BBL6 Sydney Sixers vs. Hobart Hurricanes top run scorer tips

Friday, December 23, 2016, 6.10pm AEDT, Sydney Cricket Ground, watch on Network 10

THE Big Bash is back, baby.

The competition that has single handedly rejuvenated Australian domestic cricket heads to the hallowed turf of the Sydney Cricket Ground for a clash between two of last season’s cellar dwellers.

These two teams won a combined five games last campaign, but a new season brings new hope.

And the Sixers have a pair of Poms ready to blast them out of the park.

Keeper Sam Billings joins opening bat Jason Roy in the Sixers line up and coach Greg Shipperd says he is a crucial addition, given master blaster Nic Maddinson will be missing on Test duty.

“Recent international performances have whet our appetite that his explosive and creative style of batting will nicely suit our line-up,” Shipperd said.

“Sam can bat anywhere in the order and we like that flexibility in our players.

“Also his fielding is highly rated both as a keeper or outfielder.

“Good judges from England, Pakistan and the IPL have seen the potential in Sam and we welcome him to our squad.”

They will need to be on their game against a Hurricanes side looking to rejuvenate.

Fiery English seamer Stuart Broad may just be the Big Bash villain of the summer – if the Hurricanes can somehow become relevant.

A teammate of master blaster Dan Christian at English County side Notts, Hurricanes coach Damien Wright said he was thrilled to welcome the world class international talent.

“Stuart Broad has an incredible record in all three formats and his knowledge of the game overall will be a huge asset for our bowling group going forward,” Wright said.

“He will give us great firepower with the ball and will be a fantastic inclusion into our pace attack joining Tait, Reed and Rainbird.

“We now have two of the biggest names (Sri Lankan great Kumar Sangakkara) in our game playing for the Hobart Hurricanes.”

It remains to be seen what the imports can produce but, with neither side highly rated, this could prove to be a very entertaining contest.

Top team run scorer picks

Sydney Thunder:

Jason Roy ($3.75)

This young Pom is set to take the Big Bash by storm. The domestic T20 tournaments are his domain and he scores at a ridiculously fast 143.88 strike rate. His average of nearly 30 is nothing to sneer at either and he looks likely to open the batting for the Sixers on Friday night. Expect him to come out all guns blazing.

Jordan Silk ($8.50)

Silk by name, brute by nature. Jordan Silk is one of those frustrating talents that always feels on the cusp of something special, but has not quite yet been able to deliver. Silk will bat in the middle to lower order, so you might be a little reliant on a Sixers collapse, but, if he gets his chance, he still averages a respectable 26 at a strike rate of nearly 125, meaning he has the ability to get going.

Full market:

Jason Roy ($3.75)

Daniel Hughes ($4.33)

Nic Maddinson ($4.33)

Sam Billings ($4.50)

Moises Henriques ($5.50)

Ryan Carters ($8.50)

Jordan Silk ($8.50)

Brad Haddin ($9)

Ben Dwarshuis ($18)

Steve O’Keefe ($31)

Mitchell Starc ($34)

Johan Botha ($81)

Josh Hazlewood ($91)

Doug Bollinger ($101)

Sean Abbott ($101)

Joe Mennie ($101)

Jackson Bird ($101)

Nathan Lyon ($101)

Odds provided by Sportsbet.com.au

Hobart Hurricanes:

Kumar Sangakkara ($4.20 with Sportsbet.com.au)

Surely the Sri Lankan legend could not be as bad as last season. At age 39, the fear is the game might have passed over Sangakkara, but it would foolish to write off such a prodigious – and long term talent. If Brad Hogg can continue to produce with the ball at age 45, then Sangakkara still has some life left in him yet. Owns a pair of recent half centuries in the Bangladesh league and will want to make his four scores under 5 in last year’s Big Bash a distant memory.

Dan Christian ($8 with Sportsbet.com.au)

Not always reliable, Dan Christian has hit one of the biggest bombs ever seen in the Big Bash. And when he gets going, few can go with him. The talented, if a little outspoken, all rounder is a veteran of the T20 scene. He strikes them at better than 130 and when he hits them, they really stay hit. Was one of the Hurricanes’ best players in a disappointing season last campaign and will be keen to be part of the club’s rejuvenation.

Full market:

Tim Paine ($3.60)

Kumar Sangakkara ($4.20)

George Bailey ($4.33)

Dominic Michael ($6)

Ben McDermott ($8)

Dan Christian ($8)

Jon Wells ($9)

Hamish Kingston ($18)

Simon Milenko ($21)

Clive Rose ($51)

Jake Reed ($81)

Shaun Tait ($101)

Cameron Boyce ($101)

Sam Rainbird ($101)

Odds provided by Sportsbet.com.au

Match predictions

Match result: Sydney Sixers to win ($1.80 with Sportsbet.com.au)

This is a really interesting one to pick. Both teams are rather unknown commodities in 2016-17. The Poms dominate for both sides, with Billings and Roy lining up for the Sixers and Stuart Broad joining the Hurricanes. If Sangakkara can put it together and Tim Paine performs with bat and gloves, the Hurricanes might be able to avoid falling to the bottom of the table, but we reckon the Sixers have improved enough to leapfrog them in the standings. We’re excited to see the English showdown between Billings, Roy and Broad, which should make for some fireworks, but we are picking the Sixers to open the season with full points at home.