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 will host Adelaide Strikers in match 38 of the 2022/23 Big Bash, the 12th edition of the tournament.
The game is scheduled to start at 7.15pm local time (8.15am GMT) on Thursday, January 12.
The game will be played at the MCG in Melbourne.
It has been a tough season for Melbourne Stars, who have only won twice, sit bottom of the league table, and have lost each of their last three games. They are without Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis and Trent Boult for various reasons, and are struggling to grasp any form of consistency in performance.
Adelaide Strikers have won both of their last two matches to ensure they keep up the pace towards the top of the standings.
With the bat, Chris Lynn is in excellent form for the Strikers. The Australia international has smashed 393 runs from nine innings, with three half-centuries. And he's done all that while striking at 147. He is the only man to score more runs in the competition this year than Matt Short, his teammate. Short has 359 runs, while striking at 144. A formidable pair.
For the Stars, Joe Clarke has the standout Big Bash batting record in 2022/23, but 101 of his 248 runs came in a single innings, and he's made just 16 across his past three innings, with a top score of 12.
With the ball, there are few players in the top wicket-takers or best economy top 10s for this year's BBL. Short has an impressive record of nine wickets and an economy rate below 7 for the Strikers. Luke Wood, the English allrounder, is the Stars' leading bowler with 15 wickets, though he has been conceding runs at nearly 9 per over.
Curiously, one of the Stars' two victories this term came against the Strikers, on New Year's Eve. On that occasion, they posted 186 for 7 - their highest score of the season - before limiting their opponents to 178 for 5.
Chris Lynn is in excellent form for Adelaide Strikers [Getty Images]
If Melbourne Stars let Chris Lynn and Matt Short settle in, they could be in for a long evening. The Stars' own batting clout is not high at present - in the past five matches they have been limited to scores of 130, 108 for 9 and 131 for 7 in their full 20-over allocation - and a large chase would be inconceivable.
A dry and sunny day in Melbourne, with temperatures expected to touch 25 degrees Celsius around the start of play.
Melbourne Stars have named an unchanged 14-man matchday squad for this fixture. Marcus Stoinis continues to miss out, therefore, as he recovers from a hamstring strain.
Adelaide Strikers team news coming soon.
Melbourne Stars: Trent Boult, Hilton Cartwright, Joe Clarke, Brody Couch, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Liam Hatcher, Clint Hinchliffe, Nick Larkin, Marcus Stoinis, Beau Webster, Luke Wood, Adam Zampa, Campbell Kellaway, Tom O'Connell, Sam Elliott, Cam McClure, James Seymour (local replacement player)
Adelaide Strikers: Wes Agar, Cameron Boyce, Alex Carey, Harry Conway, Colin de Grandhomme, Ryan Gibson, Travis Head, Adam Hose, Henry Hunt, Thomas Kelly, Rashid Khan (until January 6), Chris Lynn, Harry Nielsen, Matt Short, Jake Weatherald, Henry Thorton, Peter Siddle, Ben Manenti, Jordan Buckingham (local replacement player)
*Squads are for the whole BBL and not specific to this match
Melbourne Stars are struggling in the BBL [Getty Images]
Melbourne Stars: Coming soon
Adelaide Strikers: Coming soon
Melbourne Stars are underdogs with the bookmakers, with a best price available of 7/5. Adelaide Strikers are hot favourites at 4/6 in places.
Coming soon.
Yes. Tickets are available from $5 for children and $23 for adults, and can be bought via Ticketek.
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 the streaming service Kayo. Fox will show every game, while 45 matches, including the knockout stages, will be shown free-to-air on Channel Seven.
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