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Heat look to regain momentum on home soil against high-flying Sixers

Abhishek Singh


Brisbane Heat would be looking to get back to winning ways after falling short by a solitary run against the Hobart Hurricanes in their year ending clash. In the new year though, they would like to move on, make use of the home conditions and crush the best team in the league - Sydney Sixers. 

On the other hand, Sixers, with four wins in a row, would look to maximize on their form and the form of their star players, like Josh Philippe and Daniel Hughes. Now that Jason Holder is not available, the two other all-rounders in Carlos Brathwaite and Dan Christian would have to pull up their socks and fill in for him. 

Denly and Burns to Turn the Tides for Heat

The Brisbane team has been a depleted side due to the pullouts from the likes of Tom Banton. Also, Chris Lynn, the captain, has not been able to play in the last two games and won’t be available for this one either. Morne Morkel has so far been missing from action, even after being deemed a local player. 

It is due to these problems that the inclusion of experienced guys like Joe Burns, who has been released from the Aussie Test squad, and Joe Denly, who is finally fit and raring to strike hard, would give Heat some confidence ahead of the game. 

Along with this, they would be looking to get a fine balance among their foreign stars who can all bowl, especially Mujeeb Ur Rehaman and Lewis Gregory, to get the team early and timely strikes. Mujeeb showed what he is capable of with the five-for in the last game while Gregory was at the top of his game in the match prior to that. 

Sixers Won't Mind Another One

Having won two fiercely close games against two Melbourne sides, the Sydney Sixers won’t mind winning another close one against the Heat. They have been buoyed by the comeback of Jackson Bird and the overseas replacement of Holder, T20 Blast’s highest wicket-taker, Jake Ball. The England star will be looking to make an impact right from the word go. 

While these factors form part of an important consideration, what is even more noticeable is the fact that the Sixers have always found an unlikely hero in every game. They wouldn’t mind one in this game either and Bird or Ball could be that hero as well.  

Heat vs Sixers: Match Details

Venue: The Gabba, Brisbane

Date and Time: January 2, 02:45 PM IST, 07:15 PM Local, 09:15 AM GMT

Broadcaster: Sony Sports Network, Sony LIV

Pitch Report

The pitch at Brisbane has been a bit on the slower side, helping spinners with grip and turn, and also those who are ready to get slowness off the surface with their cutters. This phenomenon is more pronounced in the second innings, although Gabba is considered to be one of the fastest squares in Australia. 

No team in the three matches played here so far have been able to get past 150 in the first innings, and the chasing team, Heat on all three occasions, have struggled to get to that total, losing twice with close margins (by two runs vs Strikers and by one run vs Hurricanes) and winning one with a great seventh-wicket partnership. Hence, expecting a high score game would be too much for tomorrow

Weather and Bat Flip

The weather in Brisbane would remain a bit chilly with partly cloudy skies and a 40% chance of rain. Even in the last BBL game at the Carrara in Brisbane, it had to be decided through Duckworth-Lewis, hence teams winning the flip would look to field first. 

Heat Probable XI

Joe Bruns, Sam Heazlett, Jack Wildermuth, Joe Denly, Lewis Gregory, Jimmy Peirson(w/c), James Bazley, Simon Milenko, Mark Steketee, Xavier Bartlett, Mujeeb Ur Rahman 

Sixers Probable XI

Josh Philippe(w), Jack Edwards, James Vince, Daniel Hughes(c), Jordan Silk, Daniel Christian, Carlos Brathwaite, Ben Dwarshuis, Ben Manenti, Steve OKeefe, Jake Ball

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