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
Sydney Sixers take on Brisbane Heat in the Challenger in the 2022/23 Big Bash, the 12th edition of the tournament.
The game is scheduled to start at 7.15pm local time (8.15am GMT) on Thursday, February 2.
The game will be played in Sydney at the SCG.
Both teams have won four of their last five matches in the competition.
Sydney Sixers finished second on the league phase of the BBL, making this their second chance at getting into the final. They lost to table-toppers and defending champions Perth Scorchers in the qualifier.
After finishing fifth in the table, Brisbane Heat have been forced to take the long route. They overcame Sydney Thunder and Melbourne Renegades by eight runs and seven wickets, respectively, to move to within one win of the final.
Jordan Silk will likely be called upon with the bat for the Sixers [James Worsfold/Getty Images]
The side which wins this clash will be the one which handles the loss of their Australia internationals better.
Brisbane Heat have lost four - Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Matt Renshaw and Mitch Swepson. Khawaja, who has scored 249 runs, including two half-centuries, and Renshaw, whose 283 runs at a strike rate of 135.50 have rescued his side on more than one occasion, will be sorely missed.
The Sixers, by contrast, have only lost one player, but that happens to be Steve Smith, who has scored 346 runs at a strike rate of 174.74 in just five innings - only Jordan Silk has scored more. With Kurtis Patterson and Josh Philippe blowing hot and cold this season, the burden could once again be on Silk and Moises Henriques to score the bulk of the runs.
Sunshine is expected tomorrow in Sydney with temperatures peaking at 28 degrees Celsius.
Nathan McSweeney comes into the Brisbane Heat squad as a local replacement for Labuschagne. The Test batter is one of four players, alongside Khawaja, Renshaw and Swepson, missing the match due to international commitments.
Ross Whiteley has overcome a thumb injury to put himself in contention for selection. If selected, Jack Wildermuth and Will Prestwidge would make their first appearances of the season.
Steve Smith (international commitments) is the notable absentee for the Sixers.
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)
Brisbane Heat: Xavier Bartlett, James Bazley, Sam Billings, Max Bryant, Sam Hain, Sam Heazlett, Usman Khawaja, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Colin Munro, Michael Neser, Jimmy Peirson, Matthew Renshaw, Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson, Ross Whiteley, Jack Wildermuth, Spencer Johnson, Will Prestwidge, Josh Brown
*Squads are for the whole BBL and not specific to this match
Sydney Sixers: Kurtis Patterson, Josh Philippe, James Vince, Moises Henriques, Jordan Silk, Dan Christian, Hayden Kerr, Sean Abbott, Chris Jordan, Jackson Bird, Steve O'Keefe
Brisbane Heat: Colin Munro, Max Bryant, Sam Billings, Jimmy Peirson, Ross Whiteley, James Bazley, Nathan McSweeney, Michael Neser, Mitchell Swepson, Mark Steketee, Matthew Kuhnemann
Ross Whiteley could feature for Brisbane Heat [Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images]
Sydney Sixers are the overwhelming favourites for this clash, with odds of 8/15. Brisbane Heat, meanwhile, are available at 13/8.
Sydney Sixers have home advantage; Brisbane Heat have winning momentum. Too close to call.
Tickets are available via Ticketek, starting at $5 for kids and $25 for adults.
Sky Sports hold the UK rights for the BBL, with coverage split between Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Mix. This game is available on 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.
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