Big Bash 2022-23 match preview: Sydney Thunder v Sydney Sixers

Key match-ups, analysis, form, team news, weather forecast, tickets, TV and streaming information, odds, predictions and more ahead of the latest encounter in the 2022/23 Big Bash

What's the match?

Sydney Thunder take on Sydney Sixers in match 34 of BBL12, the 12th edition of the tournament.

When is it taking place?

The game is scheduled to start at 7.15pm local time (8.15am GMT) on Sunday, January 8.

Where is the match being played?

The game is being played in Sydney at the Sydney Showground.

Who's got the form?

Sydney Thunder come into this match off the back of a fine winning streak. It does not seem that long ago that they were bundled out for 15 by Adelaide Strikers, but Thunder have won their last four games - including a fine victory over pace-setting Perth Scorchers last time out - to hustle up the table.

Sydney Sixers lost their first two matches of the season, but have only been beaten once since. This is a meeting between the two form teams in the league. It promises to be fascinating.

With the bat, both sides are led by English imports. Sydney Thunder's Alex Hales has three half-centuries from eight innings and has accumulated 245 runs at a strike rate above 148.

James Vince is the Sixers' leading light, with 258 runs. He made an impressive unbeaten 91 in the victory over Melbourne Stars in the Sixers' most recent runout. 

With the ball, Daniel Sams and Nathan McAndrew both have 11 wickets for Sydney Thunder, the same number as the Sixers' Hayden Kerr. Sean Abbott leads the charts for the Sixers with 13. 

^{Sydney Thunder are in excellent form in the Big Bash [Getty Images]}

What's the key match-up?

Taking down Sydney Thunder's opening pair will be critical to Sixers' chances of success. Hales and Matthew Gilkes have proven to be a destructive partnership at times in this Big Bash season and, if they get off to a flyer, it can be hard to peg them back down.

Steve O'Keefe's return to the Sixers squad promises to extend an intriguing fight to the Thunder batsmen through the middle overs. O'Keefe has six wickets at 13s this season, but it is his economy rate - 5.84 - which is most impressive.

Of all bowlers to have bowled at least 10 overs in this year's Big Bash, only two have been more miserly. It just so happens that both are on the books of Sydney Thunder: Chris Green (5.79) and Fazalhaq Farooqi (5.81). Farooqi saw his contract with Thunder terminated earlier in the season on disciplinary grounds, but the O'Keefe v Green battle will play a major role in the outcome of this match.

What's the weather forecast?

A dry day is expected, with temperatures touching 22 degrees Celsius around the start of play.

What is the team news?

There is no Rilee Rossouw for Sydney Thunder, with the South African batsman having flown back home to prepare for the SA20.

Veteran spinner Steve O'Keefe is back in the Sydney Sixers' 17-man matchday squad after sitting out the last game.

What are the squads?

Sydney Thunder: Oliver Davies, Brendan Doggett, Matthew Gilkes, Chris Green, Alex Hales, Baxter Holt, Nathan McAndrew, Alex Ross, Rilee Rossouw, Daniel Sams, Jason Sangha, Tanveer Sangha, David Warner,, Ben Cutting, Usman Qadir, Gurinder Sandhu, Sam Whiteman, Joel Davies

Sydney Sixers: Sean Abbott, Jackson Bird, Dan Christian, Ben Dwarshuis, Moises Henriques, Daniel Hughes, Hayden Kerr, Nathan Lyon, Izharulhaq Naveed, Chris Jordan, Steve O'Keefe, Kurtis Patterson, Josh Philippe, Jordan Silk, James Vince, Todd Murphy, Mickey Edwards, Jack Edwards, Steve Smith, Josh Kann (local replacement player), Naveen-ul-Haq (partial replacement for Chris Jordan)

*Squads are for the whole BBL and not specific to this match

What are the possible starting XIs?

Sydney Thunder: Matthew Gilkes, Alex Hales, Ollie Davies, Alex Ross, Ben Cutting, Joel Davies, Daniel Sams, Nathan McAndrew, Chris Green, Brendan Doggett, Usman Qadir

Sydney Sixers: Josh Philippe, James Vince, Daniel Hughes, Moises Henriques, Jordan Silk, Dan Christian, Hayden Kerr, Sean Abbott, Chris Jordan, Steve O'Keefe, Izharulhaq Naveed

Sydney Sixers batsman Jordan Silk [Getty Images]

What are the odds?

Sydney Thunder look good value at even money with some bookmakers. Sydney Sixers are marginal favourites, at a best-price 10/11.

What's the prediction?

So tough to call this one. Rossouw's absence could be important, but Thunder have so much momentum. Narrow Thunder win.

Are tickets available?

Yes. Tickets are available on Ticketmaster, with kids' entry from $5 and adults $22. The game entry includes the the Celebrity Smash - an eight-a-side, eight-overs-per-side hitabout between well know Australian sportspeople.

Where can I watch the game?

Sky Sports hold the UK rights for the BBL, with coverage split between Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Mix.

Ball-by-ball radio commentary will also be available via BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra and BBC Sounds for selected matches.

Fox Sports and Seven Network both have television rights in Australia while coverage will also be available via streaming service Kayo. Fox will show every game while 45 matches, including the knockout stages, will be shown free-to-air on Channel Seven.