Adelaide Strikers play Sydney Sixers in the 22nd game of Big Bash League 2011-12 on January 10. The match will be played at the Adelaide Oval.
With the competition entering a very crucial stage, this game almost assumes the mantle of must-win for both teams.
Adelaide (8/11 at
Stan James) have tapered away a lot since their opening crushing win over Melbourne Renegades and have only four points from five games. Sixers have won three games from their five to push them to the third spot in the table but a loss here can change things around very quickly. Their net run-rate is one of the poorest in the competition and they cannot afford going down in this game.
Sixers (11/10 at
Stan James) come into the game with a derby win over Sydney Thunder in a game affected by rain. At one stage, Sixers looked like they were going down in hurry but turned things around through Ben Rohrer (38 off 24) and Mitchell Starc (3/17).
The victory for Sixers in their previous game came at the back of alternating wins and losses. And unfortunately for them, they will be without Starc for this game as he heads back to join the national side in their series against India.
The Strikers have a problem or two on their hands. One, their batting, with the exception of Michael Klinger, has rarely delivered consistently. While Callum Ferguson’s form has been rather poor, even those like Daniel Harris and Tom Cooper, who look like they are in touch, have struggled to convert their starts.
Secondly, Johan Botha has left the side for his national commitments and their fastest bowler Kane Richardson is injured and may miss this game. This puts the onus on to the likes of Alfonso Thomas and Aaron O’Brien to lead a rather inexperienced bowling line-up.
Daniel Salpietro and James Muirhead will need to step up to give their senior pros the necessary support if the Strikers are to stop Nic Maddinson or Moises Henriques from regaining their form.
Adelaide Strikers squad
M Klinger*, AC Blizzard, CJ Borgas, LA Carseldine, TLW Cooper, AJ Crosthwaite, TP Doropoulos, BG Drew, CJ Ferguson, DJ Harris, BE McGain, J Muirhead, AW O'Brien, KW Richardson, DR Salpietro, AC Thomas
Sydney Sixers squad
EJM Cowan, JR Hazlewood, MC Henriques, B Lee, MJ Lumb, SCG MacGill, NJ Maddinson, IA Moran, PM Nevill†, SNJ O'Keefe, BJ Rohrer, SPD Smith, MA Starc, DJ Thornely
The Adelaide Strikers v Sydney Sixers Big Bash League game will begin at 8.30 am GMT on January 10.
