Melbourne Stars vs Brisbane Heat, Big Bash League 2020-21, Today Match Prediction 11 Dec 2020

mls vs brh Match Prediction & Analysis

Melbourne Stars who have been runner-up for the last two seasons would be starting their campaign as they take on the Brisbane Heat in the 2nd game of the Big Bash League 2020-21. Brisbane Heat would look to put behind the poor show in the last few seasons. Both the sides would start with a fresh mind with this being their respective first games and look for their first points of the season here.  

Melbourne Stars have one of the strongest outfits in this tournament and most of their players have played together for the last few seasons and known each other’s game well. Brisbane Heat has been in the bottom of the points table for the last few seasons and this increases the pressure on the side. It will be an interesting game as both the teams would look to kick start the season with a win. 

TEAMS PREVIEW

Melbourne Stars Preview

Glenn Maxwell would be eager to start the season on a positive note after finishing one step short of a title in the last two seasons. The side has a strong group of players who have done well in the last two seasons and would be looking for a good show from them here. Maxwell would know the importance of a good start and want his team to fire all cylinders. 

The side would look for a good start from Marcus Stoinis and Nic Maddinson. This pair had done well for them last season. In the middle order the side has good strength with Maxwell, Nick Larkin and Andre Fletcher in the team and they can hit the ball miles. Ben Dunk and Nicholas Pooran with their hitting abilities are assets for the side down the order and they would be expected to do well. 

As far as the side’s bowling is concerned they would be looking for a good start with the new ball from Billy Stanlake and Nathan Coulter-Nile. Adam Zampa has enjoyed good form this summer and he would be expected to do maximum damage for the side. Zahir Khan, Maxwell and Stoinis complete a strong bowling attack for the team.

Melbourne Stars Predicted Playing XI:

Glenn Maxwell (c), Marcus Stoinis, Nic Maddinson, Andre Fletcher, Nick Larkin, Ben Dunk, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Adam Zampa, Billy Stanlake, Zahir Khan

Melbourne Stars Actual Playing XI:

ADS Fletcher, Hilton Cartwright, Dilbar Hussain, Glenn Maxwell, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Clint Hinchliffe, N Larkin, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa, Billy Stanlake, Ben Dunk

Brisbane Heat Preview

Chris Lynn would be looking to put behind the poor show of the last season where they failed to qualify for the playoffs. They have been struggling at the bottom of the points table for the last three seasons. This is something that Lynn would like to get over and he would be hoping for a good show here that can set the tone for rest of the tournament. 

Lynn and Sam Heazlett form a strong opening pair and they would look to provide the side with an electrifying start in the game. Max Bryant and Daniel Lawrence are a strong hand for the side in the middle order and lot would be expected from them in this game. Lewis Gregory, Tom Cooper and Jimmy Peirson with their hitting abilities will look to put up a good show here. 

They will need early wickets from Ben Laughlin and Mujeeb Ur Rahman as the stars have a very strong batting line-up. Morne Morkel and Gregory bring in lot of experience to the table as far as bowling in this format is concerned. With Jack Wildermuth and Mark Steketee in the side there is good depth in the bowling.

Brisbane Heat Predicted Playing XI:

Chris Lynn (c), Sam Heazlett, Max Bryant, Daniel Lawrence, Lewis Gregory, Tom Cooper, Jimmy Peirson (wk), Ben Laughlin, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Jack Wildermuth, Mark Steketee

Brisbane Heat Actual Playing XI:

Simon Milenko, TLW Cooper, Daniel Lawrence, Sam Heazlett, Jimmy Peirson, Xavier Bartlett, Ben Laughlin, Jack Wood, Max Bryant, Matthew Kuhnemann, Chris Lynn

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

There would be light cloud cover over Canberra on December 11 but it is unlikely to turn the conditions in favor of the bowlers. The pitch would be a good one to bat on as we saw during the Australia-India game recently. The side winning the toss here would be happy with a score around the 170 run mark.

Venue Details

Manuka Oval, Canberra has short boundaries around the square and this makes it an ideal venue for playing strokes for the batsmen. The ball comes on to the bat nicely here. Fast bowlers do get assistance early on with the new ball but this can be a very difficult venue for the spinners with the size of the boundaries.

Toss: To Bowl

This will be first game of the season for both the sides and hence they will like to play safe. Teams that have chased at his venue have won more games in the BBL. Thus we believe the side that wins the toss in this game is likely to invite the opposition to bat and apply pressure on them.