Last Updated on 4 months by Charbel Coorey

STA vs HUR Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report: BBL 2021/22 Match 56 | STA vs HUR Dream11 Prediction | Stars vs Hurricanes Key Players | MCG Pitch Report

This match had the potential to be a straight shootout for a playoffs spot. However, after Hobart Hurricanes snuck home last night vs Melbourne Renegades, the Melbourne Stars are out of the running.

It confirms what has been a tough season for the Stars. Stricken by inconsistency and then COVID-19, Glenn Maxwell and his team have not been able to string together any decent run of form. However, they have the chance to end on a high, and with two wins from their past three matches, they have some confidence heading into this clash.

The Hurricanes need to fine-tune their game further ahead of the finals. For long periods it seemed they would lose to the bottom-placed Renegades yesterday, but some good bowling (and questionable Renegades tactics) got them over the line. Today will be a good test against a strong team with nothing to lose.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Melbourne Stars

• Joe Clarke has been a shining light in a difficult season for the Stars. He smashed 62 off 36 balls in his last match (vs Heat), part of 384 runs this season at an average of 32.00 and strike rate of 148.26. This includes a 40-ball 52 vs Hurricanes earlier in BBL 11.
• Glenn Maxwell has an outstanding record vs Hurricanes. The Stars’ skipper has struck 337 runs in 12 innings against them at an average of 42.13 and strike rate of 162.02.
• Maxwell has found some form in recent games, striking 68*, 16 and 37 in his last three matches. Also, the captain has the most T20 runs at the MCG (1,114 runs, avg. 30.94, SR 140.66).
• Marcus Stoinis was back to his damaging best last game vs Heat (29* off 10 balls). He loves playing the Hurricanes, with 296 runs in 10 innings at an average of 49.33 and strike rate of 132.74.
• Hilton Cartwright has struck the second-most runs for the Stars this season. The right-hander has 360 runs to his name at an average of 32.72 and strike rate of 144.57.
• Can Adam Zampa build on his six wickets in seven matches vs Hurricanes? He has a fine record at the MCG, with 40 wickets in 29 innings at an average of 18.55 and strike rate of 16.38.
• Nathan Coulter-Nile has taken at least one wicket in each of his last four matches (total of five wickets). He has four wickets to his name in two matches for the Stars against Hurricanes (avg. 9.00, econ. 6.00).

Hobart Hurricanes:

• Ben McDermott started his amazing run of form in BBL 11 against the Stars, with a 43-ball 67 on Christmas Eve. He has the most runs of any player this season, ammassing 516 runs at an average of 51.60 and strike rate of 152.21.
• McDermott’s career record vs Stars: 9 inns, 340 runs, avg. 42.50, SR 128.79.
• Caleb Jewell has played nicely since moving to opener in the last two games: 51 (32) and 35 (28).
• Matthew Wade has also struck form at the right part of the season. The skipper has hit 83* (54) and 48 (39) in his last two innings.
• Wade averages 30 in five innings vs Stars, and has an excellent record at the MCG. The left-hander has scored 534 runs in 18 T20 innings on this ground at an average of 41.08 and strike rate of 139.43.
• D’Arcy Short looked to be finding his best form yesterday with 37 off 22 balls vs Renegades. He has a sub-par record vs Stars (221 runs, avg. 24.56, SR 138.99), so it will be interesting to see how he fares today.
• Short at the MCG: 7 inns, 276 runs, avg. 55.20, SR 128.97.
• Tom Rogers is the Hurricanes’ leading wicket-taker in BBL 11 (12 matches, 18 wickets, avg. 19.38, SR 15.0). He took 3/29 vs Stars on Christmas Eve in a death-bowling clinic.
• Riley Meredith (3/29 and 1/27 in his last two matches) has a good record vs Stars. The pacer has taken 13 wickets in eight matches at an average of 16.15 and economy rate of 6.89, as well as eight wickets in four matches at MCG.
• Scott Boland is set to return after a dream Ashes series which included a remarkable 6/7 on this ground. Boland has three wickets in two matches vs Stars (avg. 22.33, econ. 8.11), as well as 22 wickets in 16 matches at the MCG (avg. 21.27, SR 16.68).

Stats and Facts

• Head-to-head: Matches 16, Stars 10, Hurricanes 6.
• Hurricanes (180/6) beat Stars (156/9) by 24 runs earlier in BBL 11.
• The Hurricanes can still finish as high as second provided the Sixers and Thunder pick up no points today.

Possible Playing 11

Melbourne Stars have named their squad for this match.

Melbourne Stars: 1. Joe Clarke (wk), 2. Glenn Maxwell (c), 3. Hilton Cartwright, 4. Marcus Stoinis, 5. Beau Webster, 6. Joe Burns, 7. Nathan Coulter-Nile, 8. Clint Hinchliffe, 9. Ahmad Deniyal, 10. Sam Rainbird, 11. Adam Zampa

Scott Boland is available for the Hurricanes in this match.

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

MCG Pitch Report and Weather

The average first innings score at the MCG in BBL 11 is 149.16, with the chasing team winning five of the six matches. A warm and clear day is forecast for Melbourne.

Dream11 Prediction

Note: The below teams are not based on final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time.

Option 1:

Option 2:

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

• Wicket-keepers: Matthew Wade, Ben McDermott, Joe Clarke
• Batsmen: Hilton Cartwright, Caleb Jewell
• All-rounders: Glenn Maxwell
• Bowlers: Nathan Coulter-Nile, Riley Meredith

Match Prediction

Hurricanes are in the playoffs, but the Stars are playing better cricket in recent games. A tough pick, but the Stars might sneak a win at home.