strikers, you can’t help but feel sorry for the opposing batsman.

Siddle will probably need the Strikers to make it all the way to the final if he is to finish as the top wicket-taker in BBL 10. That is unlikely, although stranger things have happened.

Andrew Tye currently finds himself ten runs behind Scorchers team-mate Richardson on the Golden Arm leaderboard. So, it is no real surprise that he is priced at 101.00 to finish as the competition’s leading wicket-taker.

Having said that, Tye has a freakish knack for picking up multiple wickets in a short space of time.

Indeed, there have only ever been six hat-tricks in the history of the Big Bash League – and Tye has claimed two of them! The Aussie international took three straight wickets against the Heat in BBL 06 before doing exactly the same against the Sixers the following season.

As the odds suggest, it is highly unlikely that Tye will top the Golden Arm charts this year. But given his previous record, you can’t write him off altogether.

Let’s be honest – the chances of Richardson being overtaken on the Golden Arm leaderboard are pretty slim right now. I mean, you only have to take one look at the odds to see that.

Still, you can certainly make a case for a number of other bowlers finishing as the Big Bash League’s top wicket-taker this season.

It will be difficult for Tye, Siddle, and Dwarshuis to topple Richardson. But when you look at the current standings, it wouldn’t be a massive shock if Sangha, Agar, or Steketee overtook the frontrunner.

I guess it all depends on how each team fares in the playoffs. If the Scorchers get eliminated early on, one of the outsiders could easily make a charge for the summit of the Golden Arm charts.

Conversely, if the Scorchers go deep into the competition, Richardson will almost certainly finish the campaign as the leading wicket-taker in BBL 10.

You can keep up to date with all the latest betting advice for the playoffs over in our cricket picks section.

I’ve also taken a look at the players most likely to be the top run-scorer in the 2021 Big Bash League.

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