A Sydney Sixers side missing David Warner and Mitchell Starc and coming off a rare defeat are more vulnerable than usual, Melbourne Stars batsman David Hussey says.
The Sixers entered the Big Bash League season as reigning champions and Champions League Twenty20 titleholders, then stretched their winning streak to 12 by downing Sydney Thunder in their opening match.
But after Sydney suffered a big defeat to the previously-winless Perth Scorchers on Sunday night, Hussey believes Friday night’s clash at the MCG is a good time for the in-form Stars to inflict another one.
“They’ll be up here firing, ready to get back on the winners’ list,” Hussey said.
“But it’s probably a good time to play them. A few of their big stars are out playing Test match cricket.”
Hussey forecast a 40,000-strong crowd would be backing the Stars.
The Stars’ bowlers dominated their past two games to set up wins, but Hussey admitted their batsmen needed to lift.
Led by Sri Lankan speedster Lasith Malinga, the Stars restricted the Perth Scorchers to a record low 69 then kept the Hobart Hurricanes to a sub-par 8-134 in their past two matches.
The Stars’ batsmen needed to face just 2.1 overs to beat Perth in their rain-affected match, but made hard work of reaching their winning total against Hobart at the MCG on Saturday night.
“Our bowling and fielding has been second to none from the Perth Scorchers game and the Hobart Hurricanes game,” Hussey said.
“With the batting, we’ve got a little bit of improvement to do … we really need to turn it on come Friday night.”