The Sydney Sixers were the inaugural winners of the Big Bash League and despite making the final since then they have never regained their crown. That will be the aim of the men in magenta this season as they build on a run to the semi-finals last season. Often underrated, the Sixers tend to get the best from their stock and that is very much the task at hand for them as they go about trying to regain the title.
Stats
Last Season: Semi-Final
Captain: Moises Henriques
Overseas Players: James Vince & Tom Curran
Key Player: Daniel Hughes
Best Odds: 8/1 General
Predicted Finishing Position: 6th
Fixtures
Wednesday December 18 – Perth Scorchers (h)
Friday December 20 – Hobart Hurricanes (a)
Sunday December 22 – Brisbane Heat (h)
Thursday December 26 – Perth Scorchers (a)
Saturday December 28 – Sydney Thunder (h)
Thursday January 2 – Melbourne Renegades (a)
Sunday January 5 – Adelaide Strikers (h)
Wednesday January 1 – Adelaide Strikers (a)
Sunday January 12 – Melbourne Stars (a)
Thursday January 16 – Hobart Hurricanes (h)
Saturday January 18 – Sydney Thunder (a)
Monday January 20 – Melbourne Stars (h)
Thursday January 23 – Brisbane Heat (a)
Saturday January 25 – Melbourne Renegades (h)
Squad
Moises Henriques (c), Sean Abbott, Justin Avendano, Jackson Bird, Tom Curran, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Mickey Edwards, Dan Fallins, Josh Hazlewood, Daniel Hughes, Nathan Lyon, Stephen O’Keefe, Josh Philippe (wk), Lloyd Pope, Jordan Silk, Steve Smith, Henry Thornton, James Vince
Preview
It has been very much the bowlers that have got the Sydney Sixers into competitive positions in recent seasons and looking at their squad you would imagine it will be them who are needed once again. Sean Abbott and Stephen O’Keefe both had good campaigns last year and with Tom Curran around for the majority of the season, and Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon to come later in the competition they look well stocked with the ball.
This might not be the most dynamic and powerful batting line up in the competition but they are clever and know their roles and often perform to them. They know they don’t need massive scores to be competitive and they have enough depth in their ranks to put up those challenging totals that are necessary. I can see the Sixers making the playoffs but on the road they might get found out when they are in them.
Betting
In the main the batting markets for this tournament are about right and the favourites for the Sydney Sixers top batsman is no different. I like James Vince in it but I’m wary that an injury to an England batsman in South Africa and he could be straight back into the squad which is less than ideal. Moises Henriques was tempting but I just hate backing captains in this format of the game.
That leads me to the ball where I think the spin of Lloyd Pope is being underrated. We’ve all read about the insane temperatures in Australia in recent times and that is likely to see the pitches a little drier than we would normally expect which brings a bit of mystery spin into play potentially more than ever. I accept the two seamers and Steve O’Keefe are solid options but at four times the price I’ll take a punt on Pope to deliver to maximum effect.
Tips
Back L.Pope Top Sydney Sixers Season Bowler for a 1/10 stake at 18.00 with Betfair
Back him here:
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