The Melbourne Stars host the Sydney Sixers at the MCG in a high-stakes clash that could shape the mid-table scramble of BBL|15. With the Stars sitting 3rd and the Sixers 4th, this match is a battle for momentum as the tournament heads toward the business end.
The headline act for this fixture is the family feud. Tom Curran has been a standout for the Stars with both bat and ball this season, playing a crucial cameo in the recent derby. He now faces his younger brother, Sam Curran, who has joined the Sydney Sixers squad. Sam’s arrival adds world-class all-round depth to the Sixers, and seeing the two brothers go head-to-head at the ‘G will be a marquee moment for the league.
The Stars started the season on fire with four straight wins but have hit a speed bump, losing their last two matches (against the Heat and the Renegades). The form of Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis with the bat. Both failed in the derby, and the Stars rely heavily on their explosive middle order. The top order, led by the tournament’s leading run-scorer Sam Harper, has been doing the heavy lifting.
The Sixers have had a rollercoaster season, currently sitting on 3 wins and 3 losses. They come into this match off a gritty win against the Brisbane Heat in a low-scoring thriller. The inclusion of Curran is massive. He replaces Kane Richardson (omitted/rested) or likely slots in for a rotational player to bolster the bowling and lower-order hitting. Babar Azam has shown flashes of class but will be keen to dominate on the big MCG stage.
MS vs SS, BBL|15: Match details
- Date and Time: January 08; 01:00 pm IST / 9:15 am GMT / 7:15 pm Local
- Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
MS vs SS, Head-to-Head Record in BBL
Matches played: 25 | Melbourne Stars won: 09 | Sydney Sixers won: 15 | No result/Tied: 01
Melbourne Cricket Ground Pitch Report
The pitch has been generally balanced this season. In the recent derby, the Stars posted 173, which was chased down, suggesting a good batting deck that offers value for shots. The big boundaries at the MCG always bring the spinners into play, but the seamers (Rauf, Siddle, Abbott) will enjoy the carry early on. Batting second has been slightly favorable at the MCG recently, as teams can pace their chase on the large outfield.
Squads:
Melbourne Stars: Thomas Rogers, Sam Harper (wk), Campbell Kellaway, Blake Macdonald, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis (c), Hilton Cartwright, Tom Curran, Mitchell Swepson, Haris Rauf, Peter Siddle, Sam Hain, Liam Hatcher, Hamish McKenzie
Sydney Sixers: Daniel Hughes, Babar Azam, Josh Philippe (wk), Moises Henriques (c), Jordan Silk, Jack Edwards, Joel Davies, Ben Manenti, Hayden Kerr, Ben Dwarshuis, Sean Abbott, Sam Curran, Mitchell Perry, Lachlan Shaw
MS vs SS, BBL|15: Today’s Match Prediction
Case 1:
- Melbourne Stars wins the toss and bowls first
- Sydney Sixers’ powerplay score: 50-55 (6 overs)
- Sydney Sixers’ total score: 170-180
Case 2:
- Sydney Sixers wins the toss and bowls first
- Melbourne Stars’ powerplay score: 45-50 (6 overs)
- Melbourne Stars’ total score: 160-170
Match result: Team bowling first to win the contest.
