Preview: Sixers given freedom to chase BBL history

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BBL|10 result: Champions

Squad: Moises Henriques (c), Sean Abbott, Jackson Bird, Daniel Christian, Tom Curran (England), Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Mickey Edwards, Daniel Hughes, Chris Jordan (England), Hayden Kerr, Nathan Lyon, Ben Manenti, Stephen O'Keefe, Josh Philippe, Lloyd Pope, Jordan Silk, James Vince (England)

Ins: Tom Curran, Mickey Edwards, Chris Jordan

Outs: Justin Avendano, Jake Ball, Mitchell Starc, Carlos Brathwaite (injured)

Possible Best XI: James Vince (England), Josh Philippe (wk), Daniel Hughes, Moises Henriques, Jordan Silk, Dan Christian, Tom Curran (England), Sean Abbott, Chris Jordan (England), Steve O’Keefe, Jackson Bird

Possible Best XI for first game: James Vince (England), Josh Philippe (wk), Daniel Hughes, Moises Henriques, Jordan Silk, Dan Christian, Tom Curran (England), Hayden Kerr, Chris Jordan (England), Steve O’Keefe, Ben Manenti

With a settled line-up and very little red-ball player unavailability, the Sixers are perfectly placed to secure the BBL’s first ever three-peat.

The reigning champions will be without allrounder Sean Abbott who is in the Australia A squad, and injured fast bowling duo Jackson Bird and Ben Manenti for the season opener against the Melbourne Stars on December 5, but still boast a power-packed XI, most of which featured in last year’s championship side.

The Sixers have secured experienced England international Chris Jordan for the first five games of the season, who replaces West Indian allrounder Carlos Brathwaite who misses the tournament due to shoulder surgery. They have retained James Vince who will be pivotal to the title defence, while English allrounder Tom Curran returns after a season away from the BBL. He’ll perfectly slot back into a bowling line-up with plenty of experience in Steve O’Keefe, Bird and Dan Christian.

Young allrounders Hayden Kerr and Jack Edwards will fight it out for Abbott’s spot early in the campaign, with the former showing some strong form in domestic cricket this season. Jack’s brother Mickey also finds his way back onto the Sixers list this season and adds great depth to the Sixers’ bowling cartel.

With a top six that boasts the likes of Josh Philippe, Moises Henriques and Christian, it’s hard to see there being too many matches where the Sixers don’t once again pile on enough runs to win games of cricket.

The inside word with Sixers coach Greg Shipperd:

The off-season

"If you backtrack on our team last year it was particularly settled, apart from our third quick from time to time was rotated around. We've got spin covered, we've got pace covered, we've got a range of different batting options, we've got some terrific cricket experience in the group – the one missing soldier, if you like, was Tom Curran. It's awesome to have him back in the mix this season for us, and when he's played with us in previous seasons, he's brought great passion and intellect around the game for someone so young, so we're thrilled to have him back."

The elusive three-peat

"When you look at the squad, it's essentially exactly the same squad (as last season) so it was us saying to the playing group that you've deserved and earned a shot at a very rare achievement, which is as rare as back-to-back, going one step further than that is very rare. We've said to the group you've earned an opportunity to go and chase that and to good crack at it. We're really comfortable doing that as well, it's a high functioning team and we're really comfortable with the combinations that we've got to challenge again."

Player to watch

"They're all so capable - last year we had Vince in the finals, we had Player of the Year in Philippe, we had Jordan Silk and Dan Christian who played the surge as well as anyone in the competition. And we had the wisest old spin bowler in the competition in Steven O'Keefe weaving his magic. All of those and leadership from Dan Hughes who stepped up in Moises' absence and did a brilliant job so they've all got an opportunity to be stand outs."

The imports

"I guess if you're in short-form cricket for the English cricket team you're in elite company and all three of those are in those English squads as we speak, so we think in combination, certainly the two that have experienced our environment at the Sixers love it and I'm sure Chris will seamlessly transition into a group for the period of time that he is here. It was a real shame - having welcomed him in - to lose Carlos, a Sixers family member and favourite with all fans and supporters. We wish him well in his recovery and I'm sure we'll cross paths again with him at some stage."

Biggest threat

"Every year it's a highly respected competition and all teams, when look at them on paper, are fantastic and it's just playing the game within the moment in the conditions. We've got a healthy respect for all our opponents and everyone's dangerous on their day."

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