The details you need to know about this week's KFC BBL and Rebel WBBL semi-finals
Big Bash semi-finals confirmed
Thursday, February 1 at Optus Stadium, Perth
Rebel WBBL|03 SF1: Sydney Thunder v Perth Scorchers
Time: 12.10pm local (3.10pm AEDT)
Broadcast: Live and free on ONE
Tickets: Available here
The second-placed Thunder will take on the third-ranked Perth Scorchers, who sealed their spot in the semi-finals with a win over the Renegades in Melbourne on Sunday. Due to the double-header nature of the Big Bash finals, the Scorchers will also have the home-ground advantage. The league have opted to put fans first by swapping the two WBBL semi-finals fixtures, to ensure fans in Adelaide and Perth would have the best possible opportunity to view their teams in the play-offs.
Points were split when they met during the regular season, with the Thunder taking a one-run win on January 7 before the Scorchers bounced back to win by eight-wickets the following day.
KFC BBL|07 SF1: Perth Scorchers v Hobart Hurricanes
Time: 4.40pm local (7.40pm AEDT)
Broadcast: Channel Ten
Tickets: Available here
The Scorchers have won their last seven matches at home - including their five-wicket win with two balls in hand over the Hurricanes a little over a week ago. But this time the defending champions will be at a brand new venue, with the game to be played at the new Optus Stadium.
Both teams will be impacted by the Gillette T20I series, but both also regain players from ODI duties. The Scorchers are without Ashton Agar and Andrew Tye, but they regain Mitch and Shaun Marsh, who'll be playing their first games of BBL|07, and Jhye Richardson.
The Hurricanes lose BBL|07 leading run scorer D'Arcy Short in a huge blow, but they welcome back Test and ODI 'keeper Tim Paine.
Friday, February 2 at Adelaide Oval
Rebel WBBL|03 SF2: Sydney Sixers v Adelaide Strikers
Time: 2.40pm local (3.10pm AEDT)
Broadcast: Live and free on ONE
Tickets: Available here
The Strikers lost their final two regular season matches to the Sixers, but held on to claim their first-ever semi-final berth by net run rate. And it is those teams who will do battle once again in the semi-final, with the Sixers to be full of confidence after winning 10 of their 14 round matches and with opener Alyssa Healy is in red-hot form having notched scores of 106 and 63 over the weekend.
The Strikers have ended up with the home ground advantage, but given they've won just one game at Adelaide Oval in three seasons, it's unlikely to rattle the Sixers. However, Adelaide do boast an enviable squad of internationals including Australians Megan Schutt and Amanda-Jade Wellington, New Zealanders Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine, and England's Tammy Beaumont.
The Sixers have settled into their new-look line-up for the business end of the season, with Sarah Coyte and Amy Jones joining the XI in place of South Africans Marizanne Kapp and Dane van Niekerk.
KFC BBL|07 SF2: Adelaide Strikers v Melbourne Renegades
Time: 7.10pm local (7.40pm AEDT)
Broadcast: Channel Ten
Tickets: Available here
The Strikers will be without captain Travis Head, wicketkeeper Alex Carey and quick Billy Stanlake for their home semi-final, with all three named in Australia's T20I squad.
The Renegades remain without skipper Aaron Finch and bid farewell to Kane Richardson, but they welcome back Cameron White.
When the teams met at Etihad Stadium on January 22, it was the Strikers who walked away emphatic 26-run winners.
Colin Ingram – who will skipper the Strikers in the absence of Travis Head in the semi-final – set the tone with 68 from 36, but the night will be remembered for the remarkable boundary catch pulled off by Strikers pair Ben Laughlin and Jake Weatherald.