BBL love-in as Lee farewells SCG

Local derbies aren’t meant to be love-ins, but Thursday night’s season-ending Big Bash League clash in Sydney could very well be.

The match will be Sixers star Brett Lee’s last at the SCG before he retires from cricket after the finals.

It might also be Mike Hussey’s last appearance for the Thunder, with the side out of finals contention and the skipper yet to decide on his future in the Twenty20 tournament.

Hussey, 39, has pushed himself in his recovery from a calf injury suffered earlier this month to be fit to farewell his good friend Lee.

And Lee, 38, wouldn’t have it any other way.

“He’s been a tremendous teammate and a very close friend of mine,” the fast-bowling great, who also attended the Australian Cricket Academy with Hussey, said.

“I would love my last game here at the SCG to be against Mike Hussey because he’s such a brilliant athlete and he’s scored a million runs.”

Hussey is one of four changes to the Thunder squad, alongside teenage batsman Jake Doran.

At 18 years and 51 days, he will become the youngest player to make his BBL debut.

The youngster was in 2013 the youngest player to represent the NSW Second XI and last week played for the Prime Minister’s XI against England.

“It’s an exciting moment,” said Doran, who’s relished the chance to be mentored by the likes of Hussey and South African superstar Jacques Kallis.

“Being around those sort of blokes with international experience has been awesome for me and my development.”

The Sixers have named an unchanged squad for the match, which is set to attract a record crowd in NSW domestic cricket.

Players from both sides are expected to form a guard of honour for Lee at the end of the game.

“It will be such an emotional thing when it’s all done and dusted,” Lee said.

“I’ll obviously be proud and upset that I won’t be here anymore playing cricket, but you’ve got to somehow put that out of your mind when you’re out there playing.

“When that last ball is bowled, that last wicket’s taken or the last run’s scored, that will be the opportunity to lap it up and enjoy the atmosphere.”

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