Team news, key match-ups, TV and streaming information, weather forecast, odds, form rundown, umpire appointments, start times, venue and squad lists for the 39th game of BBL11
Perth Scorchers take on Sydney Thunder in the 39th game of the 2021-22 Big Bash.
The game is set for Thursday, January 6. The first ball will be bowled at 8.15pm local time (10.15am GMT).
The game will be held at Carrara's Metricon Stadium.
Perth Scorchers are the side to beat in BBL11. The three-time champions have lost just once in nine matches and have a six-point lead over second-placed Sydney Sixers, whom they beat by 10 runs in their most recent outing.
The only side to beat the Scorchers this season? Sydney Thunder, who comfortably defeated the table-toppers by 34 runs on December 28.
Sydney Thunder are currently third in the table with five wins and three defeats to their name and have lost just once in their past five matches.
If they can take maximum points from Thursday's clash they will draw level on points with Sydney Sixers.
Sam Billings scored a half-century when these two sides met in December [Brett Hemmings/Getty Images]
Perth Scorchers demonstrated their enviable batting depth against Sydney Sixers, losing five wickets for just 69 runs and still reaching 143 thanks to a speedy knock from no.6 Aaron Hardie and a cameo from Ashton Agar.
If Sydney Thunder want to have any hope of killing off the Scorchers early doors, they will have to hope that Mohammad Hasnain bowls as well as he did on debut against the Strikers. Hasnain took three wickets in four balls in the powerplay and finished with figures of 3 for 20.
In fact, the battle of the bowlers looks quite exciting with the pace of Hasnain and Saqib Mahmood up against golden arm AJ Tye and powerplay destroyers Lance Morris and Tymal Mills.
With the bat, Jason Sangha has been in fine form of late, scoring 39, 47, 56 not out, 91 not out in four of his past five innings and striking the ball at 142.26. For the Scorchers, it's all about Colin Munro and Kurtis Patterson, who have 572 combined runs.
To be confirmed.
Rain is likely to disrupt this fixture with showers expected all day.
Perth Scorchers: Ashton Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Jason Behrendorff, Cooper Connolly, Laurie Evans, Aaron Hardie, Peter Hatzoglou, Nick Hobson, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kelly, Mitch Marsh, Tymal Mills, Lance Morris, Colin Munro, Kurtis Patterson, Jhye Richardson (David Moody), Aston Turner, Andrew Tye
Sydney Thunder: Sam Billings, Jonathan Cook, Ben Cutting, Oliver Davies, Brendan Doggett, Matt Gilkes, Chris Green, Alex Hales, Baxter Holt, Usman Khawaja, Saqib Mahmood, Nathan McAndrew, Alex Ross, Daniel Sams, Gurinder Sandhu, Jason Sangha, Tanveer Sangha, Chris Tremain, Mohammad Hasnain
AJ Tye is the current golden arm, with 16 wickets in nine innings [Matt Roberts/Getty Images]
Perth Scorchers: Kurtis Patterson, Cameron Bancroft, Colin Munro, Laurie Evans, Ashton Turner, Aaron Hardie, Ashton Agar, AJ Tye, Peter Hatzoglou, Tymal Mills, Lance Morris
Sydney Thunder: Matthew Gilkes, Alex Hales, Jason Sangha, Sam Billings, Ben Cutting, Oliver Davies, Daniel Sams, Chris Green, Gurinder Sandhu, Saqib Mahmood, Mohammad Hasnain
Oddschecker have installed Perth Scorchers as the favourites for this match, offering odds of 4/6. Sydney Thunder are available at 8/5.
A close game and if Sydney Thunder can get three or four early wickets, they may have the Scorchers rocking. That said, with only one defeat in nine matches, it's hard not to back the Perth side on this occasion.
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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