The second half of the Big Bash League double header on Sunday looks like it could be one of the matches of the tournament as arguably the two most powerful sides in the competition go head to head at the iconic MCG when the Melbourne Stars host the Sydney Thunder.
The Stars were given a bit of a shellacking in their opening match in Adelaide on Friday and so they will be out to make up for that in their first home match of the competition. The Stars were given a bit of tap at the end of the innings when they bowled in Adelaide and they will need to clean that up here.
Stephen Fleming has named an unchanged squad for this match. It remains to be seen whether they will rotate their bowlers who didn’t really bowl well as a unit or whether they will send the same side out and give them the task of putting things right.
The Thunder powered past the Sixers in their opening match. Some brutal hitting with the bat coupled with some canny nous from Michael Hussey and some devastating bowling with the ball in their hand meant they were far too good for their arch rivals the Sixers.
Usman Khawaja has been added to the Thunder squad from the one which won so comfortably in that first match to give their batting line up even more depth which is actually quite scary. The number of bowling options is a dream for Hussey as he plots the downfall of this star studded Melbourne side.
I’m looking forward to a really high quality match here. There is so much class and power on show it should be a really good occasion and contest but by virtue of the fact their bowling went so much better in their opening match I’m with the Thunder in this one.
Taking on the Stars is always a tricky choice to make but there is more than enough price in the Thunder who have men in the likes of Shame Watson and Andre Russell who can tear any match apart singlehandedly.
Back Sydney Thunder to beat Melbourne Stars for a 4/10 stake at 2.50 with Ladbrokes
