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 Thunder will host Perth Scorchers in match 39 of the 2022/23 Big Bash, the 12th edition of the tournament.
The game is scheduled to start at 6.30pm local time (7.30am GMT) on Friday, January 13.
The game will be played at the Sydney Showground Stadium in Sydney.
After a four-match winning streak, Sydney Thunder were brought back down to earth with a bump by Sydney Sixers in their most recent outing: a seven-wicket defeat.
Perth Scorchers are top of the Big Bash standings, having only lost twice all season. Their only defeat since December 19 came against Thunder.
With the bat, Perth are driven by a red-hot middle order. Josh Inglis (313 runs at 47), Aaron Hardie (267 at 45), and Ashton Turner (217 at 36) have all been striking at better than 145 across the tournament. Sydney Thunder need David Warner to fill Alex Hales' shoes. Hales leaves the competition having hit 245 runs at 31. Ollie Davies made a half-century against Perth in the earlier meeting of the teams this season, but was dismissed for a duck in his last outing.
With the ball, Chris Green of Sydney Thunder is the only bowler with more than 100 deliveries to his name in this year's Big Bash to have an economy rate below 6. Green has eight wickets to boot.
No one has more wickets in the competition than Andrew Tye of Perth Scorchers (17 at 17s, economy 8). Tye is delivering a wicket every two overs in BBL12.
David Warner is available for Sydney Thunder [Getty Images]
The Perth Scorchers' middle order has been ridiculously consistent when it comes to scoring quickly and going big in BBL12. Sydney Thunder will need to get a hold on Josh Inglis, Aaron Hardie and Ashton Turner if they are going to record a second win over the Scorchers this season. That's exactly what they did in their victory on January 4, restricting the league leaders to 142 for 9 from their 20 overs.
A dry and sunny day in Sydney, with temperatures expected to touch 26 degrees Celsius around the start of play.
David Warner is available for Sydney Thunder, and is set to make his first appearance for the club for a decade. Alex Hales and Rilee Rossouw have left the group for other T20 tournaments. Blake Nikitaras and Ross Pawson are replacement players in the matchday squad.
Sydney Thunder: Oliver Davies, Brendan Doggett, Matthew Gilkes, Chris Green, Baxter Holt, Nathan McAndrew, Alex Ross, Daniel Sams, Jason Sangha (c), Tanveer Sangha, David Warner, Ben Cutting, Usman Qadir, Gurinder Sandhu, Sam Whiteman, Joel Davies, Blake Nikitaras, Ross Pawson
Perth Scorchers: Ashton Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Jason Behrendorff, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Peter Hatzoglou, Nick Hobson, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kelly, Lance Morris, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, Stephen Eskinazi, Hamish McKenzie, David Payne (replacement for Tymal Mills for second half of the season)
*Squads are for the whole BBL and not specific to this match
Josh Inglis has been in fine form for Perth Scorchers [Getty Images]
Sydney Thunder: David Warner, Matthew Gilkes, Sam Whiteman, Ollie Davies, Alex Ross, Ben Cutting, Chris Green, Daniel Sams, Nathan McAndrew, Brendan Doggett, Usman Qadir
Perth Scorchers: Stephen Eskinazi, Cameron Bancroft, Josh Inglis, Aaron Hardie, Ashton Turner, Ashton Agar, Nick Hobson, Andrew Tye, Jason Behrendorff, Peter Hatzoglou, David Payne
Sydney Thunder are underdogs with the bookmakers, with a best price available of 5/4. Perth Scorchers are hot favourites at 8/11 in places.
Close call. But Perth look pretty much unstoppable at the moment and even a David Warner-inspired Thunder will need something special to come away with a win.
Yes. Tickets are available from $5 for children and $20 for adults, and can be bought via Ticketmaster.
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 the 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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