The first Melbourne Derby of the Big Bash League season forms the action in the competition on Monday when the Melbourne Stars host the Melbourne Renegades at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground in what is a huge clash for both sides.
After playing in St Kilda on Sunday, the Stars head back to the MCG on Monday knowing that despite their big name absences they need to find a win here. The Renegades are in the same boat as they attempt to revive some life into a season which has been in cardiac arrest for a while.
Melbourne Stars
When you consider the players the Melbourne Stars were missing in their match against the Perth Scorchers on Sunday, you would have to say they put up a creditable showing. I don’t know if they would have come away from the match disappointed that they didn’t win it but there was certainly a stage in the run chase where it looked like they were giving themselves a chance. They now need to back that performance up the next day and anyone who has read my T20 previews before will know I don’t think that is easy.
One thing which might help the Stars to back up is the fact that a lot of the side they are going to have to use haven’t played much in the tournament. There might have been some rust in them on Sunday which they will have shaken off so we might see a decent outing from them here. They could really do with winning this one because they have dropped four points away from the playoff zone and we are into the second half of the season now.
Melbourne Renegades
I don’t know if the washout against the Sydney Sixers last time out was a good thing for the Melbourne Renegades or not. They would have been huge outsiders to win the match so I guess you could argue that it was a good thing but the situation they have found themselves in this season meant that the 1.5pts they got for a washout wasn’t really much use to them. What it does mean is that this is a huge match for them and one they have to win if they are going to keep their finals hopes alive.
If the Renegades are going to win this then they need to find a way to make the most of their second 10 overs with the bat. They tend to get themselves a nice platform to spring from but then when it comes to capitalising on that they are often found wanting. The other thing they will need to do is bowl well at the death. That is something that they haven’t really done all that well since they won the title three seasons ago.
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Team News
The Melbourne Stars clearly aren’t going to have many options to change things up. The players who missed the Sunday game through Covid are still going to be missing here so that is the likes of Adam Zampa, Marcus Stoinis and Nathan Coulter-Nile who are absent.
Melbourne Renegades are the strongest they have been all season. Nic Maddinson has been released by Australia so he can return to the side and Shaun Marsh is available for the first time this season. He is likely to come in for Jack Prestwidge.
Betting
I was actually more impressed with the Melbourne Stars against the Perth Scorchers than I expected to be and I’ve a feeling they might be a big price here. I should make it clear that I’m not a fan of backing sides who are backing up a performance the day before but at least the Stars played the early game on Sunday so they have had a little extra time to recover. I think we’ll see a better performance from them in this match as everything isn’t as up in the air coming into the game and those who have been recruited while Covid runs through the camp have had a game and should come on for the run.
The Stars go up against a Melbourne Renegades side who might be the strongest they have been personnel wise but I’m not convinced the team in red know how to win games anymore. If they are going to win a game the chances are it will be this one but the Stars have three of their top level batters available here and three first choice bowlers so if they play well and one or two of the others can deliver a cameo I don’t think it is beyond the realms of possibility for the green team to land the spoils.
Tips
Back Melbourne Stars to beat Melbourne Renegades for a 3/10 stake at 2.20 with Coral
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