Last Updated on 4 days by Charbel Coorey

BBL09 Match 15: MR vs AS Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | BBL09 Match Prediction Today | Melbourne Renegades vs Adelaide Strikers Prediction Today | Melbourne Renegades vs Adelaide Strikers Key Players | MR vs AS Dream11 Prediction

After one of the great BBL games, attention turns to Melbourne for a crucial game in the makeup of the BBL09 table.

Melbourne Renegades, reigning champions and one of the favourites for the BBL09 Title, have had a poor start to the campaign. Three losses in three is a slide to arrest fast, and they are back at the familiar surroundings of Marvel Stadium.

They play Adelaide Strikers; a side that, in contrast, has found ways to win. The Strikers have won two straight games on the back of inspired spells from their main bowlers at key times of the game.

Now, they can go to the top of the BBL09 standings with a win. Can they ramp up the pressure on Aaron Finch’s Renegades?

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

• Jake Weatherald (146), Alex Carey (145), Jono Wells (141) and Shaun Marsh (134) are all fighting for the yellow cap (top run-scorer). Callum Ferguson is currently leading with 156.
• Jake Weatherald is the current highest run-scorer in Renegades-Strikers matches (174 runs at 34.80). Last season vs Renegades: 32 (28) and 71 (44).
• Matt Short performed well vs Renegades last season (65 off 41 balls).
• Jono Wells has two fifties in three games in BBL09. He has shown quality on slower pitches, which is what Marvel Stadium usually provides.
• Marcus Harris vs Strikers: 155 runs at an average of 51.67.
• Aaron Finch vs Strikers: 3 matches, 36 runs, average 12. Is today the day he delivers against them?
• Billy Stanlake vs Renegades: Six wickets in three matches.
• Kane Richardson took 14 wickets in seven matches at Marvel Stadium last season.
• Peter Siddle, who has now retired from international cricket, is coming off a superb 3/24 to help win the last game vs Stars.
• Dan Christian has had a poor start to BBL09. He is low on runs and hasn’t been called on to bowl. However, he was man of the match against Strikers last season: 49* off 27 balls.
• Rashid Khan vs Renegades: Six wickets in four matches.
• Cameron Boyce has six wickets in his last three matches at Marvel Stadium, after going wicketless in the previous four games there.
• Harry Gurney has had a poor last two games: 1/55 (4) and 0/35 (3).

Head-to-Head

• Matches 10, Renegades 4, Strikers 6.
• Adelaide Strikers have won three of the past four matches between the teams.

Key to a Melbourne Renegades win

Melbourne Renegades’ BBL09 campaign can be summed up as follows: good moments mixed in with some awful ones. The BBL08 champions were on track for a good score last time out vs Hobart, before an awful collapse cost them a good total. Here, the top order needs to set a platform, of which the middle order, including Dan Christian, must build on.

Also, can the Renegades attack outplay the Strikers’? Jake Weatherald, Alex Carey and Jono Wells are the Strikers’ three key players, and if the Renegades can get the better of at least two of them, a victory may await. Can Harry Gurney improve on what has been an under-par tournament so far?

Key to an Adelaide Strikers win

Can Phil Salt announce himself in BBL cricket? He has had a poor start to life in the BBL, and a struggling Renegades side could be what he needs to deliver the goods. Indeed, Weatherald, Carey and Wells will be vital to a good score.

Also, watch out for Peter Siddle and Rashid Khan in leading the way for the Strikers. With a slow pitch usually the case at Marvel Stadium, those two can deliver eight overs of quality, setting the platform for the other bowlers to build on.

Possible Playing 11

The Renegades have made two changes to their 13-man squad. Pacer Joe Mennie and all-rounder Will Sutherland have come in for Jake Fraser-McGurk and Jack Wildermuth. Whether either line up remains to be seen.

Melbourne Renegades: 1. Sam Harper, 2. Aaron Finch (c), 3. Shaun Marsh, 4. Marcus Harris, 5. Beau Webster, 6. Tom Cooper, 7. Daniel Christian, 8. Cameron Boyce, 9. Richard Gleeson, 10. Kane Richardson, 11. Harry Gurney

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Leg-spinner Liam O’Connor comes into the Adelaide squad for Harry Conway. O’Connor has three wickets in two games against the Renegades, and could line up ahead of a seamer; perhaps Wes Agar.

Adelaide Strikers: 1. Phil Salt, 2. Jake Weatherald, 3. Matt Short, 4. Alex Carey (c & wk), 5. Jono Wells, 6. Cameron White, 7. Cameron Valente, 8. Rashid Khan, 9. Peter Siddle, 10. Wes Agar/Liam O’Connor, 11. Billy Stanlake

Docklands Pitch Report and Conditions

The weather in Melbourne is not an issue when a game is played at Marvel Stadium, as there is a roof. There is no risk of rain anyway, with a top of about 30 degrees by the time the first ball is bowled.

In terms of the pitch, the Marvel Stadium track almost always veers on the slow side. The average first innings score at Docklands was 138 in BBL08, so top order players will be key against the harder ball.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

Option 2:

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Match Prediction

Melbourne Renegades have been poor. Adelaide Strikers have been good.

So, the logical reasoning is the Strikers will win. However, the Renegades, back at home, might get the boost they need. Renegades to win in a close one.

Thanks for reading!