Big Bash 2022-23 match preview: Sydney Thunder v Melbourne Stars

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?

Sydney Thunder host Melbourne Stars in match one of 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 Tuesday, December 13.

Where is the match being played?

The game will be played in Canberra at the Manuka Oval.

Who's got the form?

This is the opening game of the season, meaning there is little form to go off.

In BBL11, Sydney Thunder made it to the playoffs but lost to Adelaide Strikers in the knockout fixture to finish in fourth position. With players like Chris Green, Daniel Sams, and Ben Cutting among others, they have a strong team at their disposal while batting duo Rilee Rossouw and Alex Hales are both in rich form.

Prior to the T20 World Cup, Hales returned to England's XI and has been outstanding. Rossouw, meanwhile, has recently scored back-to-back T20I centuries against Bangladesh and India.

The Stars, meanwhile, missed the playoffs last season after losing seven of their 14 games. Marcus Stoinis, Hilton Cartwright, Trent Boult, and Nathan Coulter-Nile are among the team's star players.

^{Melbourne Stars will want to keep Alex Hales quiet [Robert Cianflone/Getty Images]}

What's the key match-up?

The bowling unit of the Melbourne Stars is one to be feared, and if they gel in Canberra and contain Hales and company, they can win what is anticipated to be a thrilling tournament opener.

The Stars have also triumphed against the Thunder in six of the previous seven contests, and even if losing Maxwell is a setback, they still have plenty of strength and experience in the form of Stoinis, Joe Clarke, Hilton Cartwright, and Joe Burns.

33-year-old Stoinis, who played just eight games last season but finished fourth on Stars' top-scorer list, has a T20 batting average of 30.85 and has historically been a crucial player for Stars in this competition. When the Stars last made it to the final in 2019/20, he scored 705 runs in 17 games, setting a BBL record, and he is more than capable of opening the new season with a significant total.

What's the weather forecast?

The game won't be affected by rain, which is fantastic news. However, the mid-teens is about as hot as it will get.

What is the team news?

The loss of Glenn Maxwell, the Stars' captain, who fractured his leg in a freak accident, dealt a severe blow to the team. Adam Zampa, a leg-spinner, will assume the captaincy in Maxwell's absence while Tom Rogers has replaced him in the squad. Overseas pair Trent Boult and Luke Wood are in line for debuts.

Tanveer Sangha is absent due to injury for Thunder while David Warner is on international duty. Rilee Rossouw and Fazalhaq Farooqi could make their respective debuts.

What are the squads?

Sydney Thunder: Oliver Davies, Brendan Doggett, Matthew Gilkes, Chris Green, Alex Hales, Baxter Holt, Nathan McAndrew, Alex Ross, Rilee Rossouw, Daniel Sams, Jason Sangha (c), Tanveer Sangha, David Warner, David Willey (withdrawn), Fazalhaq Farooqi (replacing David Willey, first nine matches only), Ben Cutting, Usman Qadir, Gurinder Sandhu, Sam Whiteman

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

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

What are the possible starting XIs?

Sydney Thunder: Jason Sangha, Alex Hales, Rilee Rossouw, Ben Cutting, Alex Ross, Daniel Sams, Chris Green, Gurinder Sandhu, Matthew Gilkes, Usman Qadir, Fazalhaq Farooqi

Melbourne Stars: Joe Clarke, Marcus Stoinis, Joe Burns, Nick Larkin, Hilton Cartwright, Beau Webster, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Luke Wood, Trent Boult, Brody Couch, Adam Zampa

^{Marcus Stoinis will have to lead with the bat in the absence of Glenn Maxwell [Mike Owen/Getty Images]}

What are the odds?

Sydney Thunder are available at 4/5 while Melbourne Stars are at 1/1.

What's the prediction?

Sydney Thunder undoubtedly possesses the talent to take this season by storm, but they will need to show it when it counts. They stumbled last year after appearing to be a play-off contender, and they'll want to put that disappointment behind them right away here. In their first game of the tournament, Melbourne Stars will prove to be a strong foe, but they are more of an unknown this year with a lot of new players maybe coming into the team, so it is worth backing the Thunder to win this one.

Are tickets available?

Tickets are available via Ticketek, with child tickets starting from $5 and adult tickets ranging from $23 to $55.

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.