Sydney Sixers opener Josh Philippe stunned the SCG with an unbeaten 81 off 44 balls against the Scorchers last week, but as he returns home for a few days before the re-match, he’s fast brought back down to earth.

Every member of his immediate family has represented their state in some form of professional sport.

The 22-year-old’s mum Leanne opened the batting for WA in 1986-87, while his Dad Steve was Head Coach of the Western Fury for five years after playing for the WA second XI.

Josh’s twin sister Emma is currently a professional athlete, plying her trade between 400m hurdles and 800m running.

Emma has also represented Australia in the World Youth Championships and World Under 20 Championships in pole vault.

According to the Sydney Sixers star, the twins’ opposing talents made it hard for an even backyard duel to take place growing up.

“It’s quite complicated because I know the things I can beat her at and she knows the things she can beat me at,” Josh said.

“So we never really had much of a fair contest in anything we did. She got me out once in backyard cricket and she reminds me about it all the time, but I still think I have her covered.”

The Scarborough-product is relying on the rules of cricket to save him from the regular reminder he got out to his talented sister when they were about 12.

“I think she bowled me but she chucks it so it was a no ball – she definitely utilises the 15 degrees,” Josh claims, in reference to the degree of permissible straightening of the elbow joint when bowling.

“I’ll never forget it because she has not stopped failing to mention it.”

Despite the sibling banter, the athletic pair support each other whenever their busy schedules permit.

“Every now and then I get down (to the track), I try to whenever I can but the schedule recently has been pretty hectic so I haven’t been able to,” Josh said.

“Absolutely I’m sure she’ll be there on Boxing Day, and she’ll definitely be in magenta.”

While Philippe is no stranger to performing against his WA teammates, he says the absence of injured Scorchers paceman Andrew Tye will provide a bit of sledging relief today.

“Last year they (commentators) asked AJ if the team was going to sledge me and he said ‘we don’t sledge 12-year-olds’ so that’s what I got last year,” he laughed.

“With AJ not there, I don’t think there’ll be as much (sledging).”

Despite the Sixers cruising to an easy victory over the Scorchers last Wednesday, the gloveman knows better than to write off his former BBL teammates.

“We obviously won the other night but we did lose to them at Optus Stadium last year,” Josh said.

“It’s a high scoring ground so if we can keep them under 180 we should hopefully come out on top.”