The Sydney Sixers will be up against the Sydney Thunder
in the second game of the Big Bash League this season at the Sydney
Cricket Ground. We’ll bring you the live scores of the action throughout
this game.
Defending champions Sixers have some
behind their momentum back in recent times, having gone undefeated in
their Champions League Twenty20 victory, and they will hope to maintain
that record going into this opener.
Moises Henriques’ contribution with both the bat, and the ball will
strengthen the middle-order even as spinning all-rounders Steven Smith
and Steve O’Keefe add the necessary zing to the side.
On paper, the Thunder may not have too many big names but they will
look to take inspiration from Melbourne Renegades’ opening night win
over the star-studded Melbourne Stars.
Dave Warner joins an already strong-looking Sixers squad and might
even turn out for them in this game unlike Thunder’s Michael Clarke, who
will miss this game because of a back ailment.
Brad Haddin will captain the team which has some big-ticket players,
all of who had propped the side up in their Champions League Twenty20
campaign earlier this year.
Michael Lumb, who ended the competition as the top-scorer and got a
subsequent recall to the English side for their Twenty20 internationals
against India, will form a formidable opening partnership with Warner.
In case of a failure for both, the Sixers will have captain Haddin,
Nic Maddinson and Dominic Thornley to shore up the middle order.
In Azhar Mahmood they have an all-rounder who impressed all with his
performances at the Champions League Twenty20 for the Auckland Aces and
on a helpful SCG track, his leg-cutters will be of immense value – not
to mention his ability to smoke a few into the stands.
Clarke may have opted out of this encounter but they have Usman
Khawaja to fill in for him. Martin Guptill will bat at the top of the
order and hope to get back to his run-scoring form that eluded him in
Sri Lanka recently.
Chris Rogers should give him company as the other opener with Chris Gayle unable to join the team for this opening game.
In Azhar Mahmood they have an all-rounder who impressed all with his
performances at the Champions League Twenty20 for the Auckland Aces and
on a helpful SCG track, his leg-cutters will be of immense value – not
to mention his ability to smoke a few into the stands.
It is the bowling that may worry the Thunder – Dirk Nannes aside,
there is not too many much of an experience, with only Scott Coyte and
Gurinder Sandhu in the line-up.
Luke Doran was a part of the Big Bash League last season and will
hope to continue the good work. His economy of less than 6.5 in eight
Twenty20 games is a crucial figure and he will be expected to bowl in
the middle overs.
