The Heat host the winless Melbourne Stars in the New Year's Bash at the Gabba
Brisbane Heat v Melbourne Stars: match preview
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
Cooper Connolly
C Connolly
|
272 |
|
2
Marcus Stoinis
M Stoinis
|
194 |
|
3
David Warner
D Warner
|
178 |
|
4
James Vince
J Vince
|
175 |
|
5
Josh Philippe
J Philippe
|
154 |
|
6
Max Bryant
M Bryant
|
153 |
|
7
Mitchell Owen
M Owen
|
152 |
|
8
D'Arcy Short
D Short
|
151 |
Most Wickets
BBL|14 BKT Golden Arm
| Player | Total |
|---|---|
|
1
Ben Dwarshuis
B Dwarshuis
|
10 |
|
2
Tom Rogers
T Rogers
|
10 |
|
3
Henry Thornton
H Thornton
|
10 |
|
4
Jason Behrendorff
J Behrendorff
|
10 |
|
5
Xavier Bartlett
X Bartlett
|
9 |
|
6
Jamie Overton
J Overton
|
9 |
|
7
Lloyd Pope
L Pope
|
9 |
|
8
Chris Green
C Green
|
8 |
Most sixes scored
BBL|14
| Player | Total |
|---|---|
|
1
Cooper Connolly
C Connolly
|
14 |
|
2
Finn Allen
F Allen
|
9 |
|
3
Josh Brown
J Brown
|
9 |
|
4
Max Bryant
M Bryant
|
8 |
|
5
Jamie Overton
J Overton
|
8 |
|
6
Mitchell Owen
M Owen
|
7 |
|
7
Matthew Renshaw
M Renshaw
|
7 |
|
8
D'Arcy Short
D Short
|
7 |
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 | M | W | L | T | N/R | NRR | Ded. | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
SIX
|
6 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.228 | 0 | 9 |
|
2
THU
|
5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.309 | 0 | 8 |
|
3
SCO
|
6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.785 | 0 | 6 |
|
4
HUR
|
4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -0.301 | 0 | 6 |
|
5
HEA
|
6 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | -0.727 | 0 | 5 |
|
6
REN
|
5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.547 | 0 | 4 |
|
7
STR
|
6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | -0.235 | 0 | 4 |
|
8
STA
|
6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | -0.672 | 0 | 2 |
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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