Team news, key match-ups, TV and streaming information, weather forecast, odds, form rundown, umpire appointments, start times, venue and squad lists for the 25th game of BBL11
Sydney Sixers take on Brisbane Heat in the 25th game of the 2021-22 Big Bash.
The game is set for Wednesday, December 29. The first ball will be bowled at 6.05pm local time (7.05am GMT).
The game will be held at the SCG.
Sydney Sixers are pushing Perth Scorchers hard at the top of the table - only Hobart Hurricanes have been able to get the better of the three-time champions so far this season.
Moises Henriques' side are on a three-match winning streak, with a 30-run DLS victory over Sydney Thunder on Boxing Day the latest step in their title defence.
They will, however, be disappointed with their haul of just three Bash Boost points from a possible six.
Brisbane Heat, by contrast, are struggling for momentum in BBL 11, winning just two of their six matches to date.
Last time out, the Heat suffered a 20-run defeat at the hands of Melbourne Stars with their bowlers leaking a huge 207 runs.
Shadab Khan could be in line for his Sydney Sixers debut [Alex Davidson/Getty Images]
Sydney Sixers have suffered terribly in the bowling department, losing Steve O'Keefe, Ben Manenti and Tom Curran to injury. Chris Jordan has also come to the end of his contract, depriving the Sixers of his speed and death bowling.
Fortunately, Pakistan international Shadab Khan is now available and could be in line for his debut against Brisbane Heat. The 23-year-old, who has made 64 T20I appearances for Pakistan, has taken 197 wickets in 175 career T20s and has an economy of 7.18. He also averages 18.03 with the bat and has a strike rate of 133.36, making him a useful addition to the tail.
He will have his work cut out against the Heat, however. Ben Duckett and Sam Heazlett have been particularly impressive with the bat, scoring 192 and 200 runs, respectively, and recording strike rates in excess of 140. Futhermore, in their past two outings, the Heat have scored 180-plus runs.
With the bat for Sydney Sixers, their enviable top six of Josh Philippe, James Vince, Daniel Hughes, Moises Henriques, Jordan Silk and Dan Christian will be eyeing up Brisbane's vulnerable bowling attack, in particular Liam Guthrie, whose four overs against the Stars yielded 70 runs.
Darren Close and Sam Nogajski are the men in the middle for this one.
Rain is forecast throughout the day but should have cleared well before the bat flip. Temperatures are expected to peak around 22 degrees Celsius.
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
Brisbane Heat: Tom Abell, Xavier Bartlett, James Bazley, Max Bryant, Tom Cooper, Ben Duckett, Liam Guthrie, Sam Heazlett, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne (Nathan McSweeney), Chris Lynn, Michael Neser (Cameron Gannon), Jimmy Pierson, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Will Prestwidge, Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson (Hugo Burdon), Jack Wildermuth
Ben Duckett has been in form with the bat for Brisbane Heat [Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images]
Sydney Sixers: Josh Philippe, James Vince, Daniel Hughes, Moises Henriques, Jordan Silk, Dan Chistian, Sean Abbott, Hayden Kerr, Ben Dwarshuis, Shadab Khan, Lloyd Pope
Brisbane Heat: Max Bryant, Chris Lynn, Tom Cooper, Ben Duckett, Sam Heazlett, Jimmy Pierson, James Bazley, Mark Steketee, Matthew Kuhnemann, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Liam Guthrie
Oddschecker have installed Sydney Sixers as the favourites for this match, offering odds of 8/13. Brisbane Heat are available at 7/5.
A win for the Sixers but they will be pushed hard by Duckett, Heazlett and co. Expect runs galore.
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
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