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
Melbourne Stars host Hobart Hurricanes in match four of the 2022/23 Big Bash, the 12th edition of the tournament.
The game is scheduled to start at 5.05pm local time (6.05am GMT) on Friday, December 16.
Melbourne Stars have already played in this year's Big Bash, but they did not get off to an ideal start, losing to Sydney Thunder in a low-scoring affair in Canberra. However, they showed considerable fight to take nine wickets in defence of 122.
The Stars and Hurricanes had a mediocre BBL11, with the Hurricanes finishing in fifth and the Stars in sixth. Both sides come away with seven wins and seven defeats.
The two sides have met each other a total of 16 times with the Stars taking the two points on 10 occasions.
Matthew Wade is a player to watch with the bat [Mike Owen/Getty Images]
Two key match-ups spring to mind when comparing the two sides.
In Marcus Stoinis, Melbourne Stars have a beast of T20 cricket, who boasts a high score of 147 not out in this competition and a career strike rate of 135.81 in the format. He has a point to prove after being dismissed for a golden duck against Sydney Thunder.
The allrounder will have to contend with the bowling of Riley Meredith and Nathan Ellis. Meredith has 59 wickets in the Big Bash from just 45 matches and has maintained an economy rate of 8.04; Ellis has 43 BBL wickets to his name and an economy of 8.13.
The other match up takes the shape of another Australian veteran versus his former international teammate as Matthew Wade will look to battle with the skill of Nathan Coulter-Nile. The Stars bowler made a productive start to BBL12, taking 3 for 19, and will go after Wade's wicket - the Hobart skipper has a strike rate of 142.5 from 81 Big Bash appearances and will need to be removed early.
No chance of rain at the MCG and temperatures will be around 17 degrees Celsius.
The Hurricanes will be eager to get off to a good start and could field Asif Ali, James Neesham and Tim David in a stacked middle order while Matthew Wade, D'Arcy Short and Ben McDermott are also in a squad not short on firepower.
Adam Zampa will captain the Stars with Glenn Maxwell absent through injury. Stoinis (who struggled with Covid-19 in the opener) will hope to put a disappointingperformance against Sydney Thunder behind him. Joe Burns (Covid-19/injury) retired hurt against Thunder and his involvement is uncertain.
Melbourne Stars: Trent Boult, Joe Burns, Hilton Cartwright, Joe Clarke, Brody Couch, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Liam Hatcher, Clint Hinchliffe, Nick Larkin, Glenn Maxwell (c), Marcus Stoinis, Beau Webster, Luke Wood, Adam Zampa, Campbell Kellaway, Tom O'Connell, Sam Elliott, Cam McClure, James Seymour (local replacement player)
Hobart Hurricanes: Asif Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Caleb Jewell, Shadab Khan, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Mitch Owen, Joel Paris, Wil Parker, D'Arcy Short, Matthew Wade, Billy Stanlake, Paddy Dooley, Chris Tremain, Mac Wright, Zak Crawley (overseas replacement for Shadab Khan), Jimmy Neesham (overseas replacement)
*Squads are for the whole BBL and not specific to this match
Melbourne Stars: Tom Rodgers, Joe Clarke, Joe Burns, Nick Larkin, Marcus Stoinis, Hilton Cartwright, Beau Webster, Luke Wood, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Adam Zampa, Trent Boult
Hobart Hurricanes: Matthew Wade, D'Arcy Short, Ben McDermott, Caleb Jewell, Asif Ali, Tim David, Shadab Khan, Jimmy Neesham, Nathan Ellis, Chris Tremain, Riley Meredith
Nathan Coulter-Nile started his BBL12 campaign with three wickets [Mark Nolan/Getty Images]
Melbourne Stars are backed at 6/5, while the Hurricanes have odds of 4/6.
It's the start of a new season for the Hurricanes while the Stars are looking to bounce back.
Hobart have a strong middle order but the power of the Stars bowling line up, along with the likes of Stoinis with the bat, means a Melbourne Stars win is looking likely.
Tickets are available via Ticketek, with child tickets starting from $5 and adult tickets ranging from $23 to $55.
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.
Welcome to www.thecricketer.com - the online home of the world’s oldest cricket magazine. Breaking news, interviews, opinion and cricket goodness from every corner of our beautiful sport, from village green to national arena.