Big Bash League Preview: Sydney Sixers v Melbourne Renegades

Author Photo
Peter Siddle

What: Big Bash League
Who: Sixers v Renegades
When: Friday, December 19 – 7.40pm (AEDT)
Where: Sydney Cricket Ground
I Can Watch It On: Channel 10

FOLLOW IT LIVE: Sydney Sixers v Melbourne Renegades

Form Guide:
Sixers 2013/14: 2nd/Semi-finalists
Renegades 2013/14: 6th

20-20 Vision:
The Sixers finished second on the ladder last season only to lose a rain-affected semi-final to eventual champions the Perth Scorchers. They have a strong squad again this year but have been ravaged by injuries and currently have five players away on Test duties. Luke Doran and Simon Keen replace injured duo Stephen O'Keefe and Trent Copeland for the tournament opener, while Doug Bollinger, Ryan Carters and Ben Dwarshuis are all in line to make their debuts for the Sixers. Ed Cowan also returns to the Sixers having played in their inaugural campaign. Dwayne Smith was supposed to be the club's international player but failed to front citing personal issues. Riki Wessels – son of former Test batsman Kepler – replaces Smith but won't arrive until the weekend.

The Renegades have named axed Test quick Peter Siddle in their 12-man squad. Siddle is joined in the attack by the three leading wicket takers in Sheffield Shield this season – Andrew Fekete, Fawad Ahmed and Nathan Rimmington. West Indies duo Dwayne Bravo and Andre Russell have also both been named. Fekete has been picked in the 12 after replacing the injured Jayde Herrick in the wider squad. The Renegades won just three of their eight games last season but are a decent team led by Australia Twenty20 skipper Aaron Finch.

Reason To Watch:
Aaron Finch. The Renegades skipper is one of the most devastating Twenty20 batsman in the world and when he gets going there are few better sights. And it'll also be interesting to see how Siddle responds in his first outing after being punted from the Test team.

Reason To Turn Away:
The Sixers batting looks light on with a lot of players missing. If the quality Renegades attack fires it could be a tough night for the men in magenta.

Say What:
"We're disappointed for Pete being left out of the team, but within half an hour of him finding out that news, he was on the phone discussing plans and best ways for him to prepare to play for us. It shows the type of person he is, that out of a disappointment he's still looking to make a positive, and that positive will be in red colours," - Renegades coach Simon Helmot on Siddle.

Final Word:
The Sixers boast one of the better squads in the BBL on paper but when you take Test players Steve Smith, Brad Haddin, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood out they look a lot less formidable. And we expect the Renegades to take full advantage and get off to a winning start on the road. Renegades to win comfortably.

Teams:
Sixers:
Moises Henriques, Sean Abbott, Doug Bollinger, Ryan Carters, Ed Cowan, Luke Doran, Ben Dwarshuis, Simon Keen, Brett Lee, Michael Lumb, Nic Maddinson, Jordan Silk.

Renegades: Aaron Finch (C), Ben Rohrer, Matthew Wade, Tom Cooper, Dwayne Bravo, Andre Russell, Andrew Fekete, Nathan Rimmington, Peter Siddle, Callum Ferguson,, Fawad Ahmed, Matthew Short, Nick Winter.

Author(s)