Adelaide Strikers look for turnaround against Sydney Sixers

Adelaide Strikers look for turnaround against Sydney Sixers

After to back-to-back defeats, Adelaide Strikers would be looking to turn their fortunes around and open their account in front of a packed stadium as they prepare to host Sydney Sixers in the New Year's Eve clash at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday (December 31).

It been a season of contrasting fortunes thus far for both the teams. Strikers, who have had a good record in the short history of the tournament, are reeling at the bottom of sixth edition's points table with two losses in as many games. Sixers, on the other hand, have two wins in three outings, including the one against defending champions Sydney Thunder in the tournament opener.

Strikers' habit of conceding big totals after winning the toss has hurt them on both occasions. While against Brisbane Heat they appeared to be well in control of the chase before making a hash of it towards the fag end, lack of a solid partnership in their second fixture, against Perth Scorchers, despite Brad Hodge's captain's knock, left them ruing the missed chances. Against Sixers, Adelaide will have to put their best foot forward in order to revive a failing campaign.

Meanwhile, Sixers stunned Thunder in the curtain raiser before going down to Hobart Hurricanes by a whopping 60-run margin. However, just as it seemed Sixers are slowly sinking again, a clinical all-round display against Scorchers gave them their second and a well-deserved win.

However, all of this has been at home and the game against Strikers will be their first away game of the season and a true test of their abilities.

Unfortunately for the home side, Kane Richardson, who scored a handy 45 in their defeat to Scorchers, is ruled out for 2-4 weeks due to a sore back. For Sixers, Nic Maddinson, who was away on national duty, has been released from the Australia squad for the third Test against Pakistan and joins the team back for the key clash. Jason Roy, who missed the Scorchers clash due to injury, could make a comeback too for the visitors.

Interestingly, the last time these two teams clashed, also on New Year's eve, Travis Head smacked a stunning 53-ball century to help Strikers to a last-over victory. The hosts need nothing short to keep themselves in the reckoning.

When: Adelaide Strikers vs Sydney Sixers, December 31 at 6:40 P Local time, 1:40 PM IST

Where: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

Team news:

Adelaide Strikers: Tom Andrews is set to replace Richardson while Canberra-born Jono Dean found a place in the 13-man squad announced by the home side.

Sydney Sixers: The visitors have announced two changes to their squad with Joe Mennie and Steve O'Keefe, departing for national duty, making way for S Chhibber and Daniel Hughes. In a last minute call, Maddinson too has joined the squad.

Who said what:

"We played some better cricket a couple of nights ago against the Scorchers. We were disappointed in our second game after a really good first game against the Thunder. The beauty of this competition is that the next game comes around quickly. The exciting thing about it is that we're about to play in front of 50,000 people on New Year's (eve) so it's going to be good fun," Sixers' wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.

"There are areas that need to improve and we have identified that. We start with training, there are a couple days of prep before we take on the Sydney Sixers and we are really looking forward to that," Strikers' coach Jason Gillespie ahead of the New Year's eve clash.

Squads:

Adelaide Strikers: Brad Hodge (Captain), Wes Agar, Alex Carey, Jonathon Dean, Ben Dunk, Travis Head, Jon Holland, Chris Jordan, Ben Laughlin, Jake Lehmann, Tim Ludeman, Michael Neser, Kieron Pollard, Adil Rashid, Kane Richardson, Craig Simmons, Kelvin Smith, Billy Stanlake, Jake Weatherald

Sydney Sixers: Moises Henriques (Captain), Sean Abbott, Sam Billings, Jackson Bird, Doug Bollinger, Johan Botha, Ben Dwarshuis, Brad Haddin, Josh Hazlewood, Daniel Hughes, Michael Lumb, Nathan Lyon, Nic Maddinson, Joe Mennie, Steve O'Keefe, Jason Roy, Jordan Silk, Mitchell Starc