Team news, key match-ups, TV and streaming information, weather forecast, odds, form rundown, umpire appointments, start times, venue and squad lists for the 26th game of BBL11
Hobart Hurricanes face Melbourne Renegades in the 26th game of the 2021-22 Big Bash.
The game is set for Wednesday, December 29. The first ball will be bowled at 7.15pm local time (8.15am GMT).
The game will be held at Melbourne's Marvel Stadium.
After defeating Adelaide Strikers by two runs in their opening match, Melbourne Renegades have failed to win any of their past four matches and are marooned at the foot of the table with just four points.
The Renegades have scored more than 160 runs in an innings just once in five matches - they scored 185 against Perth Scorchers are still lost - and have lost at least five wickets in every game.
Hobart Hurricanes, meanwhile, are riding the crest of a wave. After winning just one of their opening four matches - a 44-run DLS win over Sydney Sixers - the Hurricanes have recorded back-to-back victories over Melbourne Stars and Adelaide Strikers to climb up to third in the table.
They have also been very good at picking up Bash Boost points, collecting five from a possible six.
Mackenzie Harvey has been the pick of the batters for Melbourne Renegades [Chris Hyde/Getty Images]
The challenge for Melbourne Renegades will be breaking the back of Hobart Hurricanes' enviable top three.
Ben McDermott enters the match off the back of a half-century and a century, the latter knock making him only the seventh player to hit multiple BBL hundreds. Matthew Wade has 175 runs at a strike rate of 149.47 and D'Arcy Short is nailing his anchor assignment, with 201 runs at an average of 40.20 and a strike rate of 105.78.
Unfortunately, pace trio Will Sutherland, Reece Topley and James Pattinson are all conceding more than nine an over (Sutherland is as high as 10.62) and may find themselves on the back of another Perth Scorchers-esque run-fest.
With the bat, Mackenzie Harvey will be hoping for some support at the top of the order. The opener has scored a team-leading 191 runs (two half-centuries) at a strike rate of 122.43, the next player on the list is Sam Harper with 110. Fortunately, Nic Maddinson and Aaron Finch have both shown flashes of form this season and if all four can click, a Hurricanes win might not be such a foregone conclusion.
Michael Graham-Smith and Anthony Wilds are the men in the middle for this one.
Sunny skies and temperatures in the low twenties are forecast for Melbourne.
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
Hobart Hurricanes: Scott Boland, Harry Brook (Jordan Cox), Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Peter Handscomb, Caleb Jewell, Josh Kann, Sandeep Lamichhane, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Mitch Owen, Joel Paris, Wil Parker, Tom Rogers, D’Arcy Short, Jordan Thompson (Tom Lammonby), Matthew Wade, Mac Wright
Ben McDermott scored a century for Hobart Hurricanes against Adelaide Strikers [Steve Bell/Getty Images]
Melbourne Renegades: Aaron Finch, Mackenzie Harvey, Sam Harper, Nic Maddinson, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Mohammad Nabi, Will Sutherland, Jack Prestwidge, James Pattinson, Reece Topley
Hobart Hurricanes: Ben McDermott, Matthew Wade, D'Arcy Short, Harry Brook, Tim David, Peter Handscomb, Jordan Thompson, Nathan Ellis, Tom Rogers, Riley Meredith, Sandeep Lamichhane
Oddschecker have installed Hobart Hurricanes as the favourites for this match, offering odds of 4/7. Melbourne Renegades are available at 16/11.
A third win in a row for Hobart Hurricanes.
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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