Stopping Glenn Maxwell will be imperative for the Sixers if they want to get their Big Bash League campaign back on track after a loss to the Sydney Thunder.
Thats the message from Sixers all-rounder Sean Abbott, who says the Stars explosive hitter can be “unstoppable” on his day and will be determined to turns around his sides fortunes as well after a loss to the Hobart Hurricanes on Monday.
Star man: Glenn Maxwell's big hitting couldn't get his side over the line against the Hobart Hurricanes on Monday. Credit:AAP
The Sixers and Stars will square off on Thursday at the SCG, fresh from Christmas festivities and time to mull over respective losses.
A horrendous top-order collapse resulted in the Sixers falling 21 runs short of the Thunder at Spotless Stadium. It could have been plenty more save for a fighting 88-run seventh-wicket stand from Abbott (35) and Tom Curran (62) in pursuit of a target of 170 set up by a scorching half century to Jos Buttler.
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In Hobart, the Stars were unable to defend 155 in what was the men in greens second straight loss to start the tournament.
Glenn Maxwell top scored for the Stars with 47 from 31 balls and Abbott has already put a target on the big hitter.
“If he has a night out hes going to be pretty unstoppable,” Abbott said. “Maxi is obviously a world-class player and he has done some good things in many T20 tournaments around the world. He is obviously a big player for them.
“He is one we will look to keep pretty quiet and if we can do that we are one step closer to a victory.”
It looked at one stage as if the Sixers would snatch victory from the jaws of defeat with Abbott and Curran at the crease but it wasnt to be. Nonetheless, the England imports performance with willow and the ball (3-24) was very encouraging to say the least.
“I knew he could bat but that was some clean ball striking,” Abbott said. “Thats nice to know that weve got a pretty strong tail when we need it in the back end of the tournament.
“Tommys very confident in his skills. That sort of energy rubs off on the rest of us and he really brings a lot of good vibes to training and a lot of knowledge having a fair bit of experience playing for his country and in the IPL and other tournaments as well.”
There have been high hopes for Sixers opener Jack Edwards but the 18-year-old has missed out in his first two digs of the Big Bash, registering scores of 13 and 9. Abbott has backed the long-haired prodigy to fire.
“Jacks not far away from finding his feet," Abbott said. "When he does hell be one to watch across this tournament because I think hell be one to light it up in the back end when were really looking to start hitting our form and timing our run into those finals.”
Tom Decent is a journalist with Fairfax Media.
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