Team news, key match-ups, TV and streaming information, weather forecast, odds, form rundown, umpire appointments, start times, venue and squad lists for the 50th game of BBL11
Adelaide Strikers face Melbourne Stars in the 50th game of the 2021-22 Big Bash.
The game is set for Saturday, January 15. The first ball will be bowled at 10.10am local time (11.40pm GMT).
The game will be held at the Adelaide Oval.
Neither team has been setting the tournament a light. Sitting fifth and sixth in the table, with the group stages rapidly coming towards an end, this is a crunch match in the battle for fifth place and qualification to the playoffs.
With Covid really causing problems to both sides at different stages in the competition, continuity has been an issue throughout.
Last time out, Melbourne Stars made light work of local rivals Melbourne Renegades as they earned a valuable win to keep their hopes of making the next phase alive. A real captain's knock from Glenn Maxwell saw Stars home against their local rivals.
Whereas Adelaide Strikers made it back-to-back wins after an impressive victory over table-toppers Perth Scorchers. Peter Siddle and Fawad Ahmed starred with the ball, before debutant Ian Cockbain and Matt Short secured victory with the bat.
Glenn Maxwell was in fine form for Melbourne Stars' derby win (Mike Owen/Getty Images)
Against Renegades, Glenn Maxwell ended unbeaten on 68 from just 45 deliveries at the top of the order. If Maxwell and Joe Clarke can bat aggressively in tandem, the game could be taken away from Strikers very quickly.
Harry Conway getting the ball to talk with lateral movement will be key to keeping a lid on two of the cleanest-hitting batters in the tournament. A wicket early in the powerplay could put pressure on a vulnerable middle order.
This will be the second game for Strikers without Rashid Khan. The onus falls on Peter Siddle, the 37-year-old seamer, to lead the attack in his absence.
Umpires will appear here when available.
A mild day in Adelaide, with temperature highs of 17 degrees Celsius.
Adelaide Strikers: Wes Agar, Fawad Ahmed, Alex Carey, Harry Conway, George Garton (England duty), Ryan Gibson, Travis Head, Spencer Johnson, Rashid Khan (Ian Cockbain, January 13 until end of season), Harry Nielsen, Liam O’Connor, Matthew Renshaw, Liam Scott, Matt Short, Peter Siddle, Jake Weatherald, Jon Wells, Daniel Worrall
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)
Ian Cockbain impressed on his Strikers debut (Mark Brake/Getty Images)
Adelaide Strikers: Matt Short, Henry Hunt, Ian Cockbain, Johnathan Wells, Jake Weatherald, Thomas Kelly, Harry Nielsen, Henry Thornton, Peter Siddle, Harry Conway, Fawad Ahmed
Melbourne Stars: Nick Larkin, Joe Clarke, Beau Webster, Joe Burns, Glenn Maxwell, Hilton Cartwright, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Brody Couch, Sam Rainbird, Adam Zampa, Haris Rauf
You can get odds of 6/4 on a Strikers win, with Stars coming in at 8/13.
With Stars' bowling attack, led by the pace of Haris Rauf and the spin of Adam Zampa, it will be difficult for Strikers' top order. Stars to edge it.
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
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