Extra spice has been added to Wednesday’s Big Bash League semi-final, with Marcus North named captain of the Sydney Sixers against his former club Perth Scorchers, in what looms as a classic pace bowling shootout.
Former Test batsman North, who has captained both WA and the Scorchers, will lead the Sixers, as their two previous skippers Steve Smith and Moises Henriques are in South Africa with the Australian Test squad.
“It (captaincy) is something that I’ve enjoyed in the past during my career and (there’s) no better way to come in than against my old team,” North said.
Ironically, the Scorchers will be captained by Simon Katich, a former NSW and Sixers skipper.
The match could possibly be Katich’s last senior game, as he has accepted a post with AFL club Greater Western Sydney Giants and hasn’t decided whether he will pay cricket again after this season.
Scorchers coach Justin Langer said he wanted to see Katich play on and will also hold talks over the next few days with another legendary WA batsman, Mike Hussey, about potentially playing the rest of the Sheffield Shield campaign with the Warriors.
Both Katich and North will have some serious fast bowling firepower at their disposal.
For the Sixers, veteran Brett Lee will be backed up by young fellow internationals Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, with Starc to play his first BBL game of the season.
“I think it is going to be a real battle of the quick bowlers,” North said.
Katich also has three international quicks in South African Alfonso Thomas, former Sixers speedster Patrick Cummins and Nathan Coulter-Nile, who returns from a successful international stint.
One of Thomas or Cummins could miss out, with unheralded paceman Jason Behrendorff in fine form and Coulter-Nile certain to play because of his all round capabilities.
“There’s no doubt that it creates a little bit of a selection dilemma for us,” Katich said.
“I think there’s no doubt both attacks have got a fair bit of firepower up front with the new ball.”
As well as leaving out one of his pace quartet, Katich will probably have to omit one of his spinners, Michael Beer or Brad Hogg, especially if the wicket retains the green look it had earlier in the week.
The Sixers will give chief spinner Stephen O’Keefe until virtually the last minute to prove his fitness after dislocating a shoulder in their last game
The Scorchers beat the Sixers in a Super Over contest at the SCG when the two teams met earlier in the season.