Sydney Sixers – Predicted XI for Round 1 BBL|13
The Sydney Sixers are one of four clubs with a Round 1 SC BBL double so they’ll need to be considered for your starting squads. Plus they’re one of two clubs to have no bye all season.
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Ins/Outs
Ins: Joel Davies (Sydney Thunder), Rehan Ahmed (Eng), Tom Curran (Eng)
Outs: Dan Christian (retired), Chris Jordan (Hobart Hurricanes), Nathan Lyon (Melbourne Renegades), Izharulhaq Naveed, Naveen-ul-Haq
Squad: Sean Abbott, Jackson Bird, Ben Dwarshuis, Moises Henriques, Daniel Hughes, Hayden Kerr, Stephen O’Keefe, Kurtis Patterson, Josh Philippe, Jordan Silk, Todd Murphy, Jack Edwards, Joel Davies, James Vince, Rehan Ahmed, Tom Curran, Steve Smith
Uncontracted from BBL|12: Mickey Edwards, Josh Kann, Lachlan Shaw
View our list of the top 5 speculative picks in SC BBL|13
Availability Issues
All-rounders Hayden Kerr (side), Jack Edwards (heel), Steve O’Keefe (finger) and Tom Curran (knee) are currently sidelined with injuries, with timeframes unclear towards their BBL availability. Curran hurt his knee one week after the BBL Draft, pulling out of the CPL mid-tournament and hasn’t played since. Cricket NSW have said Kerr and Edwards will be available in BBL|13, although that is ambiguous.
On the international front, spinner Todd Murphy will miss the first game due to a Prime Minister’s XI call-up but should return, although he could get called up for Australia prior to the SCG Test in early January. Steve Smith has been re-signed, but will only play the first game before departing for Test duty. He may sneak in another game on January 12, between the Pakistan and West Indies Test series.
Rehan Ahmed will miss the first three rounds after being called up by England for their white-ball tour of the West Indies, with three ODIs (December 3-9) and five T20Is (December 12-21). James Vince, however, was overlooked but may miss their first game as he’s contracted for the Abu Dhabi T10 League (November 28-December 9).
View our list of the top 10 value picks in SC BBL|13
Predicted Round 1 XI Rationale
We’re anticipating Vince will arrive in time and we know Smith is available for the first game only, which may squeeze out someone like Jack Edwards, Dan Hughes or Kurtis Patterson who were battling for a top-order batting spot.
Dan Christian has retired, opening up opportunities in the middle order, although Curran seems a like-for-like replacement. Kerr and Curran’s fitness may be a factor for Edwards too, which could impact their middle-order line-up.
Amid all that, Henriques has been bowling more at state level and taking wickets. He also had moderate success with the ball in Major League Cricket where he captained Washington Freedom. He’s always been reluctant to bowl himself in BBL but perhaps that recent trend suggests that’s changed, potentially impacting selection, if he’s willing to chip in a few overs. If he’s bowling, he may be a sneaky SC option too.
Rehan and Murphy’s unavailability and O’Keefe’s injury means Joel Davies shoots into contention to play as their preferred spinner in Round 1, while swing bowling power play specialist Jackson Bird may be needed too.
Abbott and Josh Philippe are in Australia’s T20I squad for a five-game series in India concluding December 3, ahead of the Sixers’ December 8 BBL opener, so hopefully they’re right and recovered in time. Stay tuned, though, as the Sixers have another spot to fill with a fast bowler expected to be added.
Predicted Round 1 XI
1 J.Philippe
2 S.Smith
3 J.Vince (if unavailable, D.Hughes)
4 M.Henriques
5 J.Silk
6 H.Kerr
7 T.Curran
8 S.Abbott
9 J.Davies
10 B.Dwarshuis
11J.Bird
View our predicted Round 1 line-up for the Melbourne Renegades
View our predicted Round 1 line-up for the Melbourne Stars
View our predicted Round 1 line-up for the Sydney Thunder
View our predicted Round 1 line-up for the Hobart Hurricanes
View our predicted Round 1 line-up for the Adelaide Strikers
View our predicted Round 1 line-up for the Brisbane Heat
View our predicted Round 1 line-up for the Perth Scorchers
View our comprehensive SC BBL|13 availability calendar
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