Sydney Sixers vs Melbourne Stars Preview & Predictions (BBL14)

Melbourne Stars and Sydney Sixers are set to lock horns at the SCG on Boxing Day following their contrasting starts to the new Big Bash season. The Stars face a challenging trip northeast after enduring three consecutive defeats, where they'll meet the league leaders eager to extend their winning streak.

Sydney will need to rewrite the script set by Australian betting sites, who have cast them as underdogs, if they are to disrupt the home team’s momentum. However, head-to-head stats are not also in favour of Marcus Stoinis’ men. The Stars have won only once against the Sixers since February 2019, so they need to dig deep to find inspiration for their next challenge.

Who will win this contest? Read on for our full preview of the Sixers vs Stars.

Sydney Sixers

The Sydney Sixers came agonisingly close to adding a fourth Big Bash League title to their collection last season, but they’ve shown no signs of being disheartened by the near miss. Tipped as title contenders once again ahead of the new campaign, the 23/24 runner-ups have so far lived up to the hype.

A late Ben Dwarshuis storm helped the Sixers get over the line in a thrilling Sydney derby on Saturday. The Thunders match was a tough test for the three-time champions, but their season opener against the Renegades was a far more comfortable affair, as they secured a five-wicket victory with nine balls to spare.

The Sixers have performed well across all departments till now, but their already impressive bowling attack received a significant boost with Akeal Hossain’s inclusion. The Trinidadian bowled an excellent four-over spell against the Thunder and added variety to a bowling lineup that has the likes of Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshius, and Jackson Bird.

Melbourne Stars

Expectations were not high for the Melbourne Stars heading into this season. They have managed to reach the BBL playoffs only twice in their last six campaigns, and did not do much in the offseason to address their recent failures. Regardless of all that, Stars’ boss Peter Moore might not have expected to start the season with three defeats on the trot.

Heading into the season, the Melbourne side was tipped to rely on their batting to carry them through matches. However, the batters have yet to live up to expectations. In their last outing, the Stars welcomed Ben Duckett and Glenn Maxwell into the fold for the first time this season, but neither managed to make an impact.

The bowlers haven’t fared much better so far as well, but that was somewhat expected. They’ve managed to take only 10 wickets across their first three matches. The Stars will need to step up in both departments to arrest their slump on Thursday afternoon.

The Sixers dominate the head-to-head stats with 14 wins compared to the Stars' eight. Melbourne won in their last trip to the SCG, but it remains their only victory against the Sixers in their last 11 encounters.

Glenn Maxwell lasted only five balls against the Strikers, but he sent two of them outside the park. The 36-year-old is widely regarded as one of the greatest T20 players in history, so the Stars will be hoping he spends more time on the pitch against the Sixers.

Ben Dwarshuis has taken four wickets in the first two matches for the Sixers and has also contributed with the bat, delivering crucial late cameos. The hosts will be expecting another all-round performance from him against a struggling Stars side.

Betting apps are placing strong confidence in a Sixers victory for this match. Playing at home, in excellent form, and with a solid head-to-head record against the Stars, the hosts tick all the right boxes. They should have little trouble securing a win against a team still searching for their first victory of the season after three matches.

Both the Sixers and the Stars will be desperate for a win, but for different reasons. The Sydney outfit will look to capitalise on the Stars' poor form and strengthen their grip on top spot. For the Stars, it’s a damage-control mission to prevent their playoff hopes from slipping away even further.