Team news, key match-ups, TV and streaming information, weather forecast, odds, form rundown, umpire appointments, start times, venue and squad lists for the seventh game of BBL11
Melbourne Stars take on Sydney Thunder in the seventh game of the 2021-22 Big Bash.
The game is set for Friday, December 10. The first ball will be bowled at 6.15pm local time (8.15am GMT).
The game will be held at the MCG in Melbourne.
Melbourne Stars endured a shocking start to BBL11, losing to Sydney Sixers by 152 runs in the tournament opener - the biggest defeat in Big Bash history. In defence of Glenn Maxwell's side, they were severely depleted with pace trio Nathan Coulter-Nile, Billy Stanlake and Liam Hatcher and big-hitting opener Marcus Stoinis all absent while Sam Elliott, Brody Couch and Syed Faridoun Mehmood were all on debut. That said, conceding 213 runs before being bowled out for 61 in 11.1 overs is inexcusible for any side.
Fortunately for the Stars, Stoinis is expected to feature against Thunder after recovering from a side strain while T20 supremo Andre Russell is in line to make the first of his five contracted appearances of BBL11. Coulter-Nile and overseas signing Qais Ahmad are also set to be available.
Sydney Thunder, by contrast, enjoyed a strong start to their season, defeating Brisbane Heat by seven wickets. Chris Green's side restricted the Heat to 140 for 8 before chasing down their target with 17 balls to spare. Sam Billings and Alex Ross impressed with the bat, scoring 45 not out (36 balls) and 61 not out (46 balls), respectively, while Gurinder Sandhu (2 for 17) and Daniel Sams (3 for 22) were the pick of the bowlers.
Sam Billings (left) and Alex Ross (right) impressed for Sydney Thunder with the bat against Brisbane Heat [Matt King/Getty Images]
After watching four of Melbourne Stars' top six fall for single-figure knocks against Sydney Sixers, Daniel Sams and Gurinder Sandhu will be feeling confident of building on their strong performances with the ball. Tanveer Sangha, who took 1 for 22 from his three overs, will also be relishing the opportunity to have a go at the Stars' top order after Sixers spinner Steve O'Keefe picked up the early wickets of Joe Clarke and Nick Larkin on Sunday.
For the Stars, the key player to watch is Glenn Maxwell who, after amassing 513 runs for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League, has passed 10 just twice in his past eight competitive T20 innings. The return of Marcus Stoinis and arrival of Andre Russell does ease the pressure on Melbourne's captain but a big knock would be very welcome for The Big Show.
Gerard Abood and Ben Treloar will be making the decisions for this one.
Temperatures are expected to hover around the mid-teens while conditions are expected to be overcast. No rain is forecast.
Melbourne Stars: Qais Ahmad, Joe Burns, Hilton Cartwright, Joe Clarke, Brody Couch, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Sam Elliott, Syed Faridoun, Liam Hatcher, Clint Hinchcliffe, Nick Larkin, Glenn Maxwell, Peter Nevill, Tom O’Connell, Sam Rainbird, Marcus Stoinis, Beau Webster, Adam Zampa, Haris Rauf (from December 27), Andre Russell (five games from December 10), Ahmed Daniyal (from December 10)
Sydney Thunder: Sam Billings, Jonathan Cook, Ben Cutting, Oliver Davies, Brendan Doggett, Matt Gilkes, Chris Green, Alex Hales, Baxter Holt, Usman Khawaja, Saqib Mahmood, Nathan McAndrew, Alex Ross, Daniel Sams, Gurinder Sandhu, Jason Sangha, Tanveer Sangha, Chris Tremain
Andre Russell [Randy Brooks/Getty Images]
Melbourne Stars: Joe Clarke (wk), Marcus Stoinis, Nick Larkin, Glenn Maxwell, Hilton Cartwright, Andre Russell, Beau Webster, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Qais Ahmad, Adam Zampa, Billy Stanlake
Sydney Thunder: Alex Hales, Sam Whiteman, Matthew Gilkes, Sam Billings (wk), Alex Ross, Daniel Sams, Ben Cutting, Nathan McAndrew, Chris Green, Gurinder Sandhu, Tanveer Sangha
Melbourne Stars are the favourites, with Oddschecker offering odds of 4/5 in favour of Maxwell's side. Sydney Thunder are available at 21/20.
Melbourne Stars will have a point to prove after their opening match humiliation and with Stoinis, Russell, Coulter-Nile and Qais Ahmad all in line for selection, they have a much-improved squad at their disposal. Melbourne Stars win.
Sky Sports have bought the rights for the competition through to 2025, and they will broadcast all 61 games in the UK.
Fox Sports and Seven Network both have television rights in Australia: subscription broadcaster Fox show every game, while free-to-air Seven will simulcast 45 matches.
BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra will have ball-by-ball radio coverage of the tournament for UK listeners.
Where can I watch the competition elsewhere in the world?
North America: Willow
MENA: beIN Sports
Sub Saharan Africa: SuperSport
Indian Subcontinent: Sony
New Zealand: Sky Sport
BIG BASH TEAM GUIDES (open in external window in app)
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