Thunder's Kallis back for BBL final

Star South African import Jacques Kallis is set to resume from a back injury in Sydney Thunder's BBL final clash against Melbourne Stars.

Star South African import Jacques Kallis will return for Sydney Thunder as they look to send off skipper Mike Hussey with the club's first Big Bash League title.

Kallis missed Thunder's last two games, including the comprehensive semi-final win over Adelaide Strikers, with a groin injury but has been passed fit to face Melbourne Stars at the MCG on Sunday night.

Hussey, who will play his last game in Australia before retirement, confirmed the veteran allrounder would bolster Thunder's line-up in their first-ever appearance in a final.

"I expect him to play - he was very keen to play in the semi-final but we made the call to give him a few extra days in the hope that we got through to the final," Thunder skipper Mike Hussey said on Saturday.

"He'll have his last fitness test today but I'm pretty confident he'll be out there."

Hussey, 40, has been instrumental in turning Thunder, who finished last in the first three editions of the BBL, into a title contender after he switched from Perth Scorchers.

The player who became affectionately known as `Mr Cricket' during his international career will face a Stars side skippered by his brother David.

With so much on the line for both clubs, Mike Hussey said he wouldn't waste any time thinking about family rivalries or his cricket swan song.

"I don't see it as me playing David - it's Stars versus Thunder," he said.

"That's certainly been my focus and our team's focus. It's not about brothers playing off against each other or anything like that - we've got our job to do and that's all I'm really thinking of.

"It'd be great (to win) but not just for me, for the whole team. I know how much work has gone on behind the scenes to build this club.

"It's not about me whatsoever - it's about the team."

Despite being hit hard by the loss of key players James Faulkner, Glenn Maxwell, John Hastings and Scott Boland to the Australian ODI team, Stars were able to progress past the semi-final stage after failing at their past four attempts.

David Hussey admitted it was a relief to see off Perth Scorchers to set up Sunday night's final clash against Thunder.

"Walking into the dressing room (against Scorchers) it was all pretty relaxed and low key but for me I was on egg shells," Hussey said.

"But now that we've got to the final it's a huge occasion. We've done all the hard work, we've prepared really well and hopefully we can play our best game of the whole tournament."


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Source: AAP



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