Henriques admits Sixers need to fix BBL finals losses

Henriques admits Sixers need to fix BBL finals losses

The Sydney Sixers have been making it to the finals every year since they last won the title, but they keep falling short. Captain Moises Henriques said the team needs to figure out why they canโ€™t perform well in finals. After losing to the Sydney Thunder in the Challenger match on Friday, Henriques refused to blame the absence of players who were away for Australiaโ€™s Test duties.

The Sixers had a good chance to make it to Mondayโ€™s final. They finished second in the regular season, giving them two chances to qualify. But they lost to the Hobart Hurricanes in the Qualifier and then to the Thunder at the SCG. Since winning back-to-back titles in the 2020-21 season, the Sixers have only won two out of nine finals matches.

โ€œSadly, we saved our worst games for the last two matches,โ€ Henriques admitted. โ€œWeโ€™ve been in great positions to win over the past few seasons, but our finals record isnโ€™t good. This year, we earned two chances because we played so well during the season, but it still wasnโ€™t enough.โ€

Despite the losses, Henriques said heโ€™s proud of how the team consistently gives themselves a shot at the title. โ€œWeโ€™ll need to review why we keep falling short in the finals. These are tough lessons, but theyโ€™ll help us grow. Many of the players will return next year, so weโ€™ll have another chance to improve.โ€

Henriques also mentioned the teamโ€™s upcoming plans. The Sixers have a 10-day trade window after the final, where they can sign new players. They currently have ten players under contract, including free agents like Jackson Bird, Daniel Hughes, Hayden Kerr, Ben Manenti, and Kurtis Patterson.

โ€œItโ€™s tough to perform under pressure,โ€ Henriques said. โ€œWe need to figure out why we canโ€™t play our best in these important games. But these losses are valuable lessons. Weโ€™ll learn from them and come back stronger.โ€

Star player Steven Smith made a big impact during his three games this season, scoring an unbeaten 121 and a solid 52. But he, along with Todd Murphy and Sean Abbott, left after the regular season for Australiaโ€™s training camp ahead of the Sri Lanka tour.

Henriques acknowledged the challenge of overlapping schedules. โ€œInternational cricket is the top goal, and weโ€™re proud of our players who get selected for Australia. Itโ€™s a great honor for them and reflects well on our squad. Even without them, we still have a strong team capable of winning games.โ€

The Sixers have dealt with player absences before. In their 2019-20 championship season, they had stars like Smith, Nathan Lyon, and Josh Hazlewood available for the finals. Now, Lyon is with the Melbourne Renegades, and Hazlewood is recovering from an injury.

Henriques praised the teamโ€™s depth. โ€œEven when we were down to 12 players, it was hard to choose the final XI because of the talent we have. This group is full of quality players.โ€

James Vince, who played a key role in the 2020-21 final with a match-winning 95, has remained a regular player for the Sixers. However, he left early this season to join the ILT20 league. West Indies spinner Akeal Hosein and young English leg-spinner Jafer Chohan were also draft signings. Chohan impressed everyone with his performances in the finals, taking 2 for 28 and 2 for 22 in his two games.

Henriques was full of praise for Chohan. โ€œHe waited patiently for his chance and didnโ€™t disappoint. Across four games, he didnโ€™t bowl a single bad ball, which is incredible for a wrist spinner. He has a bright future ahead of him.โ€

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