The second half of the double header of Big Bash League action at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Monday sees the home side Melbourne Stars back on the field when they take on the Adelaide Strikers in what might be the last chance saloon for both sides.
These two sides go into the match in the bottom two in the standings but they have games in hand on the Brisbane Heat in fifth so a win here will keep their season alive. Defeat would pretty much end it from a competitive point of view though.
Melbourne Stars
Whatever happens between now and the end of the season for the Melbourne Stars, this is unlikely to be one they look back on fondly. They couldn’t really get anything going in the initial part of it and then it proceeded to turn into a bit of a farce when Covid struck through the camp and they were forced to play a couple of matches heavily shorthanded because of the amount of players they had isolating. Thankfully from their point of view a couple had to be postponed so they retain an element of competitiveness in what they are doing.
We can’t really assess the recent displays of the Melbourne Stars but they are beginning to get players out of isolation now so they should be able to pick up towards something like their best form with every match from here on in. In the earlier part of the season they weren’t maximising their potential with the bat. With the situation they are now in, as in needing wins to climb the table, they have to make full use of all their batting resources.
Adelaide Strikers
The Adelaide Strikers ended a six match losing streak last time out when they beat the Hobart Hurricanes and if they can win successive matches for the first time this season here then they will move into the top five in the table and have themselves in control of their own destiny when it comes to qualifying for finals week. Defeat here will put them back to square one so this really is a pivotal match in their season.
If the Strikers are going to win this match and the subsequent ones that are required to make it into the finals then they are going to have to perform better with the bat. We’ve banged on about it all season and while there are mitigating factors they just haven’t been good enough in that department all season. If they can get into the finals they will get Alex Carey and Travis Head back and then they would be dangerous.
Special Offer
Sign up for a Boylesports account to get up to £25 in free bets! Perfect offer for this tournament! Click the image below for this great offer! New accounts only. 18+ T&Cs apply. Gamble Aware.
Team News
The Melbourne Stars have named a much stronger squad for this match than recent ones although how fit everyone is to play is still open to debate. Glenn Maxwell misses out as he is still isolating so Adam Zampa will captain the side. The likes of Marcus Stoinis, Hilton Cartwright, Haris Rauf and Beau Webster are all in the squad.
We haven’t got a squad for the Adelaide Strikers yet but we do know that it won’t include Matt Renshaw who is isolating having tested positive for Covid himself. George Garton has left for England duty now too so he also won’t be included.
Betting
Although they have had their issues recently it is hard to see past the Melbourne Stars in this one. If the Adelaide Strikers didn’t need anything to happen this season it was for another key batter to miss matches because they were already extremely light in that department so the positive test for Matt Renshaw is a real blow to their chances in this match. They have a decent bowling attack but you have to put runs on the board and I’m not sure I see the Strikers doing that.
I’m not hiding the fact that it would be much more ideal if the Stars had the talents of Glenn Maxwell to call upon but there is enough experience in the batting unit and then the likes of Adam Zampa and Qais Ahmad are hard to pick for good batters let alone the inexperienced ones that the Strikers are going to have to use here. Adelaide are going to need to do something very special with the ball to cover up their batting frailties here but I think that will be beyond them.
Tips
WON – Back Melbourne Stars to beat Adelaide Strikers for a 3/10 stake at 1.73 with Coral
Back them here:
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2022
