Big Bash League 2019 Final, Sydney Sixers vs Melbourne Stars: Preview, likely XIs, predictions

It’s the final! And, perhaps fittingly, it’s the two most consistent teams over the course of the season that clashes on the big day. The Sydney Cricket Ground will host the finale of the 9th edition of the Big Bash League, and after a long tournament, there will finally be a winner.

The Stars finished on top of the table, but it’s the Sixers who qualified at the first time of asking, seeing off the Stars in their last encounter in the Qualifier. Since then, the Stars had to see off a resurgent Sydney Thunder side in the Challenger to make it through to the final. There is no question at this point that, for the honour of contesting for the trophy, both teams have earned their spots.

The sides have already clashed thrice this season. With the Sixers victory in the Qualifier, they have the lead with 2 wins to the Stars’ one. The Stars also tailed off towards the business end of the season. They have won just one of their last five matches. If recent form is taken into account, this has a Sixers victory written all over it – they’ve won four of their last five matches.

However, it’s not as straightforward as all that. Such has been the competition between these two teams so far this season, the Stars might well turn up on the day and win the whole thing. Such is the nature of this tournament, and indeed, T20 cricket in general.

Gear up.

Head to head

In all, the sides have clashed 13 times. It’s a competitive rivalry, with the Sixers winning six matches to the Strikers’ seven. Who will win their 14th clash?

Key players

Steve Smith (Sydney Sixers): Having a player of Smith’s experience and winning mentality is valuable to any side, especially in a final. Smith has played just three matches for Sixers so far, but his 66* against Melbourne Renegades was timely. He will play a big role.

Marcus Stoinis (Melbourne Stars): The top-scorer in the league by a distance, with 695 runs in 16 matches at 57.91, the onus is on Stoinis to make those runs count when it matters the most. He scored an 83 against Thunder to get them to the final, and one more innings of note is needed.

Likely XIs

Sydney Sixers: Joshua Phillipe(wk), James Vince, Steve Smith, Moises Henriques (c), Daniel Hughes, Jordan Silk, Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis, Steve O’Keefe, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

Melbourne Stars: Marcus Stoinis, Nic Maddinson, Nick Larkin, Glenn Maxwell (c), Seb Gotch (wk), Peter Handscomb, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Clint Hinchcliffe, Adam Zampa, Daniel Worrall, Haris Rauf

Prediction Melbourne Stars to win.