Big Bash League 2019 Match 2, Sydney Sixers vs Perth Scorchers: Preview, likely XIs, predictions

Two teams with differing off-seasons will take each other in Sydney on Wednesday, December 17 in the second clash of BBL 2019-20.

Sydney Sixers had an awfully quiet summer. They did secure a biggie in Steve Smith for the business end of the tournament, along with Josh Hazlewood, but with Tom Curran and James Vince also in the line-up, they could miss quite a few players due to international commitments. However, this is a side that made the semi-finals last time around, and as such, have quite a quality line-up.

Meanwhile, Perth Scorchers had a different summer altogether. They brought in the big name of Chris Jordan for the duration of the season, and he is expected to provide explosiveness with both bat and ball. Liam Livingstone is another signing, but there were plenty of big names going in the opposite direction too, with all of Shaun Marsh, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Hilton Cartwright leaving the team.

Perth are the most successful side, having won the tournament thrice, but it’s been a while since they last lifted the trophy in 2017. They will hope this is the year to change that, but in Sydney Sixers, they face a tough start.

Can they start with a bang against last season’s semi-finalists?  

Head to head

Perth have been, over the course of this rivalry, the more dominant side. They have won 10 of their 14 matches so far, with Sydney restricted to just four wins. Will that change tomorrow?

Key players

Sean Abbott (Sydney Sixers): The paceman is one of the most successful bowlers in BBL history, and with the T20 World Cup approaching, he will hope to spark and catch the eye of the selectors this season. That makes him dangerous, and Perth will be aware.

Chris Jordan (Perth Scorchers): The signing of Jordan is a huge one for Perth. He is one of those valuable T20 all-rounders, capable of both contributing with runs at the end of an innings, and disrupting with the ball at any phase. He will be vital to Perth’s hopes this season.

Likely XIs

Sydney Sixers: Daniel Hughes, Josh Phillippe (wk), James Vince, Moises Henriques (c), Jordan Silk, Jack Edwards, Tom Curran, Sean Abbott, Steve O’Keefe, Jackson Bird, Ben Dwarshuis

Perth Scorchers: Sam Whiteman, Kurtis Patterson, Cameron Bancroft, Liam Livingstone, Ashton Turner, Mitchell Marsh (c), Ashton Agar, Fawad Ahmed, Matthew Kelly, Jhye Richardson, Andrew Tye

Prediction Perth to get one over Sydney in their opener.