Last Updated on 1 year by Charbel Coorey

HEA vs STA Dream11 Prediction Fantasy Cricket Tips Possible XI Pitch Report: BBL 2023/24 Match 1 | BH vs MS Dream11 Prediction Today | Gabba Pitch Report

Just like that, another season of the Big Bash League (BBL) is upon us. Brisbane Heat and Melbourne Stars do battle in what promises to be a mouthwatering season opener at the Gabba despite the absence of a few key players.

Heat will be looking to go one better after losing the final in heartbreaking fashion in Perth last season. Test stars Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne will play this game, and they need to deliver with the hosts missing a few batting options due to other commitments. Also, how well the bowling attack can keep a strong-looking Stars side quiet will be interesting to see.

Stars will looking to go better full stop after finishing bottom in BBL 12. In a huge boost, they have the services of the brilliant Glenn Maxwell, who missed the previous edition due to the freak broken leg injury. New recruit Sam Harper will be seeking to hit the ground running, as will Marcus Stoinis who only showed glimpses in Australia’s recent white-ball trip to India.

Match Details

• Date: Thursday December 7, 2023.
• Time: 6:15pm (local), 1:45pm (IST).
• Location: Gabba, Brisbane.

HEA vs STA Possible Playing XIs

Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne are available for this match. Matt Renshaw, Jimmy Peirson, and Nathan McSweeney will play for the Prime Minister’s XI against Pakistan. Michael Neser was also meant to play in the PM’s XI game, but has pulled out due to sorness.

Spencer Johnson is expected to play after spending the last 10 weeks or so recovering from a badly torn hamstring.

Brisbane Heat: 1. Usman Khawaja (c), 2. Colin Munro, 3. Marnus Labuschagne, 4. Sam Billings (wk), 5. Max Bryant, 6. Paul Walter, 7. Jack Wildermuth, 8. Xavier Bartlett, 9. Mitchell Swepson, 10. Matthew Kuhnemann, 11. Spencer Johnson

Melbourne Stars have named their squad. Haris Rauf Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis will feature in this clash. New recruit Mark Steketee will not play in this game as he is in the PM’s XI squad vs Pakistan. Same with Beau Webster. Also, Imad Wasim is currently at the Abu Dhabi T10.

Haris Rauf is not in the squad for this match. England’s Olly Stone is available and could line up.

Melbourne Stars: 1. Sam Harper (wk), 2. Tom Rogers, 3. Hilton Cartwright, 4. Glenn Maxwell (c), 5. Joe Burns, 6. Marcus Stoinis, 7. Nathan Coulter-Nile, 8. Liam Dawson, 9. Brody Couch/Joel Paris, 10. Corey Rocchiccioli/Usama Mir, 11. Olly Stone

BBL 2023/24 Match 1: HEA vs STA Dream11 Prediction – Fantasy Cricket Tips

Brisbane Heat:

• Usman Khawaja is in great form and he was solid in last season’s BBL. In eight matches, the opener hit 249 runs at an average of 31.12 and strike rate of 137.56, including a top score of 137.56.
• Sam Billings‘ strike rate of 138.91 in T20s this year is his highest in a calendar year since 2018. Overall in the BBL, Billings has struck 1,014 runs at an average of 30.73 and strike rate of 141.62.
• Billings has a strong record at the Gabba: 5 inns, 198 runs, avg. 39.60, SR 169.23.
• English all-rounder Paul Walter needs to deliver right away with key Heat players missing. In 112 T20s, Walter has hit 1,551 runs at a strike rate of 143.87 and taken 62 wickets at a strike rate of 17.2.
• Mitch Swepson has the equal-most wickets in HEA-STA matches (16). Also, he concedes just 6.85 per over against them in 11 matches.
• Swepson could be a key bowler against Glenn Maxwell. The legspinner has dismissed Maxwell once and conceded just 29 runs off 29 deliveries.

Melbourne Stars:

• Glenn Maxwell is in rare form. He smashed 201* against Afghanistan and 104* against India in the space of a few weeks in November. So, he is well placed to overturn his shocking T20 record at the Gabba: 8 inns, 88 runs, avg. 11.00, SR 149.15.
• Sam Harper is fresh off one of the most memorable Sheffield Shield centuries. He hit 151 (104) when Victoria were 67/5 against South Australia back on November 28.
• Marcus Stoinis has fond memories of the Gabba. He has smashed 295 runs at an average of 59.00 and strike rate of 164.80 on this ground.
• Stoinis has smashed 64 off 39 against Mitch Swepson in T20s (one dismissal).
• Hilton Cartwright has excellent numbers for Stars against the Heat. He has smashed 206 runs since 2019 at an average of 51.50 and strike rate of 148.20.
• Nathan Coulter-Nile has picked up eight wickets in six innings vs. Heat since the start of 2020 (avg. 19.25, econ. 7.05).

Other Stats and Facts

• Head-to-head: Matches 18, Heat 11, Stars 7.
• Sam Harper vs. Xavier Bartlett: 21 balls, 31 runs, one dismissal.
• Hilton Cartwright’s T20 record at the Gabba: 4 inns, 125 runs, avg. 62.50, SR 145.35.

Gabba Brisbane Pitch Report and Weather

A clear and warm evening is forecast with a top temperature of about 27 degrees. In five matches in last season’s BBL, the average first innings score at the Gabba was 179, with the team batting first winning three times. Expect a true surface with good carry that is conducive to shot-making.

BBL 2023/24 Match 1: HEA vs STA Dream11 Prediction: Captain, vice-captain, team combination

Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article, as well as your own instincts, to create your teams.

Option 1:

Option 2:

BBL 2023/24 Match 1: HEA vs STA Match Prediction – Who will win?

Brisbane Heat are quite depleted, so Melbourne Stars look good for a win in this match.