Hobbled Sixers regain Hughes for BBL final against Scorchers

Daniel Hughes has been declared fit to play in tonight's KFC BBL|11 final against the Perth Scorchers at Marvel Stadium in a huge boost for the two-time defending champions.

Sixers captain Moises Henriques won the bat flip and elected to bowl first under the Docklands roof on a rainy Melbourne evening.

Hughes was considered an outside chance to play and underwent a late fitness test on his left ankle that he injured last week when he tripped over a boundary rope attempting a catch in the warm-up.

The left-hander, who last played against the Brisbane Heat last week when he made 59, was only given the green light about two hours before the first ball of the decider following a fitness test that involved batting in the nets and taking outfield catches.

Nick Bertus, who made his debut for the Sixers when Hughes was ruled out 15 minutes before the Qualifier final against the Scorchers last Friday, has been brought into the team to replace Jake Carder.

Carder has been left out of the Sixers XI after making 10 off 13 balls in a 44-run partnership with Challenger final hero Hayden Kerr.

Justin Avendano, who has played for both the Sixers and the Melbourne Stars this season, has also been omitted for the XI with veteran seamer Jackson Bird being called up for the final. Avendano has been named as an X-factor sub.

As reported by cricket.com.au yesterday, the BBL has rejected the Sixers' application to bring in Test star Steve Smith to play in the final.

Bird has played five games this season after an Achilles injury kept him out of the first half of the tournament and last played against the Strikers on January 17 where he bowled two overs, taking 0-11.

Bertus, a 28-year-old left-hander from the Centralised Replacement Player pool plays with Parramatta in NSW Premier Cricket at the same club as Sixers teammate Sean Abbott.

Bertus, who has played four first-class and five List A matches for NSW with his last appearance in December 2019, made four off seven balls against the Scorchers last week.

Josh Philippe, along with Jack and Mickey Edwards, are unable to take the field and remain in isolation after testing positive for COVID-19.

Jordan Silk has been ruled out with a hamstring injury that he suffered while fielding against the Strikers at the SCG on Wednesday.

Jay Lenton, who sensationally replaced Silk when he retired hurt before the last ball of the clash, will again take the gloves in place of Philippe.

Captain Moises Henriques and veteran spinner Steve O'Keefe, in what could be the last Big Bash match of his career, will both play through calf injuries as the Sixers go for a historic three-peat.

Standing in their way is a formidable Perth Scorchers outfit, who have named an unchanged line-up from their clash with the Sixers last Saturday as they attempt to claim their fourth title in the competition's 11 seasons.

Mitch Marsh has been declared fit to play, overcoming a minor hamstring injury he sustained against the Sixers during that Qualifier final.

Matthew Kelly has been named as an X-factor sub after recovering from COVID-19 and being added to the Scorchers squad for tonight's match.