BBL 8: Match 10, Sydney Sixers vs Melbourne Stars, Match Prediction – Who will win the match?

Will the Stars be able to avoid the hat-trick of losses?

Published - 26 Dec 2018, 18:42 IST | Updated - 26 Dec 2018, 18:42 IST

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After a Christmas Day break, the Australian T20 extravaganza, Big Bash League (BBL), has got going once again. In the 10th match of the season, the Sydney Sixers will host the struggling Melbourne Stars at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). Both the teams are coming off thumping losses in their respective previous games and would be keen to getting back on track.

The Sixers suffered a massive collapse while batting and the lower-order showed amazing grit to bring down the margin of defeat. The top-order of the Sixers is yet to fire in any capacity in the two matches they’ve played so far and the time has come for them to step up. They will also feel familiar returning to the home ground having won their season opener against Perth Scorchers.

The Stars led by Glenn Maxwell have a plethora of problems to deal with. They are languishing at the bottom of points table at the moment and are one of the only two teams which is yet to register a win. Their first game was curtailed due to rain while they failed to put up enough runs on the board against the Hurricanes at the Bellerive Oval.

Pitch and Conditions

The conditions in Sydney will be pleasant for a game of cricket on Thursday as the temperatures will hover in the late 20s and there will be a breeze across the ground. As far as the pitch is concerned, the spinners will get a lot of help and batting first will be a wise choice for the team winning the toss.

Team Combinations

Sydney Sixers

The Sixers have left out Lloyd Pope out of the 12-man squad announced for this game. The off-spinner Ben Manenti has earned a call-up and might make his debut for the Sixers as the track will be helpful for the spinners definitely. Having said that, the likes of Jack Edwards, Joe Denly and Moises Henriques have to get the team off to a good start after which Jordan Silk and Daniel Hughes will be able to capitalise.

The bowling attack is a decent one with Tom Curran and Sean Abbott leading the way. They also batted well in the previous match but would be hoping that their batsmen do the job this time around.

Probable XI: Jack Edwards, Joe Denly, Moises Henriques (c), Jordan Silk, Daniel Hughes, Josh Phillipe (wk), Tom Curran, Sean Abbott, Steve O’Keefe, Ben Dwarshius, Ben Manenti.

Melbourne Stars

Peter Handscomb has been released from Australian Test squad to participate in this game while Travis Dean has been dropped from the 13-man squad. Nick Larkin and Ben Dunk will open the innings now as Handscomb, Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis will form a formidable middle-order. Dwayne Bravo and Evan Gulbis are the all-rounder but are more known for their bowling heroics.

Sandeep Lamichhane has been the star performer for them so far and will be key at the SCG along with Adam Zampa. Scott Boland and Jackson Coleman are the pace bowlers even as the chances of Jackson Bird playing can’t be ruled out.

Probable XI: Nick Larkin, Ben Dunk (wk), Peter Handscomb, Glenn Maxwell (c), Marcus Stoinis, Dwayne Bravo, Evan Gulbis, Adam Zampa, Scott Boland, Sandeep Lamichhane, Jackson Coleman/Jackson Bird.