Big Bash League 2019 Match 20, Melbourne Renegades vs Sydney Sixers: Preview, likely XIs, predictions

It’s been a weird season for Melbourne Renegades. They headed into BBL 9 as defending champions and ready to defend their crown, but now find themselves bang in the middle of a second-season syndrome – they have played four, lost four and are rooted to the bottom of the table.

They have to turn their campaign around quickly if they have to ensure they can defend their title, and their next opponents, Sydney Sixers, are a tough opposition to begin a turnaround against. The Sixers have six points from four matches, and are just a point away from the top-placed Sydney Thunder.

At the outset, there is only one way this match is heading – a Sixers win. Since consecutive losses to Hobart Hurricanes and Brisbane Heat, the Sixers have sparked a comeback, winning against both Perth Scorchers, and against local rivals Thunder, which came in a Super Over. Combing back from defeats requires gumption, and the Sixers showed a lot of that.

It is something the Renegades will be desperate to show as well. Their march to the title last year was largely built on a stringent bowling attack, but that seems to have disappeared this time – they have shipped plenty of runs so far this season, the most going against the Scorchers, who scored 196/7.

They will need both their batsmen and bowlers to click in tandem if they are to revive their season. The efforts to that end starts now.

Head to head

This rivalry has been evenly matched. There have been 10 clashes in all between the Renegades and the Sixers. Both teams have won five times.

Key players

Kane Richardson (Melbourne Renegades): Richardson has been the one bowler in the Renegades set-up who has shored them – he has eight wickets so far in four matches, and they are increasingly dependent on him to get the breakthroughs. It’s not a good situation for the team, of course, but he is the one to watch out for.

Josh Philippe (Sydney Sixers): Since scoring a belligerent 81* in the opener against Scorchers, Philippe’s runs have dried up – he has scored 24, 15, 9 and 11 in four outings since then. You get the feeling another big hit is coming up, and the Renegades better watch out.

Likely XIs

Melbourne Renegades: Sam Harper (wk), Aaron Finch (c), Shaun Marsh, Marcus Harris, Beau Webster, Dan Christian, Will Sutherland, Cameron Boyce, Kane Richardson

Sydney Sixers: Josh Phillippe (wk), Hayden Kerr, Daniel Hughes, Moises Henriques (c), Jordan Silk, Jack Edwards, Tom Curran, Ben Dwarshuis, Sean Abbott, Lloyd Pope, Jackson Bird

Prediction

Renegades to get their first win of the season.