Key match-ups, analysis, form, team news, weather forecast, tickets, TV and streaming information, odds, predictions and more ahead of the latest encounter in the 2022/23 Big Bash
Sydney Sixers will host the Melbourne Stars in match 15 of the 2022/23 Big Bash, the 12th edition of the tournament.
The game is scheduled to start at 6.05pm local time (7.05am GMT) on Monday, December 26.
The game will be played in Sydney at the SCG.
Both these teams have had a similar start to the tournament so far. With two points in three games, the Stars are currently sixth while the Sixers are seventh in the table, with only net run rate separating them. With a win in their last game, the Sixers will be high on confidence, while the Stars will be looking to get back on track.
Sixers excelled with the ball to beat Hobart Hurricanes by six runs in their last outing, protecting their first innings score of 136 for 7.
Stars were beaten last time out, however, after being set 230 to win by Perth Scorchers they lost out by 61 runs.
In last season's meetings, Sixers won both encounters in emphatic fashion by 152 runs and seven wickets.
Kurtis Patterson (Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)
With Kurtis Patterson and Josh Philippe scoring runs against Hurricanes, their match-up against the Stars’ pace attack will be interesting. Patterson smashed 38 off 25 balls while Philippe dismantled the opposition bowling with a 21-ball 43.
Their spin duo, Todd Murphy and Steve OKeefe, registered miserly figures in the previous match and will be a key matchup against the Stars’ batting lineup. And the challenge for both team's pacers will be bouncing back, especially after a dismal performance on their last outing.
Sunny conditions are expected, and temperatures will be in the mid-20s at SCG during the game.
With Sixers coming off a victory they will probably remain unchanged for their second consecutive home encounter.
Stars may too be unchanged despite suffering their second defeat of the campaign to Scorchers.
Sydney Sixers: Sean Abbott, Jackson Bird, Dan Christian, Ben Dwarshuis, Moises Henriques, Daniel Hughes, Hayden Kerr, Nathan Lyon, Izharulhaq Naveed, Chris Jordan, Steve O'Keefe, Kurtis Patterson, Josh Philippe, Jordan Silk, James Vince, Todd Murphy, Mickey Edwards, Jack Edwards, Steve Smith, Josh Kann (local replacement player), Naveen-ul-Haq (partial replacement for Chris Jordan)
Melbourne Stars: Trent Boult, Joe Burns (injured), Hilton Cartwright, Joe Clarke, Brody Couch, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Liam Hatcher, Clint Hinchliffe, Nick Larkin, Glenn Maxwell (c), Marcus Stoinis, Beau Webster, Luke Wood, Adam Zampa, Campbell Kellaway, Tom O'Connell, Sam Elliott, Cam McClure, James Seymour (local replacement player)
*Squads are for the whole BBL and not specific to this match
Sydney Sixers: Josh Philippe(w), Kurtis Patterson, James Vince, Moises Henriques(c), Jordan Silk, Daniel Christian, Hayden Kerr, Sean Abbott, Steve OKeefe, Naveen-ul-Haq, Todd Murphy
Melbourne Stars: Joe Clarke (wk), Thomas Rogers, Beau Webster, Marcus Stoinis, Hilton Cartwright, Nick Larkin, Campbell Kellaway, Luke Wood, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Trent Boult, Adam Zampa (c)
the Stars' Australia internationals, Adam Zampa and Marcus Stoinis (Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
The home team Sydney Sixers are available on 8/11, while Melbourne Stars are at 6/5 with the bookies.
Both teams are evenly poised but taking into account their current form Sixers are slightly ahead of the Stars.
Tickets are available on Ticketek, with prices starting from $25 for adults and $5 for children. Family tickets are available with two kids and adults for $50.
Sky Sports hold the UK rights for the BBL, with coverage split between Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Mix.
Ball-by-ball radio commentary will also be available via BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra and BBC Sounds for selected matches.
Fox Sports and Seven Network both have television rights in Australia while coverage will also be available via streaming service Kayo. Fox will show every game while 45 matches, including the knockout stages, will be shown free-to-air on Channel Seven.
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