Star import Matt Prior only arrived in Australia on Thursday, but he already knows what will go on the line in the Sydney Thunder’s Big Bash rivalry game with the Sydney Sixers on Sunday.
Despite being a battle between the BBL’s two worst performed franchises this season, Prior says the derby inherently carries some extra motivation.
“Any game you play, you want to win. But beating the Sixers would be just that little bit better,” he said.
“That’s the big game isn’t it. I’m really, really excited. To be involved in the Sydney derby is fantastic for any cricketer.”
Prior got his first taste of Big Bash cricket in Friday night’s five-wicket defeat to Brisbane Heat – and didn’t enjoy the losing experience.
The England wicketkeeper claimed a suspect catch to remove James Hopes and hit two sixes in a brief, but entertaining, knock of 17 off 15 balls.
“(The first experience was) not great to be honest,” he said.
“The wicket did all sorts early on, I kept getting hit on the thigh and then we ended up losing. Not an ideal start, but there’s plenty there to work with.”
The Thunder are on a 10-game losing skid dating back to the mid-way point of last year’s tournament and have the dubious honour of being the least successful BBL franchise.
But in 2012-13 their futility has almost been matched by cross-town rivals the Sixers, who have lost four on the trot and have just one win to their name – their opening round clash with the Thunder.
But Prior says rather than jump on the Sixers’ poor form, his troops will need to focus on their own failings – starting with the top order, who again couldn’t post a significant total against the Heat.
The Thunder were all out for 126, their fifth sub-150 score of the tournament, with West Indian star Chris Gayle top-scoring with just 28.
“The wicket felt a little bit two-paced but batters up front have to take responsibility,” he said.
“We knew if we could get to 130-140 we were in the game on that wicket. And we just came unstuck a little bit.
“We need to finish the innings a bit better as well. You can’t put it on your tailenders to score runs, but we set ourselves up there where if we had a good last three overs we could’ve maybe got up to that 140 mark.”