Here are our fantasy picks for the game between the Sydney Sixers and the Melbourne Renegades (5:30)
January 25: Sydney Sixers v Melbourne Renegades in Sydney
Our XI: Aaron Finch, Moises Henriques, Steven Smith, Beau Webster, Mohammad Nabi, James Vince, Josh Philippe, Ben Dwarshuis, Cameron Boyce, Tom Curran, Kane Richardson
NOTE: We might not always be able to tip you off about late injury (or other relevant) updates.
Captain: Steven Smith
Smith comes in on the back of big runs in the ODI series n India, and based on evidence from Sixers’ last match, will probably bat at No. 3. That’s always useful, and in Sydney, you can count on him to be among the runs.
Vice-captain: Mohammad Nabi
Nabi could be a decent shout for captain too. He’s been in good form after being brought into the squad, both with bat and ball, and will play a central role in both halves of the match. Finch is back as captain and that’s a tactical boost for the Renegades in regard to how they can use Nabi.
Hot picks
James Vince
Vince is another offbeat shout for captain or vice-captain. He made an unbeaten 41 at No. 3 and then a 51 opening in the last match. One of the batsmen in form for the Sixers, and superb value as a top-order batsman on a pitch that isn’t easy to gauge.
Tom Curran
Curran is in a furious race with the Sydney Thunder’s Daniel Sams and the Adelaide Strikers’ Rashid Khan to be the highest wicket-taker of the season. With 19 wickets, he came one wicket off Sams’ 20 for the season after his last game. He has wickets in each of his last five innings, with two two-fors and a four-for.
Aaron Finch
Finch looked his brutal best in the ODI series against India and is coming back to a Renegades side that is now out of the race for the playoffs. There isn’t too much pressure on him or his team, and in this form, a free-flowing Finch can be valuable.
Value picks
Josh Philippe: The Renegades will miss out on Sam Harper’s services after he suffered a concussion, and have replaced him with rookie Brayden Stepien. Josh Philippe is therefore the primary wicketkeeping option in this fixture and brings both value and form – he made an unbeaten 52 opening the innings with Vince during the Sixers’ win last match.
Beau Webster: Webster continues to be the Renegades’ best batsman of the season (404 runs at 50.50, strike rate 137.88) and among the top run-getters overall. In his last outing, he got a fifty, and before that a 36. He rolled his arm over too against the Hobart Hurricanes, but the runs and his form alone are enough value.
Point to note
Keep a close eye on the Strikers’ match on Thursday. Should they lose, the Sixers will have the opportunity to finish on 19 points and seal second place on Friday, which gives them an extra shot at the finals.
Source: ESPN Crickinfo