Sixers skipper’s Big Bash plea
Stand-in Sydney Sixers captain Johan Botha wants his batsmen to build an innings.
INTERIM Sydney Sixers captain Johan Botha will encourage his batsmen to take their time getting in.
Winless from three matches, the Sixers have lost 17 wickets and produced just one individual score above 50.
It’s a cause for concern for Botha, who replaces Moises Henrinques as captain after his departure from the team with personal leave.
But tonight’s game against the Scorchers gives the men in pink a chance to reverse some form ahead of a trip to Geelong against the Renegades on Wednesday.
“Obviously we lost a close one upfront and two games we probably didn’t play the way we wanted to but things can turn pretty quickly,” Botha told the Geelong Advertiser.
“This road trip is going to be very important for us.
“The good thing is the games are close together — we’ve got three games in a week — so if you get on a little bit of a run or someone gets a bit of form and hopefully they can get something going for the team and we can get some points on the road.
“We haven’t batted very well in this tournament.
“I know all batsmen want to strike at 150, 160, but some days you’ve just got to back off a little bit, take the game a bit deeper.
“I think that’s something we’ll definitely talk about and hopefully the guys can executive in the next few games.”
One of those players is damaging opening batsman Jason Roy, who has just two games left for the Sixers.
“He’s probably one we’ve got to back off a little bit, he hits the ball so well that he can make it up easily later,” Botha said.
“Hopefully he can find some form and carry it on in Geelong.”
But Botha said his side wouldn’t underplay the tasks at hand.
“I think the Scorchers and Renegades are the best two teams in the tournament and we’ve got them two games in a row, so it won’t be easy for us,” he said. “The Renegades have got a good list together, they’re playing very good cricket.
“It’s going to be a tough game.”