Team news, key match-ups, TV and streaming information, weather forecast, odds, form rundown, umpire appointments, start times, venue and squad lists for the 48th game of BBL11
Melbourne Renegades face Melbourne Stars in the 48th game of the 2021-22 Big Bash.
The game is set for Thursday, January 13. The first ball will be bowled at 7.35pm local time (7.35am GMT).
The game will be held at Marvel Stadium, Melbourne.
Renegades and Stars are part of a five-way scrap for the final two places in the BBL playoffs.
Following a shoddy start to the season which included one win in their opening seven games, the Renegades remain in the fight for the top five.
New Year wins over Stars and Brisbane Heat means their title hopes are not yet over but they'll likely need maximum points from their last three games for it to stay that way.
Defeats to Sydney Thunder and Sydney Sixers have acted as a thump down to earth.
In two run-chases Renegades have been bowled out for 80 and 102, striking a blow to their already poor net run-rate.
Stars might be propping up the table but they are at least one game behind all the sides around them and have their fate largely in their own hands.
Four straight wins between now and the end of the regular season will secure a top-five berth. But that is easier said than done.
Following a Covid outbreak in the squad, things are starting to return to normal, with captain Glenn Maxwell among those back playing.
Nathan Coulter-Nile is also fit again after a hamstring injury. But that is offset by the imminent loss of Haris Rauf, who has been recalled by Lahore Qalandars ahead of the PSL. The clash with Renegades will be his final appearance.
Jack Prestwidge is back fit again [Jonathan DiMaggio/Getty Images]
Jack Prestwidge returns to the Renegades squad in the hope he will be given the opportunity to improve on a solid performance in the BBL.
The 25-year-old has claimed three wickets in 9.5 overs, while he is currently top of the batting averages - mostly thanks to his unbeaten 22 against Perth Scorchers.
Maxwell has returned to the Stars fold after contracting Covid but the Australia allrounder has to improve his recent tournament form if they're to stand any chance of qualifying for the playoffs.
Since smashing a century against Sixers on December 15 he's scored 30 runs - including four consecutive single-figure scores - in his last five innings and gone wicketless for 107 runs with the ball.
Umpires will appear here when available.
Melbourne should avoid any showers until at least Friday and the weekend so a clear evening is expected for this game, with temperatures starting at 31 degrees Celsius.
Melbourne Renegades: Cameron Boyce, Unmukt Chand, Zak Evans, Aaron Finch, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Sam Harper, Marcus Harris, Mackenzie Harvey, Zahir Khan, Josh Lalor, Nic Maddinson (Jono Merlo), Shaun Marsh (James Seymour), Mohammad Nabi, James Pattinson, Mitch Perry, Jack Prestwidge, Kane Richardson, Will Sutherland, Reece Topley
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)
Glenn Maxwell [Darrian Traynor/Getty Images]
Melbourne Renegades: Sam Harper, Aaron Finch, Nic Maddinson, Mackenzie Harvey, Shaun Marsh, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Jack Prestwidge, Kane Richardson, Josh Lalor, Zahir Khan
Melbourne Stars: Nick Larkin, Joe Clarke, Beau Webster, Joe Burns, Glenn Maxwell, Hilton Cartwright, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Qais Ahmad, Sam Rainbird, Adam Zampa, Haris Rauf
Stars start this one as favourites, with bookies offering odds of 4/7. Renegades can be backed at 6/4.
Stars are close to full strength these days and that might come at the perfect time with an avenue into the playoffs having opened up. Renegades had looked short throughout the competition and are the outsiders here.
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)
Welcome to www.thecricketer.com - the online home of the world’s oldest cricket magazine. Breaking news, interviews, opinion and cricket goodness from every corner of our beautiful sport, from village green to national arena.