The Sydney Sixers return to the SCG for their first home game of 2023 – and they’ve got two big additions for the top-of-the-table clash with the Perth Scorchers.
Australian Test duo Steve Smith and Nathan Lyon are set to take the field for their first Big Bash action this summer, in a massive boost for the blockbuster clash.
And Smith won’t have to wait long to get out with the bat after the Scorchers won the toss and elected to bowl
But Lyon’s likely XI nod has come with controversy after News Corp reported the spinner was initially told he would be overlooked for Sunday night’s clash.
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MATCH CENTRE: Sydney Sixers vs Perth Scorchers, stats, players, line ups and more
Lyon’s Test understudy Todd Murphy was told he would partner first choice T20 spinner Stephen O’Keefe for the match against Perth – but Lyon’s status is now uncertain.
The Sixers already boast a wealth of BBL experience in their attack end, and have been able to regularly rest the likes of Sean Abbott and Jackson Bird.
With Stephen O’Keefe overcoming the hamstring complaint that saw him sidelined earlier this summer, it is expected he’ll be the first spinner picked to face the Scorchers.
That leaves Lyon and his Test understudy Murphy in a battle for the second spin option.
The Scorchers meantime will take an unchanged squad into the Sixers clash on the back of three massive wins – all by more than seven wickets or more.
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Described by Fox Cricket’s Alyssa Healy as a “world class outfit in a domestic competition”, the Scorchers are proving to be the team to beat this series.
But these two BBL rivals haven’t met since Perth’s opening match of the tournament – a game where the Scorchers prevailed by 38 runs thanks to man of the match Jhye Richardson’s 4-9.
Richardson is now sidelined until at least finals with a hamstring strain while the Sixers have lost just one game since that December 17 encounter.
TEAMS
Sixers: Sean Abbott, Dan Christian, Ben Dwarshuis, Moises Henriques (c), Hayden Kerr, Nathan Lyon, Stephen O’Keefe, Kurtis Patterson, Josh Philippe (wk), Jordan Silk, Steve Smith.
Scorchers: Ashton Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Jason Behrendroff, Stephen Eskanazi, Aaron Hardie, Peter Hatzoglou, Nick Hobson, Josh Inglis (wk), David Payne, Ashton Turner (c), Andrew Tye
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