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Melbourne Renegades take on Sydney Sixers in the 2021-22 Big Bash.
The game is set for Tuesday, January 11. The first ball will be bowled at 7.15pm local time (8.15am GMT).
The game will be held at the GMHBA Stadium in Geelong.
Melbourne Renegades ended a six-match winless run (five defeats, one no result) with back-to-back victories over Covid-depleted Melbourne Stars and Brisbane Heat.
However, they were brought back down to earth with a bump by Sydney Thunder who defeated the BBL08 champions by 129 runs on January 8. The Renegades were bowled out for just 80 runs and have now conceded more than 200 runs in an innings on three occasions.
Sydney Sixers, meanwhile, have suffered successive defeats against Perth Scorchers and lost second position in the table to Sydney Thunder. With four matches remaining, the defending champions are seven points behind second place and a further three points behind the table-topping Scorchers.
Injuries haven't been kind to the Sixers in BBL11, with Ben Manenti, Tom Curran and Steve O'Keefe lost from the bowling attack, while Covid-19 has also caused chaos since New Year. Four members of the Sixers camp were forced into isolation earlier in January.
Hayden Kerr is Sydney Sixers' leading wicket-taker [Jason McCawley/Getty Images]
Sydney Sixers' top order have looked a little off-colour of late, with Dan Christian frequently being called upon to bail them out of a sticky situation.
However, with the miserly Mohammad Nabi no longer available for the Renegades and Nic Maddinson the only bowler with an economy under seven (of players to bowl more than four overs), they will all be licking their lips at the prospect of facing a vulnerable bowling attack.
Zahir Khan, in particular, could find himself on the receiving end of a thrashing. On paper, his figures - 11 wickets and an economy of 8.55 - don't look too bad. However, against Sydney Thunder, his three overs cost 49 runs. Will Sutherland has also been guilty of leaking runs this season.
What happens with the bat for the Renegades is anyone's guess. Aaron Finch, Nic Maddinson, Mackenzie Harvey, Shuan Marsh and Sam Harper have all showen flashes of form with the bat but so far, no one has stood up on a consistent basis. If the Sixers can remove a two or three of the top five within the opening six overs, the doubts will creep in and a collapse may be on the cards.
And who better to the damage than Hayden Kerr and Sean Abbott, who have a combined 29 wickets in BBL11?
Temperatures are expected to be in the mid-20s, with sunny conditions from ball one.
Melbourne Renegades: Cameron Boyce, Unmukt Chand, Zak Evans, Aaron Finch, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Sam Harper, Marcus Harris, Mackenzie Harvey, Zahir Khan, Josh Lalor, Nic Maddinson (Jono Merlo), Shaun Marsh (James Seymour), Mohammad Nabi, James Pattinson, Mitch Perry, Jack Prestwidge, Kane Richardson, Will Sutherland, Reece Topley
Sydney Sixers: Moises Henriques, Sean Abbott, Jackson Bird (Lawrence Neil-Smith), Daniel Christian, Tom Curran, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Mickey Edwards, Daniel Hughes, Chris Jordan (first five matches), Hayden Kerr, Nathan Lyon (Nick Winter), Ben Manenti, Stephen O'Keefe, Josh Philippe, Lloyd Pope, Jordan Silk, James Vince, Shadab Khan
Zahir Khan (right) [Mike Owen/Getty Images]
Melbourne Renegades: Sam Harper, Aaron Finch, Shaun Marsh, Nic Maddinson, Mackenzie Harvey, James Seymour, Will Sutherland, Kane Richardson, Josh Lalor, Zak Evans, Zahir Khan
Sydney Sixers: Josh Philippe, Justin Avendano, Moises Henriques, Daniel Hughes, Jordan Silk, Dan Christian, Sean Abbott, Hayden Kerr, Shadab Khan, Ben Dwarshuis, Jackson Bird
Sydney Sixers are the favourites to win this match with Oddschecker offering odds of 4/6 in favour of the defending champions. Melbourne Renegades are available at 7/5.
Sydney Sixers will be looking to make a statement after suffering back-to-back defeats against the Scorchers and who better to face than a Melbourne Renegades side prone to both batting collapses and vulnerable bowling? Sixers win.
Sky Sports have bought the rights for the competition through to 2025, and they will broadcast all 61 games in the UK.
Fox Sports and Seven Network both have television rights in Australia: subscription broadcaster Fox show every game, while free-to-air Seven will simulcast 45 matches.
BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra will have ball-by-ball radio coverage of the tournament for UK listeners.
Where can I watch the competition elsewhere in the world?
North America: Willow
MENA: beIN Sports
Sub Saharan Africa: SuperSport
Indian Subcontinent: Sony
New Zealand: Sky Sport
BIG BASH TEAM GUIDES (open in external window in app)
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