Big Bash Daily: Depleted Heat defeated by Stars as Andre Fletcher six raises eyebrows

Heat were missing a swathe of first-choice players, while Stars' side featured Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa and Nathan Coulter-Nile

Heat depleted and defeated

This was always going to be a tall order for Chris Lynn’s Brisbane Heat. Facing a well-stocked Melbourne Stars side was a sufficient challenge in itself, but missing a swathe of first-choice players left Darren Lehmann’s team fighting an uphill battle.

They have endured a difficult pre-tournament build-up: Tom Banton, who starred last year at the top of the order, withdrew from the competition citing bio-secure bubble fatigue, while Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman tested positive for Covid-19 last week and was, therefore, unavailable for the season-opener.

Some months previously, Heat stalwart Ben Cutting left for Sydney Thunder, leaving a large gaping hole in the middle order. Eventually, that space will be filled by English allrounder Lewis Gregory, but he only landed in Brisbane on Friday.

Joe Burns and Mitchell Swepson both also missed out, featuring for Australia A against India, while Marnus Labuschagne is preparing for the upcoming Test series. And then, there is Morne Morkel, the South African great who is playing as a local on account of his Australian residency. He missed out through an ankle injury.

All that meant Big Bash debuts for young seamers Xavier Bartlett and Jack Wood, as well as Heat bows for Lawrence and experienced batsman Tom Cooper. Unused X-Factor substitutes Connor Sully and James Bazley would also have been playing their first-ever matches in the competition.

^{Xavier Bartlett dismissed Marcus Stoinis}

Stars shine as campaign gets underway

Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Hilton Cartwright, Ben Dunk, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Adam Zampa and Billy Stanlake represent a jampacked local core for Melbourne Stars, who are looking to go one better after losing out in the final of last year’s Big Bash.

And, facing a weakened Heat side, they rarely took their foot off the gas. Coulter-Nile took four wickets in just 3.5 overs, while also contributing two runouts, with Cartwright’s throw running out Lawrence as the Essex batsman came back for a second run.

From 106 for 4 with four overs left, Heat lost 6 for 19, failing to use up their allotted 20 overs. In response, captain Maxwell ensured there was to be no unnecessary drama: he hit three sixes in a 26-ball knock of 46, while Cartwright ended unbeaten on the same number. All this after Stoinis, who hit 705 runs in last year’s tournament, edged behind for a second-ball duck.

Night of the left-arm wrist-spinners

Clint Hinchcliffe versus Jack Wood was perhaps not the battle anyone was anticipating as the second game of this year’s Big Bash began. Wood, after all, was making his competition debut.

However, left-arm wrist-spinners are few and far between. And thus, it was hard not to be intrigued as Hinchcliffe and Wood – both 24 years of age and born within a month of one another – attempted to bowl their sides to victory.

As it was, Hinchliffe only bowled two overs for Stars, taking the wicket of Sam Heazlett; for Heat, Wood’s three overs were pounced upon by Maxwell, who took him for two sixes in the same over. Eventually, Wood got his reward, bowling the Australia allrounder as he looked to reverse-sweep, having already dismissed Ben Dunk.

^{Jack Wood bowled Glenn Maxwell}

Andre Fletcher holds the pose

Some have called it a ‘no-look six’, though that doesn’t quite feel accurate. If anything, Fletcher exaggerated his focus on the ball, his head remaining dead still even after he had deposited an enormous strike over the legside. You decide…

🔥 Andre Fletcher. No-look six! 👀#BBL10pic.twitter.com/z6INteVojJ

— The Cricketer (@TheCricketerMag) December 11, 2020

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