Last season was one to forget but a revamped group, punctuated by a fresh bowling group, coupled with the return of Glenn Maxwell is an indication that the Stars' fortunes could be on the turn
Melbourne Stars, the wooden spoon holders and one of only two teams (the other being Hobart Hurricanes) without a Big Bash title to their name.
Last season was the second-worst in Stars' history – they won just three of their 14 group matches – and means they have now finished eighth, sixth and seventh in the past three editions. It's all a far cry from their back-to-back final appearances in BBL08 and BBL09.
However, they recognised the need for change, bringing in a new head coach in Peter Moores and a raft of new signings, and are also buoyed by the return of Glenn Maxwell, who missed last season due to injury.
They're a franchise at rock bottom but only time will tell if all of these changes will mark the start of a bright new chapter or simply see a re-run of the past few seasons with a different cast.
Coach: Peter Moores
Nottinghamshire head coach Moores is the man tasked with delivering the Stars' maiden title, signing a two-year deal in March 2023 after David Hussey left to become head of men's cricket with Victoria.
Moores twice served as head coach of England men and has also worked with Sussex, Lancashire and Karachi Kings. He has won two T20 Blast titles with Nottinghamshire.
Captain: Glenn Maxwell
After missing the 2022-23 season with a broken leg, Maxwell is back as captain. The Australia allrounder has led the Stars since 2018, overseeing runs to the final in BBL08 and BBL09, and only needs to play six times this season to chalk up his 100th Big Bash appearance in green. Maxwell is currently the leading run-scorer and leading appearance-maker for the Stars.
How strong is the batting?
The return of Maxwell is a huge boost. He has scored over 2,500 Big Bash runs with a strike rate above 150 and contributed at least 300 runs in each of his past four seasons. His firepower was sorely missed last season.
Tom Rogers enjoyed a solid season at the top of the order in BBL12, scoring 324 runs with a strike rate of 122.72, and while the loss of Joe Clarke (their leading run-scorer last season) is a blow, it does open the door for Marcus Stoinis, who, like Maxwell is a ferocious run-scorer on his day, to return to the top of the order. The Australia allrounder hasn't been at his best for a couple of seasons, with injuries playing their part, but his most prolific campaign came in BBL09 when he scored 705 runs (the record for the most runs in a single season) while opening the batting. It would be a bold call, but one potentially worth the risk.
Sam Harper, meanwhile, is a shrewd signing. The former Melbourne Renegades wicketkeeper scored 264 runs with a strike rate of 141 .17 at No.3 last season and adds yet more impetus to what on paper is a top-four with a lot of potential.
However, the options elsewhere are less inspiring. While Nick Larkin, Hilton Cartwright (who scored 321 runs last season), and Beau Webster are reasonably reliable sources of runs, they all struggled for flow last year, striking around the 115 mark. With Liam Dawson (available for three matches, solid but also not known for his strike rate) and Imad Wasim (experienced but unreliable) the other options in this area, there is the potential for the run rate to drop as the innings progresses.
If bowler Usama Mir can replicate his Blast form for Worcestershire, when he scored 132 lower-order runs at a strike rate of 162.96 in just six innings, it might come in very handy for the Stars.
Former England coach Peter Moores has won three white-ball titles with Notts Outlaws (Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
How strong is the bowling?
It's all changed in the bowling attack. Gone are Adam Zampa, Luke Wood, Trent Boult and Liam Hatcher, who took a combined 55 wickets last season; coming in are Haris Rauf, Mark Steketee, Scott Boland and Mir.
Zampa's exit left the Stars desperate for spin reinforcement, with the leg-spinner regularly taking 15 wickets per season. However, in Mir, who arrives in Australia with 98 wickets in 96 T20 appearances and an economy of 7.77, they've found a capable replacement. Furthermore, Dawson (briefly) and Wasim offer experienced and economical support while Maxwell's off-spin is far more useful than his haul of 37 Big Bash wickets may suggest.
As for the pace department, Steketee is a handy addition, boasting 88 wickets in 69 appearances for former club Brisbane Heat, although he was in and out of the side last year. At his best, his rapid and troublesome bounce causes headaches for batters, particularly in the powerplay.
Rauf and Boland, meanwhile, are no strangers to the Stars, having both previously donned green. Boland's availability may be restricted by Test commitments but his Big Bash figures – 70 wickets in 57 matches – are perfectly respectable. Rauf, meanwhile, has 30 wickets in 18 outings for the Stars, 20 of which came during the 2019/20 season. He's a death specialist but when it's not his day, he's often very expensive.
Elsewhere, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Brody Couch are among the few survivors from last year. The former is good for 12-15 wickets per season, often coming in as first or second change, while Couch adds depth. He only made one appearance last year but impressed in BBL11, taking 16 wickets. Left-armer Joel Paris adds variety.
Why should fans be excited?
Maxwell is back so, as demonstrated at the recent World Cup, anything is possible. Couple that with a new head coach and several new faces, and it feels like the start of a fresh era for the Stars.
As mentioned, the top four of Rogers, Stoinis, Harper and Maxwell looks very promising on paper and when you look at the much-changed bowling department, they certainly appear to have plenty of options. Steketee, in particular, could be an excellent signing if he's at his best. Perhaps the main question in this area is who opens the bowling alongside him?
Stars have a decision to make over the use of Marnus Stoinis (Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Why should fans be worried?
Several of the players within the Stars squad – Stoinis, Steketee, Rauf, Coulter-Nile – are accompanied by the caveat 'if they’re at their best'. There's no denying the potential in the squad but there’s also a lot of uncertainty around who can be banked upon to perform.
However, the big concern is their middle-order batting, which lacks oomph. Of course, you could use Stoinis to add firepower in this area but perhaps it’s being moved up and down the order which has contributed to his inconsistent form in recent seasons. And who would open alongside Rogers? You suspect there could be a lot of pressure on the top four to do the bulk of the scoring and for at least one of Stoinis, Maxwell, or Harper to be present at the death.
Squad: Scott Boland, Joe Burns, Hilton Cartwright, Brody Couch, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Sam Harper, Nick Larkin, Glenn Maxwell, Joel Paris, Tom Rogers, Mark Steketee, Marcus Stoinis, Beau Webster, Harry Brook (withdrawn), Haris Rauf, Usama Mir, Liam Dawson (first three matches only), Imad Wasim, Campbell Kellaway, Corey Rocchiccioli
Fixtures: December 7 – Brisbane Heat (The Gabba, 8.15am GMT), December 13 – Perth Scorchers (MCG, 8.15am), December 23 – Sydney Thunder (Albury, 4.30am), December 26 – Sydney Sixers (SCG, 7.05am), December 28 – Hobart Hurricanes (Bellerive Oval, 8.15am), December 31 – Adelaide Strikers (Adelaide Oval, 8.15am), January 2 – Melbourne Renegades (MCG, 8.15am), January 6 – Sydney Sixers (MCG, 8.15am), January 13 – Melbourne Renegades (Marvel Stadium, 8.30am), January 15 – Hobart Hurricanes (MCG, 8.15am)
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.