The Sydney Sixers are set to face the Melbourne Stars on cricket’s most iconic day, with the clash of the traditional rivals booked for December 26 at the SCG.
For the second year in a row, fans will be able to witness the competition’s two biggest clubs go head-to-head in prime time, following the first day of the traditional Boxing Day Test at the MCG.
'The Biggest Bash'
Sydney Sixers v Melbourne Stars | SCG
Tuesday, December 26 | 6.05pm (AEDT)
With a rivalry dating back to the first iteration of the competition when current Sixers Head Coach Greg Shipperd led the Stars, the meeting will see Shipperd face newly appointed Melbourne coach, Peter Moores.
The match-up will also see some of the cricket’s hardest hitters in Glen Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis take on the league’s most dominant bowling outfit, spearheaded by the KFC BBL all-time leading wicket-taker, Sean Abbott.
The rivalry between the two sides has produced some of the most entertaining matches in the league’s twelve-year history, with the Sixers currently holding bragging rights over their Melbourne counterparts following their most recent meeting.
James Vince (91) was the star when the two met last summer in a heart-stopping chase that saw the Sixers hunt down the 173-run total with just a single ball to spare.
Meeting for the first time on Boxing Day in the pandemic-affected 2020 season, the Sixers – led by a heroic 96 from Daniel Hughes – held off the Stars in a final-over thriller to claim victory on the Gold Coast.
The Sixers have held the December 26 fixture since, first facing crosstown rivals Sydney Thunder in 2021, before taking the match to the SCG last summer, defeating the Stars by 7 wickets.
Cricket NSW General Manager, Big Bash Leagues, Chris Botherway said the club welcomed the iconic fixture.
"Boxing Day is one of the biggest days on the cricketing calendar, and once again our passionate Sixers members and fans will be able to cheer on their team at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
"There's something really special about a Sydney-Melbourne rivalry and this match-up between the Sixers and the Stars is always highly anticipated by our players and supporters.”
The match will be broadcast live by Channel 7, Foxtel, and Kayo. The complete KFC BBL|13 fixture is expected to be released later this week.
Sydney Sixers BBL Squad
Head Coach: Greg Shipperd
Contracted for BBL|13: Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Moises Henriques, Daniel Hughes, Hayden Kerr, Todd Murphy, Steve O'Keefe, Kurtis Patterson, Josh Philippe, Jordan Silk.