WBBL|05 Fan’s guide: Sydney Sixers

Consistency is key for the juggernaut that is the Sydney Sixers, with the two-time Rebel WBBL champions maintaining the core of their star-studded squad for the upcoming season.

Ellyse Perry’s team will no doubt be hungry after being pipped by the Brisbane Heat in last year’s final, and they’ve stuck to a successful formula with Australian stars Perry, Alyssa Healy and Ashleigh Gardner again taking their place at the top of the order, followed by recent international debutant Erin Burns.

South African stars Marizanne Kapp and Dane van Niekerk also return, albeit both under an injury cloud, with van Niekerk missing her side’s current tour of India while Kapp sat out the T20I portion before rejoining the squad for the ODIs.

But the Sixers also have five teenagers on their books - Maddy Darke, Emma Hughes, Stella Campbell, Alisha Burns and Hayley Silver-Holmes – with at least one of the youngsters to get a run every game.

Given the experience and star power of the Sixers’ squad, it’s hard to imagine a competition where they aren’t a frontrunner.

WBBL|04 result: Runners-up

Sixers squad: Sarah Aley, Alisha Bates, Erin Burns, Stella Campbell, Lauren Cheatle, Maddy Darke, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jodie Hicks, Emma Hughes, Marizanne Kapp (SA), Ellyse Perry (C), Hayley Silver-Holmes, Dane van Niekerk (SA), Lauren Smith 

In: Maddy Darke, Emma Hughes, Stella Campbell, Alisha Burns 

Out: Sara McGlashan (retired), Tahlia Wilson (Thunder), Carly Leeson (Renegades), Clara Iemma 

Image Id: 1F1308A4027247378F80B8B354ED3F40 Image Caption: Ellyse Perry reacts as the Heat win the WBBL|04 title // Getty

The word from Australia great and Fox Cricket commentator Mel Jones:

"They didn’t win it last year but again, I think they’re the benchmark. If they can keep their key players on the park, you’d think they’ll make finals. If there’s some injury issues around any of those (international players) then they’ve got to turn to some youngsters. Hayley Silver-Holmes, Maddy Darke, Stella Campbell. All very young, all very raw, can they step up?"

One to watch: Erin Burns. The domestic journeywoman was finally rewarded for years of consistently improved performances when she was called up for Australia’s tour of the West Indies in August, making her T20 and ODI debuts in the Caribbean. Her off-spin and canny middle-order batting are key for the Sixers and now, with Australian experience under her belt, it will be interesting to see if Burns can find yet another level. There’s also the carrot of a T20 World Cup on the horizon; Burns got her Australian chance due to an injury to Renegades allrounder Sophie Molineux, so she’ll be out to make a case to retain her spot for that tournament in February and March.

The pressure is on: Alyssa Healy and Ellyse Perry. The pair enjoyed stunning Big Bash campaigns last summer, with Perry topping the competition run scorers and Healy not far behind. It’s form they’ve carried on for Australia through an Ashes campaign, a tour of the West Indies and a home series against Sri Lanka this year, but with so much cricket and so little downtime, keeping their momentum going through another hectic Big Bash season will be a test of the pair’s durability.

Possible starting XI: Ellyse Perry (c), Alyssa Healy, Ashleigh Gardner, Erin Burns, Dane van Niekerk (SA), Marizanne Kapp (SA), Lauren Smith, Sarah Aley, Hayley Silver-Holmes, Lauren Cheatle, Jodie Hicks

Fixtures

Check out the full WBBL|05 fixture here

October 18 v Thunder, North Sydney Oval (7.40pm)

October 19 v Heat, North Sydney Oval (7.10pm)

October 26 v Stars, Hurstville Oval (2pm)

November 2 v Renegades, WACA (12.10pm)

November 3 v Stars, WACA (11.10am)

November 9 v Heat, North Sydney Oval (3pm)

November 13 v Hurricanes, Invermay Park, Launceston (11am)

November 15 v Thunder, Drummoyne Oval (7.10pm)

November 17 v Renegades, Drummoyne Oval (2.10pm)

November 20 v Hurricanes, North Sydney Oval (5.30pm)

November 23 v Scorchers, Lilac Hill, Perth (10am)

November 24 v Scorchers, Lilac Hill, Perth (10am)

November 30 v Strikers, Hurstville Oval (2pm)

December 1 v Strikers, Hurstville Oval (2pm)

All times local