Melbourne Stars vs Brisbane Heat (MLSvBRH): The 51th Match of KFC BBL 2021-22 will be played between these two teams MLS vs BRH, The match will begin on 16 January 2022 at 01:45 PM IST.
Key Points:
- Brisbane Heat will be at full-strength for this match
- Melbourne Stars have a strong batting lineup but their best players look a bit short on form
- The bowling attack of Brisbane Heat is going to be much stronger with Mitch Swepson and Michael Neser back in the lineup
Team Analysis:
The Melbourne Stars were defeated quite comprehensively by the Adelaide Strikers and it absolutely must win its two remaining matches to try and make it to the BBL 2021-22 playoffs. Up next is the Brisbane Heat, a team whose entire season has been ruined by a COVID outbreak in the camp. A number of players are returning for Brisbane Heat for this match but with just three wins from eleven matches, its chances of qualifying for the playoffs are all but over.
Match Details:
Date: January 16, 2022
Time: 01:45 PM (IST)
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Live Streaming: Sony LIV App
TV: Sony Sports Network
Pitch and Weather Conditions:
The conditions in Melbourne are expected to be quite good for cricket and no rain has been forecast for match day. The pitch is going to be flat with a nice amount of pace in it. The relaid surface of the MCG has lived up to the promise and been much better to play on this season. The par score batting first should be something around 150-160.
Team Preview:
Melbourne Stars (MLS):
The Melbourne Stars are almost back to full-strength with Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Joe Burns, and Adam Zampa all playing the previous match. Unfortunately for them, it was not enough to avoid defeat and leaves the Stars with a tough ask in their remaining two matches.
Joe Clarke and Hilton Cartwright have been batting quite well and certainly add a lot of depth to the batting lineup. It is tough for the Stars to keep adjusting with different players available for different matches but there is no doubt that it does have the talent on paper. We don’t think you should judge it too harshly after one poor performance.
Adam Zampa and Glenn Maxwell are going to lead the bowling attack while Brody Couch, Sam Rainbird, and possibly Nathan Coulter-Nile are going to all be the seamers in the lineup. Marcus Stoinis did not bowl in his first match back but he too can chip in if needed.
Likely XI: Marcus Stoinis, Hilton Cartwright, Glenn Maxwell, Joe Clarke, BJ Webster, Joe Burns, Clint Hinchliffe, Ahmed Daniyal, Sam Rainbird, Adam Zampa, Brody Couch.
Please check the team once when Playing XI Announced.
Brisbane Heat (BRH):
Brisbane Heat played a couple of matches with a largely inexperienced team that tried its best but was unable to pull off an upset. It should have almost its entire first-choice team back for this match and be able to put up a much stronger fight. Fakhar Zaman, Chris Lynn, Jimmy Pierson, Max Bryant, Ben Duckett, and James Bazley are all going to be available for selection.
Heat will also welcome back Michael Neser and Mitch Swepson for this match, both of whom will strengthen the bowling attack and lengthen the batting lineup.
Brisbane Heat was just beginning to gain some momentum when it got struck by the COVID outbreak and it is a bit unfair to expect it to jump back at the same level once more. We do think, though, that this is a team that can quite easily match or even overpower the Melbourne Stars.
It has the power in the batting and now its bowling lineup is probably at its strongest as well.
Likely XI: Chris Lynn, Nathan McSweeney, Ben Duckett, Sam Heazlett, Jake Lehmann, Xavier Bartlett, Will Prestwidge, Matt Kuhnemann, Liam Guthrie, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Lachlan Pfeffer.
Please check the team once when Playing XI Announced.
Squads:
Melbourne Stars Squad: Hilton Cartwright, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Seb Gotch, Liam Hatcher, Clint Hinchliffe, Nick Larkin, Glenn Maxwell (c), Tom O’Connell, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa, Joe Burns, Sam Rainbird, Joe Clarke, Qais Ahmad, Sam Elliot, Beau Webster
Brisbane Heat Squad: Xavier Bartlett, Tom Cooper, Sam Heazlett, Chris Lynn, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Jimmy Pierson (c), Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Williams, Marnus Labuschagne, Michael Neser, Ben Duckett, Tom Abell, Jack Wildermuth, James Bazley, Matt Kuhnemann, Max Bryant, Connor Sully