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Perth Scorchers take on Sydney Sixers in the 2021-22 Big Bash League final.
The game is scheduled for 7.40pm local time (8.40am GMT) on Friday, January 27, 2022.
The game will be held at Melbourne's Marvel Stadium.
This should be the showcase occasion of the Australian white-ball season.
The 11th BBL final should be an eagerly anticipated occasion, which creates excitement and intrigue.
Instead, it has been overshadowed by Covid-19.
Perth Scorchers start as favourites, after topping the group with 11 wins from 14 and beating Sydney Sixers three times already this season.
The latest of those successes came in the Qualifier between the top two, a 48-run win at Marvel Stadium which underlines their title credentials.
That trio of wins will count for nothing if they don't complete the job on Friday, but they're overwhelming favourites to do so.
The Sixers are chasing a third title in a row and bar the odd blip have been impressive en route to the final.
But a Covid outbreak and some antiquated Cricket Australia rules mean they arrive at the final with a threadbare squad.
Josh Philippe, Jack and Mickey Edwards all missed the Challenger win over Adelaide Strikers, while Daniel Hughes was pulled out after suffering an injury after failing a fitness test.
Furthermore, the defending champions have been unable to call up Steve Smith to their squad amid the crisis.
Jake Carder was added to their squad at the 11th hour the other night to replace Hughes having never met several of his teammates, such is the plight the Sixers find themselves in.
Hayden Kerr will likely lead the batting order again [Mike Owen/Getty Images]
Hayden Kerr produced a staggering innings of 98* to help guide Sixers into the final, leading a nervy run-chase with his maiden T20 fifty and just the second in his career.
And with Philippe's absence expected to continue, he could be set to lead the way again.
The New South Wales native has boldly put himself up for the upcoming IPL auction in the hope of earning a deal. Performances like the one against Adelaide Strikers will have done plenty for his reputation.
"I just put myself in for the absolute minimum amount," Kerr told AAP.
"Hopefully there's an opportunity there if someone needs a back-up bowler, allrounder or something like that.
"You never know if there are a few injuries, hopefully, the innings last night has helped cement my spot as an allrounder.
"Definitely not expecting a whole lot on that front."
He'll get to test himself against a seamer who is no stranger to India's premier T20 competition in Andrew Tye.
The seamer has been among the wickets across this season's BBL and picked up 2 for 38 in the recent win over Sixers, including that of Kerr, catching the edge of his bat when the chase looked all-but doomed.
Tye has already been named in the BBL 11 team of the tournament ahead of the final, but such an award will be meaningless if he isn't on the winning side on Friday.
Umpires will appear here when available
Rain and thunderstorms are predicted on Friday throughout Melbourne meaning the retractable roof on the Marvel Stadium may be called upon.
Perth Scorchers: Ashton Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Jason Behrendorff, Cooper Connolly, Laurie Evans, Aaron Hardie, Peter Hatzoglou, Nick Hobson, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kelly, Mitch Marsh, Tymal Mills, Lance Morris, Colin Munro, Kurtis Patterson, Jhye Richardson (David Moody), Aston Turner, Andrew Tye
Sydney Sixers: Moises Henriques, Sean Abbott, Jackson Bird (Lawrence Neil-Smith), Daniel Christian, Tom Curran, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Mickey Edwards, Daniel Hughes, Chris Jordan (first five matches), Hayden Kerr, Nathan Lyon (Nick Winter), Ben Manenti, Stephen O'Keefe, Josh Philippe, Lloyd Pope, Jordan Silk, James Vince, Shadab Khan
AJ Tye [Mike Owen/Getty Images]
Perth Scorchers: Kurtis Patterson, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Colin Munro, Ashton Turner, Laurie Evans, Ashton Agar, AJ Tye, Jason Behrendorff, Peter Hatzoglou, Jhye Richardson
Sydney Sixers: Hayden Kerr, Justin Avendano, Jake Carder, Moises Henriques, Todd Murphy, Dan Christian, Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis, Jay Lenton, Nathan Lyon, Steve O’Keefe
Perth Scorchers start the game as favourites at 2/5 with several bookies, while defending champions Sydney Sixers are 2/1.
Covid has ruined what may have been a perfectly good and competitive final. Sixers limped over the line against Strikers and should be there for the taking by Scorchers.
Sky Sports have bought the rights for the competition through to 2025, and they will broadcast all 61 games in the UK.
Fox Sports and Seven Network both have television rights in Australia: subscription broadcaster Fox show every game, while free-to-air Seven will simulcast 45 matches.
BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra will have ball-by-ball radio coverage of the tournament for UK listeners.
Where can I watch the competition elsewhere in the world?
North America: Willow
MENA: beIN Sports
Sub Saharan Africa: SuperSport
Indian Subcontinent: Sony
New Zealand: Sky Sport
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