Melbourne Renegades vs Sydney Sixers (MLRvSYS): The 45th Match of KFC BBL 2021-22 will be played between these two teams MLR vs SYS, The match will begin on 11 January 2022 at 01:45 PM IST.
Key Points:
- Sydney Sixers have done a lot better than Melbourne Renegades in the competition thus far and are likely to be more confident of the two sides
- Both of the two wins that Renegades posted recently came against the sides that were far from their full-strength combinations
- With multiple versatile all-rounders available, Sydney Sixers have a better-balanced side between the two, at least on paper
Team Analysis:
With almost all teams getting impacted by the Covid-19 in the Big Bash League 2021, the tournament has absolutely turned upside down. With a couple of wins in their last three matches, Melbourne Renegades are suddenly back into the contention to qualify whereas Sydney Sixers now seem to be losing the momentum they initially had. Having said that, we still have many matches to go and things can change pretty quickly hereon.
Up next in the tournament, Melbourne Renegades are all set to take on Sydney Sixers in a match that could be tournament-defining for both these sides.
Match Details:
Date: January 11, 2022
Time: 01:45 PM (IST)
Venue: Simonds Stadium, Geelong, Australia
Live Streaming: Sony LIV App
TV: Sony Sports Network
Pitch and Weather Conditions:
This has been one of the most used venues in the tournament so far and the ground has more often than not turned out to be sporting. Even though a couple of matches played here were high-scoring, it had more to do with the skill of the batsmen than the surface. Hard surface and even carry means that batsmen and fast bowlers will both have something for them and the last boundaries will allow spinners to come into their own. Batsmen once set are likely to go on and get a big one here. The team batting first will be looking to score a total of at least 180 runs here.
Team Preview:
Melbourne Renegades (MLR):
After getting off to a rather poor start to the tournament and staying in the bottom half of the ladder for the most part of the tournament, Melbourne Renegades have suddenly started to look good. Having registered two wins in their last three matches, they are back into the contention and another couple of wins here can take them a lot closer to the playoffs spot.
As it currently stands, Melbourne Renegades are placed at the sixth spot on the points table with 15 points from 10 matches. Because their net run rate is so poor, -1.586, they would need an additional win as compared to the other teams with the same points so as to qualify for the next round. Another win here will take them close and that is exactly what they will be looking for.
Just when Renegades looked like gaining some momentum, they suffered a massive defeat at the hands of Sydney Thunder. Also, both of their two recent wins – against Brisbane Heat and Melbourne Stars came against depleted sides, and that would be a factor playing on their minds. The Renegades’ vulnerabilities were well and truly exposed in their match against Thunder as they registered a 129-run loss.
Chasing a total of tall order of 209, none of the Renegades’ batsmen looked comfortable enough in the middle as they were dismantled completely for a total of 80. So poor was their performance that only three batsmen managed to score in the double figures. On the bowling front as well, all their bowlers except Will Sutherland conceded at an economy rate of 9 or over, allowed plenty of freebies to the Thunder batsmen to score on.
Melbourne Renegades are having a torrid run in the competition since the last season and unless they are able to pull up a surprising performance, they’ll be set for an early exit. On paper, they do have some players with extensive experience, but none of them have been consistent enough. A lot will depend on the likes of Aaron Finch, Shaun Marsh, Nic Maddinson, and Kane Richardson for the Renegades to do well in the upcoming match. It is going to be a tough match for them, but if they are able to play to their potential, they can prove to be a very hard side to beat.
Likely XI: Sam Harper, Aaron Finch, Shaun Marsh, Nic Maddinson, Mackenzie Harvey, James Seymour, Will Sutherland, Kane Richardson, Josh Lalor, Zak Evans, Zahir Khan.
Please check the team once when Playing XI Announced.
Sydney Sixers (SYS):
Sydney Sixers were arguably amongst the two best sides of the competition up until the first half, but seem to be losing the plot at the moment. Not only have they been winless from last three outings, but they have also looked lost for ideas in all the matches they have lost. Having said that, they are still pretty much in contention and another win here should make it a lot easier for them to progress to the next round.
The Sixers have played one match less than the other teams placed in the top four and they would want to register a win here to increase the gap between them and the Hurricanes, who are placed at the fourth spot. As it currently stands on the points table, Sydney Sixers have won six matches and lost three, accumulating a total of 23 points in the process. Besides, they have a terrific net run rate of 0.867, which just shows how dominant they have been in the matches they have won.
Sydney Sixers are coming off a couple of consecutive losses, both at the hands of Perth Scorchers, and will be desperate to bounce back. Josh Phillippe was the primary reason for their splendid run in the first half of the tournament, but a big knock seems to be eluding him from the past few matches. Against the Perth Scorchers, in the Sixers’ most recent match, Phillipe managed a personal score of 32, but with no big knock from any of the players, the Sixers finished with just 151 runs on the board.
Defending a 151-run total in this format is never easy, but the Sixers did fight well in their quest. Ben Dwarshius, Hayden Kerr, and Jackson Bird were brilliant at the start, but all Scorchers needed was a small partnership and they got that with Ashton Turner scoring a quick fifty. The Scorchers eventually sealed the deal with one over to spare and five wickets in hand.
On paper, the Sixers still have a pretty good unit that is backed by the presence of multiple all-rounders in the fold. The likes of Dan Christian, Hayden Kerr, and Shadab Khan add depth to their batting unit without compromising on the bowling variety. Their top-order, however, hasn’t really contributed well enough recently and that has been the major reason for their underperformance. With the back-end of the tournament nearing us, the Sixers would want the likes of Phillipe, Jack Edwards, and Daniel Hughes to get a big knock to their name. If that happens in this upcoming match and the youngsters are able to support well, Melbourne Renegades won’t really stand a chance in this upcoming contest.
Likely XI: J Avendano, Josh Philippe, Jack Edwards, Daniel Hughes, Jordan Silk, DT Christian, Hayden Kerr, Shadab Khan, Ben Dwarshuis, Jackson Bird, Todd Murphy.
Please check the team once when Playing XI Announced.
Squads:
Melbourne Renegades Squad: Cameron Boyce, Zak Evans, Aaron Finch, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Sam Harper, Marcus Harris, Mackenzie Harvey, Josh Lalor, Shaun Marsh, James Pattinson, Mitch Perry, Jack Prestwidge, Kane Richardson, Will Sutherland, Nic Maddinson (c), Reece Topley, Unmukt Chand, Mohammad Nabi, Zahir Khan
Sydney Sixers Squad: Sean Abbott, Jackson Bird, Carlos Brathwaite, Dan Christian, Tom Curran, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Mickey Edwards, Moises Henriques (c), Daniel Hughes, Hayden Kerr, Nathan Lyon, Ben Manenti, Josh Philippe, Lloyd Pope, Jordan Silk, James Vince, Steve O’Keefe