Team news, key match-ups, TV and streaming information, weather forecast, odds, form rundown, umpire appointments, start times, venue and squad lists for the 23rd game of BBL11
Brisbane Heat take on Melbourne Stars in the 23rd game of the 2021-22 Big Bash.
The game is set for Monday, December 27. The first ball will be bowled at 8.05pm local time (10.05am GMT).
The game will be held at The Gabba in Brisbane.
These two sides head into Monday's clash with identical records - two wins and three defeats - but the Heat are two places ahead in the table in fifth after collecting more Bash Boost points then their visitors.
Jimmy Pierson's side began BBL11 with back-to-back defeats but have beaten Melbourne Renegades (five wickets) and Adelaide Strikers (39 runs) either side of a 53-run defeat against Sydney Thunder in their past three outings.
After losing to Sydney Sixers by 152 runs in their tournament opener, Melbourne Stars recorded consecutive victories over Sydney Thunder to get their campaign off to a solid start.
However, in their past two outings, the star-studded Melbourne side have suffered a seven-wicket defeat against Sydney Sixers and a surprise 24-run defeat against Hobart Hurricanes.
Adam Zampa (left) is set to return for the Stars [Quinn Rooney/Getty Images]
Melbourne Stars will be hoping for a big performance from Andre Russell in his last appearance of the season. The West Indies international hasn't been at his destructive best but has still scored 83 middle-order runs at a strike rate of 162.74 and picked up three wickets in his four innings to date.
Brody Couch has done an admirable job in the bowling attack in his debut season, picking up seven wickets and conceding 8.23 runs per over. However, Adam Zampa returning to the bowling attack alongside the youngster, Qais Ahmad and Nathan Coulter-Nile will be a huge boost to Glenn Maxwell.
Heat bowlers Mark Steketee and Matthew Kuhnemann, who each took a three-for in their most recent outing, will be eyeing up the Stars' struggling top-order batters, in particular Joe Clarke (66 runs at 13.20), Marcus Stoinis (65 at 16.25) and Nick Larkin (81 at 27). Steketee has taken five wickets in his eight overs to date while Kuhnemann has three dismissals in six overs.
With the bat, Ben Duckett comes into this clash in hot form after scoring 78 (47) against the Strikers while Sam Heazlett has three 40-plus knocks in five innings. Lower down the order, Xavier Barlett (102 runs at a strike rate of 141.66) and Steketee will threaten the Stars bowlers.
Gerard Abood and Anthony Wilds are the men in the middle for this one.
Storms are forecast in Brisbane throughout the afternoon and the accompanying rain could continue into the evening. Temperatures are expected to hover around the mid-20s.
Brisbane Heat: Tom Abell, 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
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)
Ben Duckett scored a half-century for the Heat in his most recent outing [Mark Kolbe/Getty Images]
Brisbane Heat: Chris Lynn, Max Bryant, Tom Cooper, Ben Duckett, Sam Heazlett, Jimmy Pierson, James Bazley, Mark Steketee, Matthew Kuhnemann, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Liam Guthrie
Melbourne Stars: Marcus Stoinis, Joe Clarke, Glenn Maxwell, Joe Burns, Hilton Cartwright, Andre Russell, Beau Webster, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Qais Ahmad, Brody Couch
Oddschecker have installed Melbourne Stars as the favourites for this match, offering odds of 4/5. Brisbane Heat are available at 15/13.
Andre Russell be hoping to go out with a bang in Stars green and with the return of Adam Zampa, their star-studded line-up should be too strong for the Heat - if they can click.
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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