The Melbourne Stars are still chasing that elusive Big Bash League title after going down to their rivals Melbourne Renegades in the final last year, and they will be hoping to finally end that quest this season. You have to question how much stronger they are this term than last, but one undoubted positive is the likely availability throughout the campaign of Glenn Maxwell. The Stars have been too good on paper never to have won this title but often ODI call ups have left them reeling come the business end of the event. That is unlikely to be the case this time around so they will feel they have a real shot under coach David Hussey.
Stats
Last Season: Runners Up
Captain: Glenn Maxwell
Overseas Players: Dale Steyn, Sandeep Lamichhane & Pat Brown
Key Player: Marcus Stoinis
Best Odds: 5/1 General
Predicted Finishing Position: 4th
Fixtures
Friday December 20 – Brisbane Heat (a)
Sunday December 22 – Hobart Hurricanes (h)
Friday December 27 – Adelaide Strikers (h)
Monday December 30 – Hobart Hurricanes (a)
Thursday January 2 – Sydney Thunder (a)
Saturday January 4 – Melbourne Renegades (h)
Wednesday January 8 – Sydney Thunder (h)
Friday January 10 – Melbourne Renegades (a)
Sunday January 12 – Sydney Sixers (h)
Wednesday January 15 – Perth Scorchers (a)
Saturday January 18 – Perth Scorchers (h)
Monday January 20 – Sydney Sixers (a)
Wednesday January 22 – Adelaide Strikers (a)
Saturday January 25 – Brisbane Heat (h)
Squad
Glenn Maxwell (c), Pat Brown, Hilton Cartwright, Jackson Coleman, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Ben Dunk (wk), Seb Gotch, Peter Handscomb (wk), Clint Hinchliffe, Sandeep Lamichhane, Nick Larkin, Nic Maddinson, Jonathan Merlo, Lance Morris, Tom O’Connell, Dale Steyn, Marcus Stoinis, Daniel Worrall, Adam Zampa
Preview
You would think it is only a matter of time before the Melbourne Stars get their hands on silverware in this competition and with the bowling resources they have available to them it wouldn’t be the biggest surprise in the world if that comes this year with them adding Dale Steyn and Pat Brown to a very strong bowling line up. Nathan Coulter-Nile has come in to further strengthen that area so the Stars won’t fall short with the ball.
There are question marks with the bat with Luke Wright no longer around. They would probably need the likes of Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell to deliver the goods in that department but the likes of Peter Handscomb and Ben Dunk are quality in that department as well. They’ll need a couple of other players to be counted on top of that though I fancy, but overall this should be another good campaign for the Stars, although ultimately not one that ends in glory.
Betting
This is another team where I don’t want to get too involved in the batting market. It isn’t too far away from being right to be fair but even if it wasn’t I’m on Ben Dunk to top score in the tournament and therefore I’m in no rush to go in on him again in the Stars batting list. Hopefully the Stars make sufficient progress that Dunk gets the required time at the crease to deliver the long-term goods.
The bowling market is an interesting one however. I get that Sandeep Lamichhane is a worthy favourite but I’m of the belief that teams will set on him and look to get stuck in elsewhere, which makes me think that Nathan Coulter-Nile is the one to be on. I admit that his injury record is a concern but at least he has dodged Australia duty which could have been even more of a hindrance to his chances. We recently saw a Sheffield Shield game abandoned here because the wicket wasn’t up to scratch and temperatures are extreme in Victoria at the minute so there could be plenty of cracks for NCN to target. I’ll have a dabble on him at 4/1 to lead the Stars’ bowling.
Tips
Back N.Coulter-Nile Top Melbourne Stars Season Bowler for a 2/10 stake at 5.00 with Betfair
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