Sydney Derby (BBL)

Sydney Derby

Sixers vs Thunder
Other names	Sydney Smash
Locale	Sydney, NSW
Teams	Sydney Sixers Sydney Thunder
First meeting	8 January 2012 Sixers won by 17 runs (D/L)
Latest meeting	16 January 2016 Thunder won by 46 runs
Stadiums	SCG (Sixers) ANZ Stadium (Thunder) Spotless Stadium (Thunder)
Statistics
Meetings total	9
Most wins	Sydney Sixers (7)
All-time series	Sydney Sixers: 7 Sydney Thunder: 2
Largest victory	Sixers won by 8 wickets (2014) Thunder won by 46 runs (2016)

The Sydney Derby, more popularly known as Sydney Smash,^[1] is a cricket rivalry between the teams of Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League (BBL).^[2][3][4][5] These matches were first contested in 2012.

Both of the teams were created when the decision was made to move away from state representative teams to city-based teams for the domestic Twenty20 competition. The names of the teams were chosen as Sixers and Thunder by Cricket NSW. Other names considered for the two teams were Rocks and Edge.^[6]

Sixers

The Sixers represent eastern Sydney and their home ground is the Sydney Cricket Ground which has capacity of 48,000.^[7] The renovation is set to cost US$191 million.^[8] Sixers play in a magenta strip. While a spokesperson from Cricket NSW alluded that the team's colours may have some connection with the "Pink dollar" and Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, pink was ultimately chosen for reasons more related to McGrath Foundation.

In its first season, the team was coached by Trevor Bayliss, while Stuart Clark performed the role of General Manager. The inaugural captain was Australian wicket-keeper Brad Haddin but various others have also led the team in Haddin's absence.^[9][10]

They defeated the Perth Scorchers on January 28, 2012, at the WACA Ground, thus becoming the inaugural champions of the Big Bash League. As a result of their successful Big Bash League grand final win, the Sixers competed for the first time in the Champions League Twenty20 tournament.^[11]

The tournament was held in October 2012 in South Africa. Again, the Sixers made history by winning this tournament on their first attempt. The Sixers were top of their group going into the finals of the tournament. They went on to defeat the Nashua Titans in the semi-finals and then the Highveld Lions in the final of the tournament to be crowned champions.

Thunder

The Thunder represent western Sydney and their home ground was Stadium Australia from 2012-2015, which has capacity of 83,500. In late 2015, the Thunder moved all their home games to the Sydney Showground Stadium, which has capacity of 25,000.^[12][13] Cricket Australia did not allow Cricket NSW to use the sky blue colour traditionally associated with New South Wales sports teams. The Cricket NSW board unanimously decided on electric green as the team's colour, though other colours were considered, and rejected as being too close to other Sydney sports teams. The team has finished last in each of its three seasons in the competition.^[14] Their team uniform is electric green.^[12][12][13]

Batting for Change initiative

The 2015–16 BBL Sydney Derby matches were played for the Batting for Change Cup. The first match saw both the sides earning money for charity with every six hit. Each player had pledged to donate $750 for each six hit during the match, as part of the Batting for Change cause set up by Sydney Sixers' player Ryan Carters.^[15][16]

Each six hit during the second derby had a touch more significance as the players personally pledged to donate AU$775 to the charity. In its second edition, the Batting for Change Cup was retained by Thunder, after their opening night win at Spotless Stadium in December 2015. In total, 17 sixes were hit, raising $13,175, which will take Batting for Change to within $10,000 of their target of $120,000.^[17]

Notable matches

The seventh Sydney derby was the last group match of 2014–15 BBL season and was played in front of 36,487 fans at the Sydney Cricket Ground. It was then the highest crowd for any domestic cricket match in New South Wales. The Sixers had already qualified for an away semi-final against the Adelaide Strikers. Chasing 155 for a win, Sixers were in deep trouble when they had lost 5 wickets for only 75 runs (13.1 overs). However late surge from Jordan Silk (69* off 43 balls) which included five sixes, ensured that Sixers won a last ball thriller by 6 wickets and maintained their perfect win record against the Thunder. Thunder bowler Josh Lalor had conceded six runs from his first three overs, but gave away 23 runs in his last over. He also took 4 wickets in the match. This match is also remembered as being the last home match for Australian bowler Brett Lee.^[18]

The ninth Derby match was played at the SCG on 16 January 2016. The match attracted a crowd of 38,456, which is now a record for the largest crowd in any domestic cricket game in New South Wales. Quick contributions particularly from Shane Watson (66 from 41), as well as Michael Hussey (41 off 29) and Andre Russell (46 off 20), powered Thunder to 202 in their allotted 20 overs. This was the first time a team crossed 200 runs in the fifth season (BBL 05). To remain in contention for finals, Sixers had to win inside 16 overs. Nic Maddinson was joined by Brad Haddin after the fall of second wicket and they added 56 runs at a runrate of 12.00. 30 of Maddinson's first fifty runs came in sixes, and he was swinging with such power that the back of his bat broke as he tried to hit offspinner Chris Green down the ground. Green proved to be a welcome change for Thunder as he had Haddin caught sweeping second ball and conceded just five runs in his first two overs. Then the Sixers started to run out of steam and were bowled out for 156. Thunder won the match by 46 runs, keeping their semi-final chances alive. It also turned out to be Mike Hussey's last game in Sydney.^[19]

League matches

Summary of results

Audience and popularity

The opening Sydney Derby of the fifth season (2015–16) of BBL attracted record audience, with more than 1.5 million people tuning in for this match between the Thunder and the Sixers. The match at Spotless Stadium also attracted a peak audience of 1.53 million on Network Ten. A peak audience of 1.05 million watched the second innings of the match in the five major capital cities, making it the highest-rating non-finals match in BBL history.^[20]

The second derby in the same season was a sell-out and was attended by around 38,500 spectators at the SCG. This crowd is the highest crowd for a domestic cricket game in New South Wales.^[21][22] The domestic crowd record was actually broken three times within 12 months, all of them during the Sydney Derby matches.^[23]

References

Big Bash League History Seasons Finals Records and statistics Centuries Seasons 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 Squads 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 Teams Adelaide Strikers Brisbane Heat Hobart Hurricanes Melbourne Renegades Melbourne Stars Perth Scorchers Sydney Sixers Sydney Thunder Related topics Women's Big Bash League KFC Twenty20 Big Bash