Now it’s raining
How many times will I write that tonight?
A few fans have taken cover. Big covers not on yet. On the brink. Lot of people in the middle having a chat. Good times.
Stay tuned, folks.
An update from the SCG
A weird evening already at the SCG. Super windy walking in and covers on the practice wickets out the back.
Thousands of fans are already through the turnstiles but will we get any play?
Players from both teams are warming up. Thunder on the east side of the ground, Sixers on the west.
The hessian is on the pitch but not the big white covers. As of this second, it’s not raining.
The Sixers have won the toss and elected to bowl.
Bowlers are marking their run-ups. We should start on time at this stage (7:15pm AEDT).
Warner fires back at UK press after Konstas compared to Raygun
David Warner has urged Sam Konstas to ignore the inevitable barbs from the UK press and English cricket fans ahead of next summer’s Ashes after a leading British journalist described the Australian youngster as the sport’s version of Raygun.
Konstas, who will play for the Thunder against the Sixers on Friday night in Sydney, stunned the cricket world by blasting 60 on Test debut in an innings that will forever be remembered for audacious ramp shots off one of the game’s best fast bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah.
Raygun vs Konstas
Scores of 60, eight, 23 and 22 gave Konstas a return of 113 runs at an average of 28.25 from his first two Tests, both of which Australia won.
However, it was his bold approach that has polarised cricket fans.
Some are convinced he is a once-in-a-generation talent. Others believe he’s a slogger who won’t survive as a Test opener.
In a column for the Guardian, respected sports writer Barney Ronay likened Konstas to infamous Australian breakdancer Raygun, whose comical Olympic performance propelled her into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
“There was a sense during the India series of Konstas being installed as a cricketing version of Raygun the Olympic breakdancer, a fun, gimmicky approximation of the real thing,” Ronay wrote.
“This is a nation that seems convinced the future of cricket is a spunky, mulletted, wispy-moustachioed bloke who hasn’t scored any runs but whacks it in interesting ways.
Who wins tonight?
Hello and welcome
G’day cricket lovers.
Welcome to our live coverage of tonight’s Sixers and Thunder blockbuster at the SCG.
The weather forecast doesn’t look great, but at the moment it looks like play will start on time.
The covers are off and it’s quite windy but the news at this stage is that play will start on time at 7:15pm AEDT.
Steve Smith celebrates his record-equalling third Big Bash century.Credit: Getty Images
