Team news, key match-ups, TV and streaming information, weather forecast, odds, form rundown, umpire appointments, start times, venue and squad lists for the 37th game of BBL11
Melbourne Renegades take on Brisbane Heat in the 37th game of the 2021-22 Big Bash.
The game is set for Thursday, January 6. The first ball will be bowled at 6.05pm local time (7.05am GMT).
The game will be held at Kardinia Park in Geelong.
After winning just one of their first seven matches and losing five games in a row, Melbourne Renegades finally chalked up win number two on January 3. The Renegades defeated a Covid-depleted Melbourne Stars by five wickets and climbed up to sixth in the table.
Brisbane Heat are fifth in the table, with three wins and five defeats from their eight matches.
However, the Heat are in the midst of a Covid crisis of their own, with 12 positive cases detected within the squad. Their clash with Sydney Sixers on January 4 was postponed by 24 hours and later cancelled as they struggled to field 13 players.
Whether this match goes ahead is anyone's guess.
Aaron Finch scored a half-century against Melbourne Stars [Jonathan DiMaggio/Getty Images]
Where to start with Brisbane Heat? Heading into the fixture, Sam Heazlett and Ben Duckett have been the stars with the bat, scoring 230 and 218 runs, respectively. With the ball, James Bazley and Xavier Bartlett each have 11 wickets. However, it is yet to be confirmed who among the squad has tested positive for Covid-19.
One player who is expected to feature for the Heat, however, is Fakhar Zaman, signed as an injury replacement for Tom Abell. The 31-year-old Pakistan international has scored 4,300 career T20 runs at a strike rate of 132.96 and will likely have to carry a fairly ropey batting line-up on Thursday.
For the Renegades, another match against a Covid-depleted side should do wonders for the confidence of their batters.
Both Sam Harper and Mackenzie Harvey have enjoyed strong starts to the tournament, scoring 174 and 214 runs, respectively. Against the Stars, Aaron Finch returned to form with a half-century and Shaun Marsh scored a handy 21 runs in his first outing of the year. If their top four or five can all fire, BBL11 might have a happy ending.
With the ball, Kane Richardson has taken a team-leading 12 wickets.
To be confirmed.
Sunny conditions are expected at the start of play but rain is forecasted for later in the evening.
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
Brisbane Heat: Tom Abell (Fakhar Zaman, three games from January 6), Xavier Bartlett, James Bazley, Max Bryant, Tom Cooper, Ben Duckett, Liam Guthrie, Sam Heazlett, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne (Nathan McSweeney), Chris Lynn, Michael Neser (Cameron Gannon), Jimmy Pierson, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Will Prestwidge, Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson (Hugo Burdon), Jack Wildermuth
Fakhar Zaman is available for Brisbane Heat [Francois Nel/Getty Images]
Melbourne Renegades: Sam Harper, Aaron Finch, Shaun Marsh, Nic Maddinson, Mackenzie Harvey, Mohammad Nabi, James Seymour, Jack Prestwidge, Kane Richardson, Reece Topley, Zahir Khan
Brisbane Heat: With 12 positive cases within the Brisbane Heat squad, a host of Victoria-based replacement players and emergency signings will likely dominate the XI. Overseas signing Fakhar Zaman (replacing Tom Abell) is available for the fixture.
Melbourne Renegades are the favourites to win.
If this match goes ahead, a Melbourne Renegades victory against a random Brisbane Heat XI seems like the only outcome.
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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