Sixers face BBL hoodoo against Scorchers

Dec 22, 2017 - 5:21 AM The Perth Scorchers are facing a crippling injury crisis, however the Sydney Sixers must overcome a worrying hoodoo heading into Saturday's Big Bash League blockbuster at the SCG.

The Scorchers come into the season as one of the favourites to defend their crown, despite having to draft in three replacement players on Friday with half their squad on the sidelines.

Will Bosisto, James Muirhead and Josh Philippe were approved by the BBL Technical Committee to take their place in the Scorchers' 13-man squad as local replacement players.

With Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Sam Whiteman sidelined through injury, Mitchell and Shaun Marsh and Cameron Bancroft on international duty and Michael Klinger taking leave for personal reasons, coach Justin Langer wasn't able to scrape together a full squad.

Langer said during the week that nine of his 18-man squad were under some form of cloud.

Despite having the odds stacked against them, the three-time champions are still well liked by the bookies and considered one of the teams to beat by their peers.

"They're a pretty strong side. They might have some players that haven't played all that much, that the public might not be aware of," Sixers batsman Nic Maddinson said.

"But we're pretty well covered, we're supplied with a lot of vision and intel on players these days and we play them in other forms of the game, through second XI and Shield cricket and one-day cricket.

"We know we just have to put a good total on the board because they're a side who do defend low totals really well."

The Sixers must battle mental demons with the Scorchers having had the wood over them since the competition's inception.

The Scorchers have won six of their nine encounters, including last year's final in which the Perth side romped to a nine-wicket win.

"They are a tough team for us," Maddinson said.

"We're playing them at home. Our team matches up well, especially against them.

"The way we play out here (at the SCG), we can take some pace off the ball with the two spinners (Stephen O'Keefe and Johan Botha) and Sean Abbott and (Daniel) Sams.

"If the wicket is like it has been the last couple of years, I think we match up well against them."

Source: AAP