Perth Scorchers achieve major achievement to reach the final of the competition between the two most successful BBL teams
Big picture
The two best teams of the season. The two most successful sides in BBL history. After 56 regular-season games and four finals there will be a big contest for this year’s title decision. Sydney Sixers are aiming for back-to-back titles, something Perth Scorchers managed in 2013-14 and 2014-15 as part of three tournaments in four seasons, and by the end of Saturday (or, possibly, Sunday unless the weather is not good they will not play ball) six of the 10 BBL titles will be between them.
The Sixers will have had a week to prepare for this game – their first home game of the season that had to navigate Covid-19 restrictions up until the final times – after retain their place with a wide impact on the Scorchers in the Qualifier. That match ended in controversial scenes when wild bouncer Andrew Tye refused to give James Vince the chance to go to his hundred. It remains to be seen if any niggle hangs from that.
It looked like the Scorchers’ season was coming to a close when that result continued after they lost to Brisbane Heat in the last regular season game, but they went off brilliantly with the best performance. complete of the campaign to crush the heat in the Challenger yesterday. They deserve huge credit for overcoming a final loss to a home as a result of a Perth Covid-19 lockout, Jason Roy withdrawn from the game against the Heat and a loss of Mitchell Marsh from the bowling stages .
The top overseas players from both sides – Roy, Liam Livingstone and Colin Munro from the Scorchers and Vince and Carlos Brathwaite from the Sixers – have made a huge impact on the competition while both teams have good depth. , as witnessed when Cameron Bancroft successfully returned to the Scorchers team when Roy was injured and the Sixers left out bowler overseas Jake Ball.
The Sixers also got a boost when they returned from the test hub of captain Moises Henriques – who has looked in horror – and Sean Abbott. They decided not to parachute Mitchell Starc into the side at the 11th hour, rewarding those who did the work this season for getting them to this level. The Scorchers were not impressed by international calls, but as a sign of their success, five of the team will be on the charter flight to New Zealand on Sunday for the T20I series.
Form instructions
(last five completed games)
Sixers WWLLW
Scorchers WLLWW
Previously this season
January 6 (Perth) – Scorchers 4 for 183 beats Sixers 97 with 86 runs
January 16 (Canberra) – Sixers 3 for 164 beats Scorchers 7 for 163 with seven wikis
January 30 (Canberra) – Sixers 1 for 168 beats Scorchers 6 for 167 with nine wikis “
In mind
When Dan Christian Asked recently how many titles there would be if this guy was in luggage for the Sixers, he said he didn’t remember well. Whether that’s true or not, it’s impossible for T20’s success to follow Christian around and his move from Melbourne Renegades to the Sixers for this season has added a big punch to the order. medium. Along with Jordan Silk they have provided outstanding players for the Power Surge and shutout while Christian remains a canny activist with the ball. Without Henriques for much of the season his experience cannot be overstated.
Jason Behrendorff he didn’t pick up as many wickets as his new teammate Jhye Richardson but his impact on the Scorchers has been just as significant. His total economy for the season is 6.87 and although his traditional role in the play has changed slightly by cutting it to four petals he has taken some critical steps, especially in the Challenger when he struck twice in two balls. It has been a long road for him after back surgery but the BBL final will continue with a chance to resume his career in Australia.
Team news
Sixers (possibly) 1 Josh Philippe, 2 James Vince, 3 Daniel Hughes, 4 Moises Henriques (capt), 5 Jordan Silk, 6 Dan Christian, 7 Carlos Brathwaite, 8 Sean Abbott, 9 Steve O’Keefe, 10 Ben Dwarshius, 11 Jackson Eun
Scorchers (probably) 1 Cameron Bancroft, 2 Liam Livingstone, 3 Colin Munro, 4 Josh Inglis (wk), 5 Mitchell Marsh, 6 Ashton Turner, 7 Aaron Hardie, 8 Jhye Richardson, 9 Andrew Tye, 10 Fawad Ahmed, 11 Jason Behrendroff
Park and conditions
The first BBL game of the season at the SCG means a few unfamiliar things, but overall the landlords are very good. The greatest uncertainty, again, is brought about by the weather forecast. While nowhere near as bad as 12 months ago, when it was amazing that the final was played, there is a chance that storms will affect the game. After last season a reservation was added to the schedule but the first goal is to finish the game on Saturday even if it is reduced in excess – it is 5/5 the minimum level can be.
Stats and trivia
- The Sixers and Scorchers have met 19 times in the BBL with the Scorchers leading 11-8 head-to-head (one of their winners as Super Over in 2014)
- Three of those meetings have been in the final: the Sixers won their first BBL in 2011-12 with the Scorchers in 2014-15 and 2016-17
- Three could survive from the 2011-12 finals in this year’s tournament: Mitchell Marsh scored 77 off 57 balls, Henriques Player of the Match captured 70 off 41 balls and Steve O’Keefe made 48 openings ‘watt.
Andrew McGlashan is deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo