Squads –
STA –
Marcus Stoinis, Nick Larkin, Glenn Maxwell(c), Andre Fletcher(w), Clint Hinchliffe, Ben Dunk, Seb Gotch, Hilton Cartwright, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Billy Stanlake, Adam Zampa, Liam Hatcher, Dilbar Hussain, Tom O Connell
HEA –
Chris Lynn(c), Max Bryant, Daniel Lawrence, Sam Heazlett, Tom Cooper, Jimmy Peirson(w), Simon Milenko, Xavier Bartlett, Ben Laughlin, James Bazley, Matthew Kuhnemann, Connor Sully, Jack Wood
Team News –
STA –
– The Stars will start their BBL campaign against the Heat which will be led by Glenn Maxwell.
– Nic Maddinson will be available from 2nd game while Nicolas Pooran will play from the 4th game of the team.
– Marcus Stoinis and Andre Fletcher will open the innings for the stars. Stoinis has been in some form from the IPL However his bowling is still under doubt.
Fletcher is the new signing of stars.
– Hard hitting Ben Dunk will bat 1 down. Dunk has the ability to hit the ball big. He stroke the ball at 160 in the PSL with 300 runs.
– Glenn Maxwell will bat at 2 down followed by Cartwright and Larkin. Maxwell is in some form after a desastrous IPL season. Nick Larkin was a positive for stars last season where he scored around 300 runs with 2 50s.
– Adam Zampa and Clint Hinchcliffe will be leading the spin department assisted by Glenn Maxwell.
– Nathan Coulter Nile, Billy Stanlake and Dilbar Hussain will handle the pace attack.
HEA –
– Brisbane Heat will be led by Chris Lynn who had a poor last season where team managed to win 6 out of the 14 games.
– English Allrounder Lewis Gregory will be available for selection from 4th game of the team while All of Labushagne, Joe Burns and Mitchell Swepson will be available after the test series.
– Chris Lynn and Max Bryant will open the innings. Lynn is not someone to introduce while Bryant is not mucj different from Lynn but is very inconsistent.
– Tom Cooper who played for the Renegades last season will bat at 1 down for the Heat. He has a lot of experience but poor form.
– Sam Heazlett and Dan Lawrence will handle the middle order. Heazlett had a good start last season with back to back 50s but had a poor run there after. Lawrence will contribute through both bat and off spin bowl.
– Jimmy Peirson will bat next and will keep the Wickets. Pierson has scored more than 800 runs for the heat.
– Matthew Kuhnemann and Dan Lawrence will be the spinners for Heat.
– Ben Laughlin, Xavier Bartlett and Simon Milenko will handle the pace attack.
Probable XI –
STA –
Andre Fletcher (WK), Marcus Stoinis, Ben Dunk, Glenn Maxwell (C), Hilton Cartwright, Nick Larkin, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Billy Stanlake, Clint Hinchcliffe, Adam Zampa, Dilbar Hussain
HEA –
Chris Lynn (C), Max Bryant, Tom Cooper, Sam Heazlett, Dan Lawrence, Jimmy Peirson (WK), Xavier Bartlett, Simon Milenko, Ben Laughlin, Matthew Kuhnemann, Jack Wood/Connor Sully
Pitch Report –
Manuka Oval, Canberra
Neutral Wicket but will have more help for spinners than pacers as seen in 1st T20 between India and Australia.
Average Score : 160
Melbourne Stars( at Manuka Oval) –
Played : 1
Won : 0
Lost : 1
Brisbane Heat( at Manuka Oval) –
Played : 0
Won : 0
Lost : 0
Team Blueprint –
WK –
Seb Gotch( Middle order, can also open, 325 runs for the heat in BBL )
Jimmy Pierson( Middle order, 836 runs for the Heat in BBL, Must if dropping top order)
BAT –
Chris Lynn( Open, no intro needed, 387 runs at SR of 149 last BBL, Must have)
Andre Fletcher(Open + wk, hard hitter of the ball, 34,20 against NZ in t20 series)
Tom Cooper(1/2 down, SR of 131 in t20s, experienced, poor last season with just 89 runs in 11 games)
Ben Dunk( 1 down, hard hitter , 300 runs in PSL at SR of 167, Must have)
Max Bryant( Open, very attacking, 145 runs in 10 games last season)
Nick Larkin( Middle order, young talent, 297 runs in 11 games last season)
Sam Heazlett( Open/2 down, decent batsman with 347 t20 runs, good option if opens )
ALL –
Marcus Stoinis( Open, bowling is still not confirmed, 705 runs last BBL, Must have)
Glenn Maxwell( 2 down + off spin, 167 runs at a SR of 194 against Indian recently, Must have )
Simon Milenko( Lower order + Medium pacer, 68 List A Wickets )
Dan Lawrence( 2/3 down + off spin, very good Allrounder, 190 runs + 4 Wickets in T20BLAST 2020)
BOWL –
Adam Zampa( Leggie, one of the best current spinners in t20s, 20 Wickets last BBL , 3 Wickets against India in t20 series)
Ben Laughlin(Medium pacer, death bowler, top wicket-taker with 15 scalps for Brisbane Heat last season)
Dilbar Hussain( Pacer , hit the deck, 14 Wickets in PSL2020 for him )
Billy Stanlake( Tall Right arm pacer, poor last BBL with just 4 Wickets )
Nathan Coulter Nile( Medium pacer, 10 Wickets last season, can bat as well , Must have)
C Hinchcliffe( Left arm orthodox, decent last season with 8 Wickets, credit saver)
M Kuhnemann( Slow left arm, 17 List A wickets, just 2 in t20s )
C/VC –
STA –
Marcus Stoinis
Glenn Maxwell
Andre Fletcher
Adam Zampa
HEA –
Chris Lynn
Dan Lawrence