Last Updated on 1 month by Charbel Coorey

HUR vs STA Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report: BBL 2021/22 Match 19 | HUR vs STA Dream11 Prediction Today | Hurricanes vs Stars Key Players | Hobart Pitch Report

It has the potential to be a Christmas cracker. Hobart Hurricanes and Melbourne Stars, two sides who have high aspirations in this season’s BBL, do battle in an important Christmas Eve clash.

Hurricanes, after their great victory over champions Sydney Sixers, were belted twice by the Perth Scorchers on this ground. The form of D’Arcy Short is a worry, which places greater emphasis on the performances of Matthew Wade at the top. Their attack has quality and balance, but they aren’t performing to their potential yet, and this is the perfect opportunity to do so in front of their home fans.

Similar applies to the Stars. They have won two and lost two (while the Hurricanes have lost three), but there are still question marks around the Stars’ ability to perform in the crunch moments. Now, they have the chance to move up the table after a break of nine days, with attention on how Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell can lead from the front.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Hobart Hurricanes:

• D’Arcy Short is struggling this season, striking at just 102.98. He has a score of 96* vs Stars, but that was against a depleted Stars side a few years ago. He averages 24.38 against them overall in nine games.
• It is a big match for Matthew Wade. The skipper scored just 4 and 13 since his brilliant 93 (46) vs Sydney Sixers. He has scored 211 runs in seven matches vs Stars at an average of 30.11 and strike rate of 127.88.
• Surprisingly, Wade doesn’t enjoy batting at Bellerive Oval too much. In 19 innings, he has struck 418 runs at an average of 24.59 and strike rate of 144.14. He has the ability to turn this around.
• Ben McDermott smashed 91 off 58 balls the last time he played the Stars. He took the Hurricanes close to the Stars’ 183 that day. Overall, he has scored 273 runs in eight matches against them at an average of 39.00 and strike rate of 123.53.
• McDermott has scored the fifth-most runs of any player in T20s at Bellerive Oval (656, avg. 36.44, SR 125.43).
• Hobart Hurricanes subbed Riley Meredith out in a strange decision last match. Meredith has the most wickets of any Hurricanes bowler against the Stars in BBL (10 wickets, avg. 17.80, econ. 6.72).
• Nathan Ellis is the Hurricanes’ equal top wicket-taker this season (5). Ellis has taken five wickets in four matches vs Stars at an economy rate of just 6.00. Also, he has taken 16 wickets in 12 matches on this ground at an average of 20.94 and economy rate of 7.36.
• Tom Rogers has taken five wickets in three matches this season (avg. 17.00, econ. 7.72).

Melbourne Stars:

• Marcus Stoinis is yet to fire in BBL 11 (47 runs, avg. 15.66), but today could be the day. He smashed 97* off 55 balls in his last match against the Hurricanes, back in January.
• Stoinis has a great record vs Hurricanes overall: 9 inns, 278 runs, avg. 55.60, SR 134.30. Also, Stoinis has struck 150 runs on this ground at an average of 50 and strike rate of 135.13. 50+ score coming today?
• Glenn Maxwell is coming off a masterful century nine days ago vs Sixers (103 off 57 balls). The skipper has the most runs in Stars-Hurricanes matches, with 325 in 11 innings at a brilliant average and strike rate of 46.43 and 163.32.
• Also, Maxwell loves batting on this ground. In eight innings, he has smashed 347 runs at an average of 69.40 and strike rate of 164.46, including two 50s and a century.
• Hilton Cartwright has looked solid in the middle order this season (98 runs, avg. 32.66, SR 136.11). He will be looking to improve on his career record vs Hurricanes: 8 inns, 136 runs, avg. 22.67, SR 106.17.
• Andre Russell has not been dismissed in any of his last four innings (90*, 17*, 42*, 12*). He has been hitting the ball beautifully in recent times, so the Stars should try to give him as much time at the crease as possible.
• Nathan Coulter-Nile will be key in leading the pace department. He has seven wickets in six matches vs Hurricanes, including two in his only match for the Stars against the Hurricanes so far.
• Brody Couch has been impressive so far in BBL 11. The seamer has six wickets to his name in four matches at an average of 17.83 and strike rate of 13.0.

Stats and Facts

• Head-to-head: Matches 15, Hurricanes 5, Stars 10.
• Stars have won four out of the six meetings against Hurricanes at Bellerive Oval, including a 10-run win last season.
• Qais Ahmed has seven matches of experience on this ground, where he bowled for the Hurricanes. He took eight wickets in these matches at an average of 26.75 and economy rate of 8.56.

Possible Playing 11

Hobart Hurricanes have named an unchanged squad. Englishman Harry Brook waits in the wings, and surely he deserves a crack as the middle order continues to misfire.

Hobart Hurricanes: 1. Matthew Wade (c & wk), 2. D’Arcy Short, 3. Ben McDermott, 4. Caleb Jewell, 5. Peter Handscomb/Harry Brook, 6. Tim David, 7. Jordan Thompson, 8. Nathan Ellis, 9. Tom Rogers, 10. Riley Meredith, 11. Sandeep Lamichhane

Melbourne Stars have also named their squad. Adam Zampa is unavailable for this clash.

Melbourne Stars: 1. Marcus Stoinis, 2. Joe Clarke (wk), 3. Glenn Maxwell (c), 4. Nick Larkin, 5. Hilton Cartwright, 6. Andre Russell, 7. Beau Webster, 8. Nathan Coulter-Nile, 9. Clint Hincliffe, 10. Brody Couch, 11. Qais Ahmed

Bellerive Oval Hobart Pitch Report and Weather

This has the potential to be a very high-scoring match. The Perth Scorchers struck 183 and 167 in their two matches here recently and won both games. The shorter boundaries – particularly square of the wicket – should give the batsmen a good advantage.

A pleasant day is forecast in Hobart, with a top of about 24 degrees and partly cloudy conditions.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

Option 2:

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

• Wicket-keepers: Matthew Wade, Ben McDermott
• Batsmen: Marcus Stoinis
• All-rounders: Glenn Maxwell
• Bowlers: Nathan Ellis, Brody Couch

Match Prediction

Batting first and getting 170+ on the board will be key. The Stars seem in better form, but the Hurricanes, particularly if the top order fires, can win this. This could ultimately come down to which top order performs better.