GameDay Squad AUS Cricket The Final Preview: The Sydney Sixers take on the Brisbane Heat in the Final of BBL13 in Sydney at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday the 24th of January.
Here's everything you need to know ....
Predicted Teams
Sydney Sixers: 1. Daniel Hughes, 2. Jack Edwards, 3. Josh Philippe, 4. Moises Henriques, 5. Jordan Silk, 6. Joel Davies / Todd Murphy, 7. Hayden Kerr, 8. Ben Dwarshuis, 9. Sean Abbott, 10. Jackson Bird, 11. Steve O'Keefe
Brisbane Heat: 1. Josh Brown, 2. Jimmy Peirson, 3. Nathan McSweeney, 4. Matt Renshaw, 5. Max Bryant, 6. Paul Walter, 7. Michael Neser, 8. Xavier Bartlett, 9. Spencer Johnson, 10. Mitchell Swepson, 11. Matthew Kuhnemann
Start Vs Sit
Batters - Jack Edwards vs Max Bryant
Edwards had his best match of the season against the Heat in the qualifier, scoring 117 points. This performance was one out of left field as he scored 19 points through batting, 28 points in the field and 70 points through bowling. What I really liked was that he opened up the batting for the first time this season. If he opens the batting again, I believe he is a must start as I'm expecting him to bowl a minimum of two overs in the final. Bryant has played four matches this season and averages 27 points. In all of these matches he has come in at five in the Heat's batting order and I don't see this changing. He's only averaging 17 runs and his season high was 29 runs against the Scorchers in Perth. I just think Edwards can produce a higher ceiling than Bryant can as he offers more upside through bowling.
Start: Jack Edwards
All-rounder - Moises Henriques vs Nathan McSweeney
In the all-rounder rankings for AUS Cricket, Henriques is ranked 14th with an average of 40 points and McSweeney is ranked 16th with an average of 38 points. Henriques has ranked as one of the top four all-rounders in a match in six of his nine matches. McSweeney has ranked as one of the top four all-rounders in a match in four of his eight matches. Both players are coming off season high performances in AUS Cricket, Henriques scored 77 against the Heat and McSweeney scored 108 against the Strikers. I have Henriques ranked above McSweeney for this match. This is because McSweeney's average is misleading as he bowled five deliveries against the Strikers and picked up three wickets in the last over of the innings. McSweeney hadn't bowled a single delivery till this match in BBL13 and I don't think we will see him bowling at the SCG as I'm expecting Swepson to be back in the side. When you exclude the points scored through these five deliverers, McSweeney's average drops from 38 points to 29 points. Henriques has been in better form with the bat this season and with this being a final, I believe he may be able to apply himself more in this pressure situation.
Start: Moises Henriques
Bowler - Jackson Bird vs Spencer Johnson
In the bowler rankings for AUS Cricket, Bird is ranked 10th with an average of 42 points and Johnson is ranked 7th with an average of 45 points. Bird has ranked as one of the top three bowlers in a match in all five of his matches. Johnson has ranked as one of the top three bowlers in a match in five of his ten matches. I'm expecting Bird to be back for the final and think he will come in for either Davies or Murphy. Even though Johnson has been in great form in the finals, I'm leaning towards starting Bird over him. The main reason for this is because of Johnson's form in matches not played at either the Gabba or Carrara Stadium. He has played four matches outside of these venues and has picked up three wickets for an average 24 points. I think Bird has some sneaky upside for this match and believe a lot of coaches are likely to start Johnson ahead of him. In Bird's three matches at the SCG he has taken five wickets and averages 43 points. Lastly, pace bowlers average 47 points in matches against the Heat.
Start: Jackson Bird
Matchup Matrix
Key Takeaways:
Opening and middle order batsmen haven't scored well against either team
Pace bowlers have scored well against the Heat
Spin bowlers haven't scored well against the Sixers
Ground Matrix
Key Takeaways:
Opening batsmen had scored well when batting first
Spin bowlers have had success here
Middle and lower order batsmen haven't scored well here
Hot Take
Josh Philippe will score his first fifty of BBL13 and help the Sixers to their 4th BBL title.
Who to play in your GDS starting XI
BAT - Daniel Hughes
BAT - Josh Brown
BAT - Jack Edwards
ALL - Paul Walter
ALL - Michael Neser
ALL - Hayden Kerr
ALL - Moises Henriques
WK - Josh Philippe
BWL - Xavier Bartlett
BWL - Ben Dwarshuis
BWL - Jackson Bird