It’s as bad as it gets for the Brisbane Heat – they are on a woeful winless run that stretches back to New Year’s Day.
In Twenty20 cricket, you can sometimes attribute bad results to misfortune or a close-run defeat that didn’t fall for them.
There are no excuses for the Heat, though. In each of their last five matches, they have suffered the following defeat margins – five wickets, eight wickets, 71 runs, eight wickets, and six wickets. Not once in those five matches have they threatened to get even close to a positive result.
The batting unit just isn’t functioning to its full abilities – that’s why my main Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Sixersbetting tips revolve around a comfortable Sixers win.
Team News
It is a little too late for the Heat, but Ashes hero Marnus Labuschagne is back from international duty and available to play. They have missed the prolific number one test batsman in the world – though I do not think his addition will provide the magic formula.
Local replacement player Nathan McSweeny drops out for Labuschagne.
Player to Watch: Mitchell Swepson
The Ashes squad player was in fine form on return to the Heat line-up and was one of the few players to shine in his side’s six-wicket loss to the Perth Scorchers – taking two wickets for 19 runs from his four overs.
If he can replicate those sort of figures, he may be able to help his side’s faltering batting unit to stay in the game.
You can back him with 10CRIC to finish top Heat bowler at 5.11.
Heat Likely XI
Maz Bryant, Chris Lynn, Ben Duckett, Marnus Labuschagne, Sam Heazlett, Jimmy Peirson, James Bazley, Michael Neser, Mark Steketee, Matthew Kuhnemann, and Mitchell Swepson.
The Sixers are in a spot of bad form too – though it doesn’t compare to the Heat. After such a promising start to the campaign – losing just one of their opening seven matches – the Sixers find themselves getting drawn to the chasing pack.
A crushing defeat to the Adelaide Strikers mean they now sit level on points with Sydney Thunder, and only remain ahead by virtue of their superior Net Run Rate.
Despite the recent dip, the defending BBL champions still look a formidable unit. There is great balance to their batting and bowling attacks – and I fully expect them to overpower the Heat.
Team News
Like Labuschagne, Australian spinner Nathan Lyon has made himself available for his franchise, but unlike Labuschagne, his availability comes at a crucial point in the season where his canniness and experience could pay dividends in their pursuit of another BBL crown.
Jordan Silk returns from injury, as does Nei Lawrence-Smith, who is yet to make an appearance for the club.
Nick Winter drops out to accommodate the returning Lyon.
Player to Watch: Nathan Lyon
The modern-day cricketer plays so many formats in cricket that the spectre of jumping from the longest version of the game to the shortest one isn’t something that phases them.
Still, it will be fascinating to see how Lyon – so dominant in the Ashes series – will deal with the likes of Chris Lynn, if the experienced opener manages to turn his personal form around.
I can see Lyon bagging a few wickets – I will be keeping an eye on his progress throughout the game.
Sixers’ Likely XI
Jack Edwards, Josh Phillipe. Moises Henriques, Dan Christian, Daniel Hughes, Justin Avenado, Sean Abbott, Hayden Kerr, Ben Dwarshuis, Jackson Bird, Nathan Lyon.
Venue & conditions
The Gabba has not been a happy hunting ground of late for the Brisbane Heat – they lost their last two games there, scoring just 234 runs across both innings. The Sixers will fancy their chances of cooling the Heat on their own ground!
There are some thunderstorms about Brisbane on Wednesday – let’s hope we get a full day’s play in!
