Michael Lumb is looking for a repeat of the inaugural Big Bash League final as his Sydney Sixers side take on the Perth Scorchers in the BBL-06 decider on Saturday.
The Notts Outlaw star, who linked up with the Sydney franchise in January as a replacement for England’s Jason Roy and Sam Billings, is certainly no stranger to a big occasion in T20 cricket.
“There’s always some kind of nerves, there will be some tension tomorrow morning,” said Lumb.
“But when you’ve played in big games before like the ICC World T20 Final or the Champions League or a BBL Final you can look back and say I’ve been there before, and it’s exciting, it’s what we play for.”
The 36-year-old Lumb rose to T20 prominence as a surprise selection for Shane Warne’s Rajasthan Royals in IPL 3, a month before playing a key role in England’s successful ICC World T20 campaign in 2010, opening the batting with Craig Kieswetter.
A regular on the Sixers roster in recent seasons, Lumb has experienced a final against the Scorchers before, a four-wicket defeat in 2015.
The former England man is however keen to focus on the good times, notably as Player of the Match with 82 not out in the final of the now defunct Champions League and his side’s win, in Perth, in 2012.
“We won BBL-01 at the WACA way back when, so we know what that’s like and it’s not going to be a new experience. A few of the guys have been in that situation before so it’s nothing scary or daunting, it’s what we play the game for, to get to the ‘big dance’ as they call it so we’ll all be excited.”
Lumb is set to come face to face with two familiar faces from English cricket in Ian Bell and Tim Bresnan who are playing for the Perth Scorcher. Despite the added rivalry Lumb isn’t giving them too much attention in preparation for the final.
“I’ll be nice to get one over the English lads, but it’s business as usual and we just need to been the opposition,” he said.
Another notable name in the Scorchers ranks is fast bowler Mitchell Johnson, who recorded the remarkable figures of 3-3 in the semi-final. Lumb maintains the Sixers have not given the former Australian paceman any specific attention in the build-up to Saturday’s final.
“We haven’t spoken about Mitchell Johnson once," he explained.
"As far as we’re concerned he’s just another guy who bowls left arm over. The guys have faced him before and had quite a bit of success against him so it’s not a big deal, we just go out there and play the ball.”
Sydney Sixers play Perth Scorchers in the final of BBL-06 on Saturday.