Big Bash League 2019 Match 4, Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Sixers: Preview, likely XIs, predictions

Hobart Hurricanes will host Sydney Sixers for Match 4 of the 2019-20 Big Bash League, at Traeger Park, Alice Springs. While this will be the first match of the tournament for the Hurricanes, the Sixers have already started their campaign with a comfortable 8-wicket win against Perth Scorchers – the most successful team in BBL history – at Sydney.

Benjamin Manenti (3-0-21-3), Tom Curran (4-0-32-3), and Ben Dwarshuis (4-0-15-2) bowled out the Sixers for 131 that day. Josh Phillippe (81* in 44 balls) then set up the chase, guiding the Sixers home with 5 overs in hand.

The Sixers looked a formidable outfit against the Scorchers. Their win was easy: the likes of Moises Henriques, Jordan Silk, Sean Abbott, Steve O’Keefe were not even needed to make significant contributions.

The Hurricanes, too, boast of a strong batting line-up – one that includes D’Arcy Short, Matthew Wade, Ben McDermott, and George Bailey. However, the chief attraction will be the tearaway fast bowler Riley Meredith, who had already taken the Australian cricket fraternity by storm.

The teams are evenly matched, but the Hurricanes may convert their home advantage to a win.

Head to head

Neither team holds an advantage: the head-to-head reads 5-5.

Key players

Riley Meredith (Hobart Hurricanes): Meredith may have a tendency to be erratic, but there is little doubt that he is one of the fastest bowlers in the world – quick enough to impress the likes of Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson. This is his big chance to impress.

Josh Phillippe (Sydney Sixers): The Sixers had to chase a small target in the previous match, but they also needed to get them quickly to ensure a net run rate boost early in the tournament. Phillippe ensured exactly that; he will have a role to play.

Likely XIs

Hobart Hurricanes: George Bailey, D’Arcy Short, Matthew Wade (c & wk), Jake Doran, David Miller, Ben McDermott, James Faulkner, Aaron Summers, Qais Ahmed, Clive Rose, Riley Meredith.

Sydney Sixers: Josh Phillippe (wk), Daniel Hughes, James Vince, Moises Henriques (c), Jordan Silk, Hayden Kerr, Tom Curran, Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis, Steve O’Keefe, Benjamin Manenti.

Prediction

Hobart Hurricanes to win.