Big Bash League today

Sydney Thunder v Sydney Sixers @ Spotless Stadium – Tuesday 7:40pm

The Sydney Thunder will be in unfamiliar territory as defending champions when they host cross-town rivals, Sydney Sixers in the 10th edition of the Sydney Smash.

No longer are the Thunder the whipping boys of the Big Bash, but instead their number will be marked as we head into the sixth season of the Big Bash League.

The Thunder have a wealth of experience that they’ll need to replace after the departures of Mike Hussey and Jacques Kallis, while the loss of Shane Watson (injury) and Usman Khawaja (Australian Test duty) will test their depth in the opener against the Sixers. English captain Eoin Morgan returns to the Thunder and will have plenty of responsibility on his shoulders as interim captain, while Watson is out. Domestic veterans like Aiden Blizzard and Ben Rohrer will need to also contribute with the bat to allow the underrated Thunder bowling attack to compete.

Three of the Thunder’s current bowling attack in Gurinder Sandhu (22) Clint McKay (18) and Andre Russell (16) feature in the all-time wicket-taker leaderboard for the Thunder behind Dirk Nannes on 23 wickets.

If the Thunder is missing plenty of experience with the bat, it’s the opposite for the Sixers with four of their frontline bowling attack in Jackson Bird, Josh Hazelwood, Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc, missing on Test duty. They’ll also be without opening batsman Nic Maddinson who is also in Brisbane for the Test against Pakistan.

The Sixers hold a 7-2 record in the Sydney Smash although the Thunder can take plenty of confidence, winning both of the clashes last season on their way to taking out the title.

The Thunder won the first encounter by 36 runs, with Mike Hussey the hero with 80*, while Andre Russell (3/13), Shane Watson (3/13) and Clint McKay (2/11) all contributed with the ball.

In the second clash last season, the Thunder got the job again, this time by 46 runs with Watson (66), Russell (46) and Hussey (41) all in the runs.

Maddinson (70) was the best for the Sixers in a beaten side, while McKay picked up another 3 wickets, taking his tally to 6 wickets in both clashes against the men in magenta last year.

Not only are the Sixers missing a Test calibre bowling attack, but the loss of Maddinson and fellow opening batsmen Englishman Michael Lumb leaves them missing their top two all-time run scorers.

The Thunder have similar headaches with the bat as already mentioned, but The Wolf feels they have a more solid and versatile bowling attack that could prove all the difference in a tight Sydney Smash.

Thunder: Ben Rohrer (c), Fawad Ahmed, Aiden Blizzard, Pat Cummins, Jake Doran (wk), Ryan Gibson, Chris Green, Jay Lenton (wk), Clint McKay, Eoin Morgan, Kurtis Patterson, Gurinder Sandhu, Andre Russell

Ben Rohrer (hamstring) has been cleared of injury and will captain the side, with Shane Watson (calf) out for the first two games. The Thunder are also missing Usman Khawaja (Test duty), Mike Hussey and Jacques Kallis (both retired) from last year’s championship side. Pat Cummins and Andre Russell form one of the most feared pace attacks in T20 cricket.

Sixers: Moises Henriques (c), Brad Haddin (wk), Sean Abbott, Sam Billings, Doug Bollinger, Johan Botha, Ben Dwarshuis, Daniel Hughes, Joe Mennie, Stephen O’Keefe, Jason Roy, Jordan Silk, Henry Thornton.

Moises Henriques (leg) has been cleared and will captain the side. Brad Haddinwill keep wickets ahead of English import Sam Billings, who will play as a specialist batsman. The Sixers are very thin on talent for this game, with Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Jackson Bird, Nic Maddinson and Nathan Lyon all on Test duty.