Big Bash 2022-23 Knockout match preview: Melbourne Renegades v Brisbane Heat

Key match-ups, analysis, form, team news, weather forecast, tickets, TV and streaming information, odds, predictions and more ahead of the latest encounter in the 2022/23 Big Bash

What's the match?

Melbourne Renegades host Brisbane Heat in the Knockout in the 2022/23 Big Bash, the 12th edition of the tournament.

When is it taking place?

The game is scheduled to start at 7.15pm local time (8.15am GMT) on Sunday, January 29.

Where is the match being played?

The game will be played in Melbourne at the Docklands Stadium.

Who's got the form?

After three consecutive wooden spoons, Melbourne Renegades are in the playoffs - and the last time they made it to this stage, they went on to win the whole thing.

They tailed off towards the back end of the group stages, winning two matches from their last five, but clung on to third place on net run rate.

As for Brisbane Heat, they were down and out after nine matches, winning just twice, but bounced back with four consecutive wins to pip Hobart Hurricanes into fifth position.

In the Eliminator, captain Usman Khawaja blasted 94 runs from 55 balls to help his side to 203 for 5 before a timely intervention from the weather secured an eight-run DLS win.

When these two sides met in the group stages, the Renegades took the points on both occasions, winning by 22 runs in Cairns and four wickets in Geelong. However, both matches came in December before the Heat had hit their purple patch.

 Aaron Finch has been a key player for the Renegades (Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

What's the key match-up?

As long as Aaron Finch is in the middle, the Renegades have a chance of posting or chasing almost any target.

The veteran batter has scored a team-leading 418 runs at a strike rate of 122.58, including four half-centuries. He gave the Scorchers a scare in his side's penultimate group match, pushing on from 16 off 16 to finish unbeaten on 76 off 35 and take his side to within a dozen runs of chasing 213.

He can, of course, be a liability due to his sometimes slow scoring but has also shown a lot of grit and flare in BBL12, and is coming into this clash off the back of two unbeaten half-centuries.

Dismissing him early - or restricting his scoring - is a must for the Heat.

What's the weather forecast?

Cloudy conditions with some evening sunshine poking through. Temperatures are expected to peak around 24 degrees Celsius.

What is the team news?

Melbourne Renegades will be without Kane Richardson, who is missing the match due to family reasons.

Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne and Matt Renshaw will be available for the Heat but Mitch Swepson has opted to focus on Australia's upcoming Test tour of India.

What are the squads?

Melbourne Renegades: Zak Evans, Aaron Finch, Akeal Hosein, Liam Livingstone (withdrawn), Jake Fraser-McGurk, Sam Harper, Mackenzie Harvey, Nic Maddinson (c), Shaun Marsh, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Kane Richardson, Tom Rogers, Will Sutherland, Jon Wells, Jack Prestwidge, Ruwantha Kellapotha, Marcus Harris, Andre Russell (replacing Liam Livingstone, first four matches only), Martin Guptill (replacing Liam Livingstone, 10 group matches and finals), Corey Rocchiccioli, Peter Handscomb, Fawad Ahmed (injury replacement for Shaun Marsh), Matt Critchley (overseas replacement from January 9)

Brisbane Heat: Xavier Bartlett, James Bazley, Sam Billings, Max Bryant, Sam Hain, Sam Heazlett, Usman Khawaja, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Colin Munro, Michael Neser, Jimmy Peirson, Matthew Renshaw, Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson, Ross Whiteley, Jack Wildermuth, Spencer Johnson, Will Prestwidge, Josh Brown

*Squads are for the whole BBL and not specific to this match

What are the possible starting XIs?

Melbourne Renegades: Martin Guptill, Shaun Marsh, Sam Harper, Aaron Finch, Matt Critchley, Jono Wells, Will Sutherland, Tom Rogers, Corey Rocchiccioli, Fawad Ahmed, Ruwantha Kellapotha

Brisbane Heat: Josh Brown, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Matt Renshaw, Sam Hain, Jimmy Peirson, James Bazley, Michael Neser, Spencer Johnson, Mark Steketee, Matthew Kuhnemann

Usman Khawaja scored a match-winning half-century for the Heat in the Eliminator (Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)

What are the odds?

Melbourne Renegades are the narrow favourites with the bookmakers at 10/11. Brisbane Heat are available at 1/1.

What's the prediction?

Brisbane Heat are the form side but Melbourne Renegades have home advantage and have shown themselves to be fighters in BBL12. Wild stab in the dark... Heat win.

Are tickets available?

Tickets are available via Ticketmaster, with adult tickets starting at $25.

Where can I watch the game?

Sky Sports hold the UK rights for the BBL, with coverage split between Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Mix.

Ball-by-ball radio commentary will also be available via BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra and BBC Sounds for selected matches.

Fox Sports and Seven Network both have television rights in Australia while coverage will also be available via streaming service Kayo. Fox will show every game while 45 matches, including the knockout stages, will be shown free-to-air on Channel Seven.