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Melbourne Stars take on Adelaide Strikers in the 2021-22 Big Bash.
The game is set for Monday, January 10. The first ball will be bowled at 7.15pm local time (8.15am GMT).
The game will be held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
After Covid-19 forced more than a dozen players and support staff into isolation over New Year, Melbourne Stars have slipped to the bottom of the table with just three wins in eight matches. Unsurprisingly, they have lost both of their matches in 2022, losing to Perth Scorchers by 50 runs and Melbourne Renegades by five wickets.
However, they are set to welcome back a host of familiar faces against the Strikers, with Adam Zampa, Joe Burns, Joe Clarke, Clint Hinchliffe, Nick Larkin, Beau Webster and Marcus Stoinis all named in a 17-man squad. Zampa will captain the Stars in the absence of Glenn Maxwell (Covid-19).
Adelaide Strikers, meanwhile, brought their six-match losing streak to an end on January 5, defeating Hobart Hurricanes by seven wickets. The Strikers have won just two matches in BBL11 but have picked up a Bash Boost point in seven of their nine matches to date.
Joe Clarke is expected to return for the Stars [Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images]
As mentioned, the biggest bonus for Melbourne Stars heading into this clash is the return of many of their star players.
Joe Clarke's return, in particular, is a huge boost, with the Englishman scoring three half-centuries in his past three innings prior to his Covid-19 enforced absence. With Stoinis, Larkin and Burns also in line for recalls, the Stars have, on paper, a much improved batting line-up.
With the ball, Adam Zampa will be hoping to make an impact after taking just three wickets in five appearances while Brody Couch will be looking to continue his impressive debut season after taking a team-leading 11 wickets in eight matches.
For Adelaide Strikers, Peter Siddle rolled back the years against Hobart Hurricanes, picking up 5 for 23. The 37-year-old is currently joint-second in the golden arm standings and has picked up eight wickets in two outings in 2022.
Matt Short has impressed with the bat for the Strikers, scoring 257 runs at a strike rate of 161.63. Removing him early doors will be a target for the Stars but with Matt Renshaw, Jake Weatherald and Jonathan Wells also among the top five, they'll want a handful of early wickets to properly weaken Adelaide Strikers.
Sunny conditions are expected in Melbourne with temperatures hovering around the mid-20s.
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), Xavier Crone, Travis Dean, Patrick Rowe
Adelaide Strikers: Wes Agar, Fawad Ahmed, Alex Carey, Harry Conway, George Garton, Ryan Gibson, Travis Head, Spencer Johnson, Rashid Khan, Harry Nielsen, Liam O’Connor, Matthew Renshaw, Liam Scott, Matt Short, Peter Siddle, Jake Weatherald, Jon Wells, Daniel Worrall
Peter Siddle [Adelaide Strikers/Getty Images]
Melbourne Stars: Joe Clarke, Marcus Stoinis, Joe Burns, Nick Larkin, Hilton Cartwright, Beau Webster, Clint Hinchliffe, Qais Ahmad, Adam Zampa, Brody Couch, Haris Rauf
Adelaide Strikers: Matt Short, Henry Hunt, Matt Renshaw, Jonathan Wells, Jake Weatherald, Thomas Kelly, Harry Nielsen, Rashid Khan, Harry Conway, Wes Agar, Peter Siddle
Coming soon.
Adelaide Strikers will fancy their chances against a Stars outfit only just coming back from Covid. However, with a point to prove, the Stars may sneak this.
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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