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Brisbane Heat v Melbourne Stars: match preview

The Heat host the winless Melbourne Stars in the New Year's Bash at the Gabba

Match facts

Who: Brisbane Heat v Melbourne Stars

What: Match 19, KFC BBL|14

Where: The Gabba, Brisbane

When: Wednesday, January 1. Bat flip at 5.30pm local time (6.30pm AEDT), first ball at 6.15 local time (7.15pm AEDT)

How to watch: Channel Seven, 7plus, Fox Cricket, Kayo Sports 

Buy tickets: Tickets are on sale here

Live scores: Match Centre

Highlights, news and reactions after the match: cricket.com.au, the CA Live and Big Bash apps

Officials: Donovan Koch and Benjamin Treloar (field), Gregory Davidson (third), Stephen Dionysius (fourth), Kepler Wessels (match referee)

Match squads

Brisbane Heat: Colin Munro (c), Tom Banton, Xavier Bartlett, Max Bryant, Daniel Drew, Spencer Johnson, Matthew Kuhnemann, Nathan McSweeney, Michael Neser, Will Prestwidge, Matthew Renshaw, Mitchell Swepson, Paul Walter, Jack Wildermuth

 

In: Michael Neser, Jack Wildermuth. Out: Jimmy Peirson

Heat star quick Michael Neser has been included in the squad for the first time this season after suffering a hamstring injury prior to the tournament. A decision on whether he plays will be made at the bat flip. 

Making way for Neser is wicketkeeper Jimmy Peirson. Fast bowler Jack Wildermuth also comes into the 14-player squad.

English wicketkeeper Tom Banton is set to take the gloves in Peirson's absence. 

Melbourne Stars: Marcus Stoinis, Hilton Cartwright, Brody Couch, Ben Duckett, Sam Harper, Campbell Kellaway, Dan Lawrence, Glenn Maxwell, Jonathan Merlo, Usama Mir, Joel Paris, Tom Rogers, Peter Siddle, Mark Steketee

 

Ins: Dan Lawrence, Tom Rogers, Mark Steketee. Outs: Tom Curran (calf), Beau Webster (Test squad), Doug Warren

English international Dan Lawrence comes into the Stars squad replacing allrounder Tom Curran who is set to be sidelined for at least two games after suffering a Grade 1 calf strain during training before the match against Sydney Thunder. 

Mark Steketee comes into the squad as well as Tom Rogers who returns after recovering from a hip flexor injury.

Beau Webster misses due to duties with the Test team ahead of the fifth Test. Crafty off spinner Doug Warren also drops out. 

Club news

Brisbane Heat

Melbourne Stars

Get the latest

Top performers

Most Runs
BBL|14 BKT Golden Bat
Player Total
1 Mitchell Owen M Owen
452
2 David Warner D Warner 405
3 Cooper Connolly C Connolly 351
4 Glenn Maxwell G Maxwell 325
5 Marcus Stoinis M Stoinis 311
6 Matthew Renshaw M Renshaw 280
7 Sam Billings S Billings 271
8 Max Bryant M Bryant 259
Most Wickets
BBL|14 BKT Golden Arm
Player Total
1 Jason Behrendorff J Behrendorff
17
2 Riley Meredith R Meredith 16
3 Tom Rogers T Rogers 16
4 Mark Steketee M Steketee 15
5 Lance Morris L Morris 15
6 Lloyd Pope L Pope 15
7 Ben Dwarshuis B Dwarshuis 14
8 Spencer Johnson S Johnson 13
Most sixes scored
BBL|14
Player Total
1 Mitchell Owen M Owen
36
2 Glenn Maxwell G Maxwell 27
3 Cooper Connolly C Connolly 19
4 Tim David T David 17
5 Matthew Renshaw M Renshaw 17
6 Max Bryant M Bryant 14
7 Josh Brown J Brown 12
8 Jake Fraser-McGurk J Fraser-McGurk 12

Local knowledge 

Rapid stats

  • The Brisbane Heat have won their last four BBL games against the Melbourne Stars which is more than they had won across their previous eight meetings (W3 L5); indeed, their only longer winning run against the Stars was a five-game stretch from 2014 to 2018.
  • The Melbourne Stars have lost their last seven consecutive games in the BBL and an eighth straight loss would equal their longest losing streak in the competition (L8 from Jan 2017 to Jan 2018).
  • The Brisbane Heat have won their last two BBL games on New Year’s Day, while the Melbourne Stars have won two of their three games on January 1st; though, this will be the first time they these teams have met on the first day of the year.
  • The Brisbane Heat have conceded one boundary for every 8.7 deliveries in the powerplay this BBL season, the least frequently of any team and 2.7 balls fewer than any other team in the competition (Perth Scorchers – 6.0).
  • Ben Duckett (Melbourne Stars) has scored 26 runs from sweep shots (incl. reverse sweeps) this BBL season, six more than any other player in the competition and more than three times as many as any Brisbane Heat player.

KFC BBL|14 standings

Team
Matches played
M
Wins
W
Losses
L
Ties
T
No results
N/R
Net Run Rate
NRR
Deductions
Ded.
Total points
PTS
1 Hobart Hurricanes Men Hobart Hurricanes Men HUR 10 7 2 0 1 -0.12 0 15
2 Sydney Sixers Men Sydney Sixers Men SIX 10 6 2 0 2 0.156 0 14
3 Sydney Thunder Men Sydney Thunder Men THU 10 5 3 0 2 0.34 0 12
4 Melbourne Stars Men Melbourne Stars Men STA 10 5 5 0 0 0.135 0 10
5 Perth Scorchers Men Perth Scorchers Men SCO 10 4 6 0 0 0.219 0 8
6 Melbourne Renegades Men Melbourne Renegades Men REN 10 4 6 0 0 0.139 0 8
7 Brisbane Heat Men Brisbane Heat Men HEA 10 3 6 0 1 -0.831 0 7
8 Adelaide Strikers Men Adelaide Strikers Men STR 10 3 7 0 0 -0.122 0 6

M: Matches played

W: Wins

L: Losses

T: Ties

N/R: No results

NRR: Net Run Rate

Ded.: Deductions

PTS: Total points

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