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

In an enticing Qualifier on Friday, January 31, Melbourne Stars and Sydney Sixers will clash at the MCG, with the winner set to make their way to the finals of BBL 9 on February 8 – the incentives are very clear here.

Consider it reward for finishing top that these sides have a chance to make it to the last match without much hassle – the winning team will be afforded a week’s rest, and will have a full week to prepare for the grand finale. Even the side that loses the final will know it’s not the end – if they win the Challenger on February 6, they can still make it to the final.

There was only a point separating the Stars and the Sixers in the league stage. But that fact is slightly deceptive. Stars had a full five-point lead when they sealed their top spot, and it is only after that they lost matches – three in a row, including against the Sixers.

That can be looked at in two ways: Their immediate job done, the players might have taken the opportunity to preserve their energy for the higher-stake matches. And if not that, the more worrying question is whether they peaked too early.

The Stars will be desperate to prove that is not the case, and the return of Haris Rauf, their best bowler, after his duty with Pakistan, will be a welcome boost. It will add a source of wickets to the side, especially since Sandeep Lamichhane had to leave on Nepal duty. They will also hope Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell can continue their supreme form, and that Peter Handscomb’s return provides an added source of runs.

As for the Sixers, their progress to the Qualifier was a team effort. However, they will now be without Tom Curran, who was their leading wicket-taker in the league stage. The Sixers also opted not to call up a replacement, and the hope will now be that Sean Abbott can recover from injury and fill Curran’s shoes – according to reports, there is an outside chance he can do that.

All in all, this promises to be a cracker.

Head to head

There have been 12 clashes in all between these sides. The Sixers have won five. The Stars have won seven. In their two clashes in the league stage this season, both teams won a match each.

Key players

Marcus Stoinis (Melbourne Stars): Stoinis has been head and shoulders above the rest of the batsmen in the league this season. He has 607 runs in 14 innings at 60.70 – a full 158 runs more than second-placed Shaun Marsh. He will have to play the leading role to get the Stars into the final.

Joshua Phillipe (Sydney Sixers): With 401 runs in 14 matches, Phillipe is some way off Stoinis, but is his team’s leading run-scorer. Sydney have come through so far on the back of team performances, and Phillipe’s knocks can set the tempo for the side.

Likely XIs

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

Sydney Sixers: JoshuaPhillippe, James Vince, Steve Smith, Moises Henriques, Daniel Hughes, Jordan Silk, Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Steve O’Keefe

Prediction Stars to return to form and make it through.