Sydney Sixers could be boosted by Test stars on run to Big Bash finals

Now Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon could be called on to fuel the Sydney Sixers' bid for consecutive Big Bash League titles once their Test commitments come to a close this week.

The Sixers closed out their Canberra stint with a clinical run chase to set up a seven-wicket win over the Perth Scorchers at Manuka Oval on Saturday night.

A freakish Josh Philippe masterclass (84 from 52 balls) pushed the Sixers nine points clear atop the BBL standings, combining with James Vince (52 from 35) to dominate the Scorchers bowling attack as the victors won with seven balls remaining.

The reigning champions have three games left in the regular season before they launch a finals tilt in a bid to become the first team to go back-to-back since Perth six years ago.

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Test duo Lyon and Starc could rejoin the Sixers while Moises Henriques and Sean Abbott are also poised to return having been whisked away and thrown into the Australian Test bubble.

But a BBL return would mean an extended stint in taxing cricket bubbles, which threaten to take a major toll on Australia's international players and staff, who are slated to tour South Africa for three Tests in February and March.

Cricket Australia chiefs and the playing group feel a moral obligation to support the game's economy by touring and aiding South Africa's reliance on broadcast dollars.

Yet it presents a prospect of another month on the road having already spent plenty of time in cricket hubs with restrictions on freedom to do as little as leave a hotel room.

However Lyon's focus remains on securing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with Australia in the midst of a series-deciding fourth Test with India in Brisbane.

The match doubles as Lyon's 100^th Test with the former ACT Comet becoming the 13^th man to reach the milestone for Australia.

"To be honest with you mate, I'm purely concentrating on this game. Seeing as it is such a big milestone for me personally, I'm not trying to look too far ahead at all," Lyon said.

"I'm really trying to take all of this week in, I can guarantee this will only come around once. I'm trying to stay in the moment here and enjoy my week and making sure we go out and play some really good cricket.

"I'm not sure about Big Bash, I'm in the Sixers BBL squad along with Moises, Sabba and Starcy here in the bubble. We'll cross that road after this Test match."

More pressing for captain Daniel Hughes and the Sixers is finishing their campaign with a bang as they move to Adelaide and Melbourne to close out their campaign following the triumph over Perth.

The Sixers were made to pay for dropping Perth opener Liam Livingstone on one, as he went on to blast 67 from 38 balls to steer the Scorchers to 7-163 in front of a strong Canberra crowd. His fast start ultimately paved the way for Perth to earn a bonus point.

But one point was all they could muster as Philippe's second half-century in three days steered the Sixers towards another win and pushed them well clear of rival teams scrambling for finals spots.

The Sixers will finish the regular season as the only team to miss out on a genuine home game after their remaining matches were shifted out of Sydney following a COVID-19 outbreak.

The Sydney Thunder have been kept out of their home city but Canberra has long served as the club's second home, with the club playing the bulk of its matches in the capital this summer.

AT A GLANCE

Big Bash League: SYDNEY SIXERS 3-164 (Josh Philippe 84, James Vince 35; Jason Behrendorff 1-19, Jhye Richardson 1-31) bt PERTH SCORCHERS 7-163 (Liam Livingstone 67, Colin Munro 34; Carlos Brathwaite 2-12, Dan Christian 2-22) at Manuka Oval.