Team news, key match-ups, TV and streaming information, weather forecast, odds, form rundown, umpire appointments, start times, venue and squad lists for the 10th game of BBL11
Sydney Thunder host Melbourne Stars in the 10th game of the 2021-22 Big Bash.
The game is set for Sunday, December 12. The first ball will be bowled at 7:15pm local time (8:15am GMT).
The game will be held at the Sydney Showground Stadium in Sydney
It is early days in the Big Bash League group phase, with both sides coming into this one with identical records.
Thunder got off to a perfect start in their opening game, chasing down 141 to beat Brisbane Heat in Canberra.
Daniel Sams claimed 3 for 22 before Alex Ross' unbeaten 61 secured an easy win with 23 balls remaining.
In contrast, Stars got off to a wretched start after slumping to their heaviest ever BBL defeat at the hands of reigning champions Sydney Sixers.
Stars were set 214 to win but ended up being dismissed for just 61 in 67 deliveries.
Stars and Thunder then met themselves in Melbourne in match seven in the BBL and served one of the games of the tournament so far.
Nick Larkin (52) and Hilton Cartwright (42) pushed the three-time runners-up towards a formidable 165 for 4 from their 20 overs.
Thunder lost early wickets but Matthew Gilkes and Sam Billings put on 91 for the third wicket to break the back of the chase.
Gilkes (56) was dismissed in the 18th over with 30 still needed, but with 11 required off the last, Thunder looked to be favourites.
But Adam Zampa kept Ross and Ben Cutting from hitting an all-important boundary to secure a fine win.
Sam Billings takes charge (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Adam Zampa played a far more frontline role for Stars against Thunder, being handed two overs in the powerplay and one at the death. His success in recent years, not least in Australia's run to T20 World Cup glory. Currently No.36 in the men's T20 Player Index, he'll be odds-on to make a jump upon the next recalculation.
Skipper Glenn Maxwell, speaking after the World Cup final win over New Zealand, said of the spinner: "He’s been a superstar in this format as well as one-day cricket for a long period of time.
"I’ve had the pleasure of having him at the Melbourne Stars and watching him go about his work for a long time so to watch him bring it to international cricket there’s no edges whatsoever.
"He’s fitted in so well and the last three years as a leg-spinner, I don’t think there are many better in the world."
A role in those middle overs again will see him again come face-to-face with Sam Billings, who is finally able to burn off some energy after a quiet winter.
The Kent man had a largely watching brief at the World Cup, only coming in for the semi-final defeat to New Zealand during which he had a largely pherpral role.
But he's started the BBL in excellent touch with two scores in the 40s, coming in amid what looks like an underpowered Thunder middle-order. Though rare, his occasional England outings have been littered with excellent displays in that role which includes a hundred against Australia in an ODI last summer.
Gerard Abood and Ben Treloar are the men in the middle for this one.
The wet weather around Sydney should have cleared by the time play gets underway in the early evening. Temperatures are expected to be at around 19 degree Celsius for the game.
Sydney Thunder: Sam Billings, Jonathan Cook, Ben Cutting, Oliver Davies, Brendan Doggett, Matt Gilkes, Chris Green, Alex Hales, Baxter Holt, Usman Khawaja, Saqib Mahmood, Nathan McAndrew, Alex Ross, Daniel Sams, Gurinder Sandhu, Jason Sangha, Tanveer Sangha, Chris Tremain
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)
Adam Zampa celebrates (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Sydney Thunder: Joe Clarke, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell (c), Nick Larkin, Hilton Cartwright, Andre Russell, Beau Webster, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Adam Zampa, Qais Ahmed, Brody Couch
Melbourne Stars: Alex Hales, Sam Whiteman, Matthew Gilkes, Sam Billings (wk), Daniel Sams, Alex Ross, Ben Cutting, Nathan McAndrew, Chris Green, Gurinder Sandhu, Tanveer Sangha
The Stars begin this game as the slight favourites, with several bookies offering odds of 4/5 for an away win. Thunder start the game as 11/10 outsiders.
Stars needed some late inspiration to get over the line last time out against Thunder, who will be eager to exact some kind of revenge. Expect them to do so.
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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