Brisbane Heat eye top spot against patchy Sydney Sixers
Brisbane Heat eye top spot against patchy Sydney Sixers
Unbeaten in the season thus far, hosts Brisbane Heat have a chance to go on top of the points table as they host Sydney Sixers in the sixth edition of the Big Bash League at the Gabba on Tuesday (January 3).
With three wins in as many games, Heat occupy the second spot by the virtue of an inferior run-rate in comparison to that of table-toppers Perth Scorchers, who have in turn played a game more. Barring their title win in the second season of the BBL, knockouts have remained a distant dream for Heat. This year, however, Brendon McCullum & Co. have already exceeded expectations and made home in the top-half of the points table. As the tournament nears the halfway mark, nothing would be more fulfilling for the team than being atop the tally.
On the other hand, Sixers experienced a free fall last season - from being runners-up to wooden spooners - and their performance this season hasn't seen any remarkable improvement either. Their record, having already played half their games, stands at 50-50 and every loss from here on is only going to push them out of the knockouts race.
Sixers have only themselves to blame for their self-destruction. They stunned defending champions Sydney Thunder in the tournament opener by a whopping nine-wicket margin, before plunging to a 60-run defeat against Hobart Hurricanes. They handed Scorchers a six-wicket beating but in the New Year Eve's clash against Adeliade Stikers, they were beaten comprehensively, yet again.
Sean Abbott's five-for against Strikers helped Sixers pull things back after having conceded 90-odd runs at the halfway mark. But barring Sam Billings, none of the other batsmen showed stomach for fight, in a seemingly easy chase of 153, as the team collapsed to 104.
Heat, meanwhile, have been the surprise package this season by racing up three victories on the trot. The common factor in all three of the wins have been the blistering knocks of Chris Lynn and their skipper McCullum. Lynn is the tournament's highest scorer at the moment, and has picked up Man of the Match in two of those victories, with McCullum not being too far behind either.
The batting order's firepower have taken away the focus from the bowling unit which hasn't been up to the mark.
Heat welcome back Alex Doolan in their side after the batsman was declared to have fully recovered from his jaw injury suffered in the Sheffield Sheild game in late November. Nic Madinson and Jordan Silk have been named in the 13-man line up of Sixers for their away fixture. The duo's inclusion bodes well for the side that is desperately seeking a win to break into top-four.
When: Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Sixers, 3rd January at 6:10 PM Local Time, 1:40 PM IST
Where: The Gabba, Brisbane
Team News
Brisbane Heat: Doolan features in the Heat's 13-man line-up for the game, in place of Nathan Reardon who flew back for a domestic fixture.
Sydney Sixers: The visitors have made two changes to their line-up with Maddinson and Jordan back in the 13-man squad.
Squads (From):
Brisbane Heat: Brendon McCullum (Captain), Samuel Badree, Joe Burns, Ben Cutting, Alex Doolan, Andrew Fekete, Luke Feldman, Jason Floros, Sam Heazlett, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Lalor, Chris Lynn, Jimmy Peirson, Nathan Reardon, Alex Ross, Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson, Jack Wildermuth.
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.
Unbeaten in the season thus far, hosts Brisbane Heat have a chance to go on top of the points table as they host Sydney Sixers in the sixth edition of the Big Bash League at the Gabba on Tuesday (January 3).
With three wins in as many games, Heat occupy the second spot by the virtue of an inferior run-rate in comparison to that of table-toppers Perth Scorchers, who have in turn played a game more. Barring their title win in the second season of the BBL, knockouts have remained a distant dream for Heat. This year, however, Brendon McCullum & Co. have already exceeded expectations and made home in the top-half of the points table. As the tournament nears the halfway mark, nothing would be more fulfilling for the team than being atop the tally.
On the other hand, Sixers experienced a free fall last season - from being runners-up to wooden spooners - and their performance this season hasn't seen any remarkable improvement either. Their record, having already played half their games, stands at 50-50 and every loss from here on is only going to push them out of the knockouts race.
Sixers have only themselves to blame for their self-destruction. They stunned defending champions Sydney Thunder in the tournament opener by a whopping nine-wicket margin, before plunging to a 60-run defeat against Hobart Hurricanes. They handed Scorchers a six-wicket beating but in the New Year Eve's clash against Adeliade Stikers, they were beaten comprehensively, yet again.
Sean Abbott's five-for against Strikers helped Sixers pull things back after having conceded 90-odd runs at the halfway mark. But barring Sam Billings, none of the other batsmen showed stomach for fight, in a seemingly easy chase of 153, as the team collapsed to 104.
Heat, meanwhile, have been the surprise package this season by racing up three victories on the trot. The common factor in all three of the wins have been the blistering knocks of Chris Lynn and their skipper McCullum. Lynn is the tournament's highest scorer at the moment, and has picked up Man of the Match in two of those victories, with McCullum not being too far behind either.
The batting order's firepower have taken away the focus from the bowling unit which hasn't been up to the mark.
Heat welcome back Alex Doolan in their side after the batsman was declared to have fully recovered from his jaw injury suffered in the Sheffield Sheild game in late November. Nic Madinson and Jordan Silk have been named in the 13-man line up of Sixers for their away fixture. The duo's inclusion bodes well for the side that is desperately seeking a win to break into top-four.
When: Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Sixers, 3rd January at 6:10 PM Local Time, 1:40 PM IST
Where: The Gabba, Brisbane
Team News
Brisbane Heat: Doolan features in the Heat's 13-man line-up for the game, in place of Nathan Reardon who flew back for a domestic fixture.
Sydney Sixers: The visitors have made two changes to their line-up with Maddinson and Jordan back in the 13-man squad.
Squads (From):
Brisbane Heat: Brendon McCullum (Captain), Samuel Badree, Joe Burns, Ben Cutting, Alex Doolan, Andrew Fekete, Luke Feldman, Jason Floros, Sam Heazlett, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Lalor, Chris Lynn, Jimmy Peirson, Nathan Reardon, Alex Ross, Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson, Jack Wildermuth.
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.
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