The first Sydney derby of the season makes up the second part of the Big Bash League double header on Christmas Eve when the Thunder host the Sixers at Spotless Stadium with one of the two sides going to two wins from their first pair of matches.
Both sides got up and running for their campaigns with a victory in their opening games and so whoever wins this will join the Melbourne Renegades as the early pacesetters in the competition ahead of Christmas.
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Sydney Thunder
We don’t know for sure that the Sydney Thunder would have won their opening match had the rain not tumbled down but they would have done well to lose having put up the total that they did. When you think that a couple of big players for them were just getting going when they got out you sense there is plenty more to come from the Thunder with the bat.
What was clear to see and actually good to see was the quality that the Thunder had with the ball when really they were right up against it with the shortened run chase. I’ve always liked Shane Bond as a bowler and it looks like as a coach he had instilled a discipline and a quality in his bowling attack which should serve the Thunder very well in this competition.
Sydney Sixers
Full credit must go to the Sydney Sixers for overcoming the Perth Scorchers in their opening game of the season on Saturday. There would not have been many judges who were expecting that outcome so that should be acknowledged. The acid test probably comes here given that this is a match they will feel that they can win so there is a different sort of pressure on them as a result.
Throughout this competition I will be interested to see how the Sixers batting holds up. To be fair it was wobbling against the Scorchers although there aren’t many line ups which aren’t going to crumble at the hands of that attack. What we did see was some excellent depth to their batting and that really can’t be underestimated.
Team News
Sydney Thunder have made one change to their squad with Arjun Nair not available for this contest. Usman Khawaja continues to miss out but Jos Buttler and Joe Root are still around and will look to build on their first displays.
Sydney Sixers are going to give a fitness test to their captain Moises Henriques who pulled up a bit lame in the opening match against the Perth Scorchers. He is expected to play even if he isn’t quite 100% fit though.
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Betting
With both sides winning their first matches we should be in for something of a decent contest here. I always take a match to see how this Spotless Stadium wicket is playing before I get too stuck into matches here because this is probably the least predictable surface used in the competition but there is one bet I like.
I think when you look down these two line ups the one thing that stands out is the extra hitting power of the Sydney Thunder. Jos Buttler and Shane Watson belt balls a long way but we saw in the previous match that Jason Sangha and Daniel Sams can give it some Reggie Biffington. There is nothing in terms of that hitting power in the Sixers side and if Henriques is out probably their biggest six hitter probably goes with him. All that leads me to think that the Thunder will hit the most sixes in this one.
Tips
WON – Back Sydney Thunder Most 6s for a 4/10 stake at 1.85 with Bet365
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