Last Updated on 11 months ago by Charbel Coorey

THU vs SIX Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report: BBL 2021/22 Match 20 | THU vs SIX Dream11 Prediction Today | Thunder vs Sixers Key Players | Sydney Showground Pitch Report

The first edition of the Sydney Smash in BBL 11 has possible “game of the season” feels about it. In the first match post Christmas, Sydney Thunder, who thrashed Brisbane Heat earlier this week, come up against back-to-back champions and BBL 11 title challengers Sydney Sixers.

It does have the feel of challenger vs champion. The Thunder have been thereabouts in recent seasons but have not gone all the way since BBL 05. They have the talent – particularly in their top order and pace attack – to challenge for the title this season, and there is no better way of sending a strong message than with a fine performance against the Sixers today.

And it won’t be easy to beat them. The Sixers have found ways to win this season even when they haven’t been at their best, with the latest being a four-wicket win over Adelaide Strikers last time out. They weren’t great with the bat, but their sheer depth means that they are always in the game. And now, the Sixers have Shadab Khan who provides a top-class spin option with Steve O’Keefe and Ben Manenti injured.

Strap yourselves in, this should be a ripper after day one of the Boxing Day Test.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Sydney Thunder:

• Alex Hales smashed a superb century in his last match vs Sixers (110 off 56 balls) back in January. The top run-scorer last season found some form last match with 39 off 28 balls against the Heat.
• What a performance it was by Sam Billings last match. He smashed 64 off 27 balls, part of a fine season so far for the keeper-batsman: 4 inns, 160 runs, avg. 53.33, SR 141.59. He struck 33 (21) and 15 (15) vs Sixers last season.
• It remains to be seen if Alex Ross gets a good chance to bat today as it depends on how the top order performs. He is batting brilliantly this season, with 159 runs at an average of 159.00 and strike rate of 147.22, with two fifties.
• Ross smashed 77* off 49 balls on this ground earlier this season vs Melbourne Stars.
• Daniel Sams has an excellent record on this ground. He has the most wickets of any bowler at Sydney Showground, with 23 scalps in 12 matches at an average of 13.00 and economy rate of 7.73.
• Sams has an excellent record vs Sixers, too. He has taken nine wickets in five matches against them at an average of 11.22 and economy rate of 6.89.
• What a debut it was for Saqib Mahmood earlier this week. He took 4/22 in a player of the match performance vs Heat, part of 33 wickets in 20 short-form matches this year.
• Tanveer Sangha has the fourth-most wickets so far in BBL 11, with eight scalps in four matches (avg. 12.12, econ. 6.68). He has three wickets in two matches vs Sixers at an average of 16.00 and economy rate of 8.00.

Sydney Sixers:

• Josh Philippe is having a season to remember. The talented keeper-batsman has struck the most runs so far in BBL 11 (282, avg. 70.50, SR 152.43), with three half-centuries.
• It will be interesting to see whether Philippe can improve on his record vs Thunder. He has scored 108 runs against them at an average of 18.00, but he did play well against them last season (scores of 64 and 20). Also, he has scored just 13 runs in two matches on this ground.
• Daniel Hughes has an outstanding record against the Thunder. He has scored 319 runs in 11 matches at an average of 45.57 and strike rate of 121.76.
• Skipper Moises Henriques, who has scored 232 runs at 77.33 this season, also has a strong record vs Thunder. He has 337 runs in 14 innings at an average of 37.44 and strike rate of 134.26. He has a score of 76* in four matches on this ground.
• Dan Christian took three wickets in his last match vs Strikers. He may not bowl as much today given the presence of Shadab, but the captain may still turn to him for a couple of overs at least.
• Christian has scored 235 runs at an average of 26.11 and strike rate of 137.43 vs Thunder. He also has 12 wickets against them.
• Sean Abbott was player of the match last game vs Strikers (3/24). He has 14 wickets in 12 matches vs Thunder at an average of 25.64 and economy rate of 8.55.
• Shadab Khan promises to be an excellent addition to the Sixers’ squad. The Pakistani leg-spinner has taken 33 wickets in 36 matches this year at an economy rate of 7.53.

Stats and Facts

• Head-to-head: Matches 19, Thunder 7, Sixers 12.
• Both teams won a match against each other last season.
• Nathan McAndrew has taken just one wicket in five matches vs Sixers at an average of 165 and economy rate of 11.79.

Possible Playing 11

Sydney Thunder have named their squad. They should stick with the same team that thrashed the Heat.

Sydney Thunder: 1. Alex Hales, 2. Matthew Gilkes, 3. Jason Sangha, 4. Sam Billings (wk), 5. Alex Ross, 6. Daniel Sams, 7. Ben Cutting, 8. Nathan McAndrew, 9. Chris Green (c), 10. Saqib Mahmood, 11. Tanveer Sangha

Shadab Khan has been named in the Sydney Sixers’ squad for this match. Chris Jordan is no longer available as he was with the franchise on a five-game contract.

Sydney Sixers: 1. Josh Philippe (wk), 2. James Vince, 3. Moises Henriques (c), 4. Daniel Hughes, 5. Jordan Silk, 6. Dan Christian, 7. Shadab Khan, 8. Sean Abbott, 9. Ben Dwarshuis, 10. Hayden Kerr, 11. Lloyd Pope/Nick Winter/Lawrence Neil-Smith

Sydney Showground Pitch Report and Weather

Earlier this season, Melbourne Stars chased Sydney Thunder’s 151/5 with 17 deliveries to spare. It was an easy-paced surface where batsmen had the opportunity to play their shots with freedom, as Alex Ross, Glenn Maxwell and Andre Russell showed. In the other match on this ground this season, Scorchers smashed 195/1 with Colin Munro notching up a century.

There is a chance of showers today around Sydney, but there should hopefully be enough play for a result.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

Option 2:

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

• Wicket-keepers: Josh Philippe, Sam Billings
• Batsmen: Alex Hales
• All-rounders: Moises Henriques, Daniel Sams
• Bowlers: Sean Abbott, Saqib Mahmood, Tanveer Sangha

Match Prediction

This one is tough to predict. Sydney Thunder will be motivated to perform well and beat the Sixers, and I think they will today.