BBL6 Game 21 Preview - Sydney Sixers v Melbourne Renegades @ SCG
Sydney Sixers (3-2) v Melbourne Renegades (2-2) @ SCG
Preview - The Sydney Sixers will go a long way towards locking up a Top 4 berth with a win over the Melbourne Renegades when they clash at the SCG on Monday night. The Sixers scored their most impressive win of BBL6 to date last start with a 4-wicket victory over the high flying Brisbane Heat at the Gabba. Daniel Hughes was the hero for the Sixers, upstaging some of his more illustrious teammates, with a brilliant 85 to steer the Sixers home. The Renegades are on a short turn around after they suffered a 46-run drubbing at the hands of cross town rival, the Melbourne Stars, at Docklands Stadium on Saturday night. The Renegades’ bowling had been a big reason for their fast start to the competition; however the Stars got a hold of them, taking them for 200 in a one-sided rout. With both teams in a congested middle of the BBL6 table, this game is of vital importance for both sides as they seek out a Top 4 berth.
Squad Changes - The Sixers have a few changes with some of their Australian Test stars available to take on the Renegades. Spinner Steven O’Keefe was named in the 13-man squad, however was been withdrawn today citing workload by Cricket Australia. At this stage Nathan Lyon has been named in the Sixers 13 and may come in to provide a trio of off spinners with Johan Botha and Will Sommerville. Fast bowler Jackson Bird is back in the Sixers squad after his Test commitments and they also welcome back Englishman Michael Lumb, with both of their overseas players, Jason Roy and Sam Billings, departing for England's ODI tour of India. Lyon has not been available for many BBL games over the years and has played just 28 T20 games, but has a decent record of 34 wickets at an economy rate of 7.4. With Henry Thornton called up by the Cricket Australia XI to play Pakistan in Brisbane, I would expect Jackson Bird to be a direct replacement for him in the Sixers side tonight. Bird is well rested having sat out the Sydney Test match and has a pretty good record for a fast bowler in T20 cricket, with 35 wickets from 38 games at an economy rate of 7.6. Michael Lumb will resume his place at the top of the Sixers' batting order having been a regular overseas player for the Club throughout the past five summers. Lumb is somewhat of a T20 specialist, with over 200 games experience, and whilst his average of 24 is only moderate, he can take teams apart with an explosive strike rate of 138.
The Renegades make three changes themselves with Tom Beaton, Xavier Doherty and Thisara Perera coming in for Marcus Harris, Trent Lawford and Nathan Rimmington. Doherty has found it hard to get a look in at the Renegades given Bard Hogg and Sunil Narine's dominance, however could yet come into calculations should the team decide to play three spinners at the SCG. Tom Beaton is a hard hitting batsman who has the ability to be destructive in the middle order, with an average of 23 and a strike rate of 136 from 22 T20 games.
Sydney Sixers Scouting Report - Daniel Hughes went a long way towards cementing his spot at the top of the order for the rest of BBL6 with an outstanding 85 against the Heat. What impressed me most was his ability to manipulate the ball into gaps and find boundaries, without necessarily having the power game of others. Where the Sixers will be looking for a bit more production is out of NSW team mates Nic Maddinson and captain Moises Henriques. Maddinson looked in superb touch in Brisbane only to sky one on 24 just as he looked like taking off. Henriques hasn't done badly in BBL6 with 115 runs at a respectable average of 28 and excellent strike rate of 144 - however he hasn’t cashed in on his excellent form. After his first 76n/o, Henriques is yet to pass 25 from his last four innings. When he fires, the Sixers generally do, so they will need a bit more production out of their captain for the big games ahead. Brad Haddin had a very quiet BBL campaign until he exploded with a crucial 32 from just 13 balls to help lift the Sixers from in trouble to over the line against the Heat. On paper, this is an excellent Sixers batting line up, although they haven’t really clicked as a side yet. They will be well tested by a Renegades attack with two high quality spinners and two aggressive fast bowlers.
With the ball, The Sixers could well hit the Renegades with plenty of spin here after Adam Zampa went through them on Saturday. Johan Botha has been close to his crafty best in BBL6, picking up 5 wickets and conceding less than 7 runs per over. In Sean Abbott, the Sixers have the runaway leading wicket taker in BBL, with 12 scalps. Abbott is three clear of his nearest challenger having picked up 12 wickets at an average of 12. Abbott's strike rate is a remarkable 9.5, meaning he is picking up a wicket every one and a half overs so far. Abbott has been really expensive in the past, however his economy rate of 7.8 is another big improvement for the young all rounder. The Sixers' faster men have proved expensive in the BBL so far, so they will be looking for a bit of composure and execution under pressure from the experienced Jackson Bird on his return.
Melbourne Renegades Scouting Report - The Renegades’ batting has been inconsistent through the first four games of BBL6. At the moment they are just not getting enough contributors, with Aaron Finch and Cameron White carrying their batting line up. Outside of those two, they haven’t really had the players that can scare the opposition and make a real dent on the scoreboard. That's where someone like Thisara Perera might be able to land a few big blows down the order. I have been critical of their move to open the batting with Sunil Narine, however with Marcus Harris out of the side now they might give Narine another chance and promote Cameron White to Number 3. I would much rather a proper batsman up the top opening with Finch like a White, Tom Cooper, Ferguson or Neville. I wonder what they make of a guy without a First Class 50 opening the batting? Aaron Finch will be with the Renegades for the rest of BBL6 after being dropped from the Australian ODI side. Finch has looked in great nick in the opening four games with 144 runs at an average of 36 and a huge strike rate of 166. Finch would probably be kicking himself a bit, as each game he has looked well on top before falling just as a big score loomed.
The Renegades welcomed back James Pattinson against the Stars and he was impressive until his final over on Saturday night. Pattinson bowled in the mid-140’s with plenty of aggression and, along with Chris Tremain, gives the Renegades two guys who are genuine strike bowlers. It’s a double edged sword though, as both those bowlers went for over 10 runs per over against the Stars, as the batsmen swung hard and got after them, using the pace on the ball. Both Sunil Narine and Brad Hogg returned their worst figures of BBL6 so far, going for over 8 runs an over and only picking up 1 wicket between them against the Stars. However they didn't bowl badly and I expect them to both bowl well at the SCG.
Verdict - This game is shaping up as a cracker and one that could shape both side's seasons. Both sides are right in the mix for a Top 4 spot, so expect both teams to be equally desperate tonight. The Sixers and Renegades are likely to make two or three changes each, and they will be looking for some impact from those players. To me, it is shaping up as a real spin off with both sides likely to bowl over 10 overs of spin on an SCG surface that might hold up and turn. So the late withdrawal of O'Keefe might give the Renegades a slight edge. The Sixers look to have the more explosive batting line up, however the Renegades’ middle order are due to fire sooner or later. Even though it was a great win for the Sixers over the Heat, they relied upon Daniel Hughes and Brad Haddin bailing them out somewhat, and their batting has been a bit inconsistent throughout the BBL. I think Brad Hogg could have a big impact on this game after being pretty unlucky throughout his 4 overs against the Stars. The Sixers will be confident if they can take out Aaron Finch early, then a lot of the Renegades’ threat is taken away from them. It will be a great battle between Nathan Lyon and Johan Botha up against Brad Hogg and Sunil Narine, and the winner of that battle may well determine the outcome of the game. We have had a few one sided games in the past few nights, but this one should come right down to the wire.
The Lurker –“Looks a great game on paper this, with both sides close to full strength. I have backed the Sixers with plenty of success throughout BBL6, however I have gone against them tonight with O'Keefe's late withdrawal a big factor. The spinners are going to play a massive role in this game, so I am banking on Brad Hogg and Sunil Narine to win that battle for the Renegades. Get on the Renegades to hit the most horns of the two sides with Finch to go bananas early. Hope you all followed my $33 high bat double last night of Bailey into Watto. Going with the Finch and Henriques double tonight; both players have looked in good touch so far in BBL6."