Last Updated on 1 month by Charbel Coorey
The 14th edition of the Big Bash League (BBL) 2024/25 is all set to start from December 15. After the Indian Premier League, it is safe to say that the BBL is one of the biggest T20 leagues in the world.
Teams have started their preparations for the competition in the quest to knock Brisbane Heat, who emerged victorious during the previous edition, off their perch.
Melbourne Stars, as well as the Melbourne Renegades, were recently seen training ahead of the tournament. Both the Melbourne-based teams were recently seen sweating out in the middle. While the Renegades won their first and only title during the 2017/18 season, the Stars are yet to get their hands on the trophy. Thus, both teams would want to script history. Besides, the Stars and Renegades have developed their own rivalry over the years.
Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades play practice match ahead of BBL 2024/25
Both teams were seen practicing on the same ground at the Junction Oval on Thursday. As a matter of fact, they even had a practice match after their respective sessions. Stars from both sides were seen playing this unofficial game. The likes of Tom Curran, Peter Siddle and of course, Stars’ newly-appointed skipper Marcus Stoinis, were a part of this match for the Green brigade.
Having said that, it was the Renegades who had the last laugh as they scored more runs than the Stars. Renegades scored a massive 210 while losing six wickets during the first innings. After which, they restricted the Stars to 140-9.
During and after this practice match, several star players were seen training. This includes the likes of Jake Fraser-McGurk, Marcus Harris, Adam Zampa, Kane Richardson and Will Sutherland for the Renegades. Although the Renegades managed to win the practice match, it was Australia and Stars superstar Glenn Maxwell who received all the limelight during today’s session.
While covering the media and training sessions, Arvind Kalyana Krishnan also noticed that the former Melbourne Stars skipper Glenn Maxwell was part of the training drills and was seen practicing alongside his fellow teammates. In an exclusive video by Arvind Kalyana Krishnan, the “Big Show” was seen giving catches to keeper Sam Harper.
Despite not being the Stars skipper anymore, all eyes will be on the star all-rounder as his recent form hasn’t been great, to say the least. Stars’ new skipper Stoinis was vocal about Maxwell and was clearly seen with the “Big Show” and supported him during the press conference earlier as well. This indicated that the former and current Stars skipper would want to fire together, and get their hands on the trophy that has eluded their franchise.
Australia’s legendary cricketer Meg Lanning was also watching their training sessions, as well as their practice match. The former Australia Women’s captain was present at the Junction Oval in Melbourne too. With the media events and pre-tournament training in full flow, both teams looked set and were rearing to get on the field. Some of the younger stars like Fergus O’Neill, Campbell Kellaway, Jonathan Merlo and of course, Jake Fraser-McGurk spent relatively more time in the middle as compared to the senior players.
The opening game of the BBL 2024/25 shall see the Stars take on the Perth Scorchers on Sunday in Perth. As for the 2018/19 champions, they are set to face the Sydney Sixers on Monday at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The “Melbourne Derby” is slated to take place on January 4. All eyes will be on how both the Melbourne-based teams perform in the BBL 2024/25 and each team is aiming for an improved season.
