Last Updated on 4 months by Charbel Coorey

STA vs STR Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report: BBL 2021/22 Match 44 | STA vs STR Dream11 Prediction Today | Stars vs Strikers Key Players | MCG Pitch Report

The 10th of January 2021 is a good day for Melbourne Stars. They welcome back a number of players after the franchise was ravaged by COVID-19, with Adam Zampa not mincing his words about how his team were required to play amid the chaos.

Nevertheless, they enter this game just five points outside the top five with two games in hand. Victory here puts them within striking distance of the playoffs places, and more importantly, they can build some confidence. Zampa will lead the side, with the likes of Marcus Stoinis, Joe Clarke and Joe Burns all back on deck.

So, it promises to be an interesting match against Adelaide Strikers who broke their losing streak with an excellent win over Hobart Hurricanes last week. Peter Siddle was brilliant with a five-wicket haul, while Matt Short impressed with bat and ball. Both will be key today, particularly with Matt Renshaw ruled out with COVID-19.

Like the Stars, the Strikers will be looking to make a move towards the top five. An important game.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Melbourne Stars:

• Marcus Stoinis is back on deck in a boost for the Stars. He has the most runs in Stars-Strikers matches, with 241 runs at an average of 30.13 and strike rate of 110.05. He scored 47 (31) and 13 (26) against them last season.
• Stoinis has the fourth-most runs in T20s at the MCG. The opener has struck 839 runs at an average of 32.27 and strike rate of 128.68.
• Joe Clarke will also be looking to make an immediate impact on his return. The Englishman was outstanding before he tested positive to COVID-19, striking three half-centuries in a row (52, 85, 52).
• Hilton Cartwright has been one of the Stars’ top performers this season. He has struck 256 runs in eight matches at an average of 36.57 and strike rate of 147.97.
• Cartwright will be aiming to improve on his record vs Strikers (90 runs, avg. 22.57) on a ground he enjoys batting at (326 runs, avg. 65.20, SR 141.13).
• Brody Couch will also return for this match. He is the Stars’ leading wicket-taker this season with 11 wickets in eight matches at an average of 20.36 and economy rate of 8.61.
• Haris Rauf has took just one wicket in his two matches vs Strikers last season (avg. 43, econ. 10.75), but he is always capable of taking wickets. He has nine scalps to his name in six matches on this ground (avg. 16.44, econ. 7.05).
• Adam Zampa has taken eight wickets in seven matches vs Strikers at an average of 21.75 and economy rate of 7.25. Also, no bowler has taken more T20 wickets on this ground than Zampa (36 wickets in 27 innings, avg. 19.39, econ. 6.90).

Adelaide Strikers:

• Matt Short is coming off a player of the match performance last week vs Hurricanes. He took 1/25 with the ball and then smashed 72* (44) with the bat to take his season’s run tally to 257 runs in nine matches at an average of 32.12 and strike rate of 161.63.
• Short has played just four career matches vs Stars so far, scoring just the 30 runs so far. He will be aiming to imprvove on this today.
• Jake Weatherald is averaging just 18.12 in nine matches this season. Plus, he averages just 14.00 in eight matches vs Stars. Can he turn these numbers around today.
• Jono Wells has an excellent record against the Stars since 2018. He has struck 222 runs in six innings in this period at an average of 74.00 and strike rate of 141.40.
• Rashid Khan has taken seven wickets in six matches vs Stars at an average of 21.29 and economy rate of 6.21. He has similar numbers in BBL 11, with 13 wickets in nine matches at an average of 18.92 and economy rate of 6.83.
• Peter Siddle, who took five wickets last game vs Hurricanes (5/23), has taken a remarkable eight wickets in three matches vs Stars since 2018 (avg. 11.25, econ. 7.50).

Stats and Facts

• Head-to-head: Matches 13, Stars 6, Strikers 7.
• Strikers have won three of the last four matches vs Stars.
• However, they were bowled out for 68 in their last match vs Stars at the MCG, one year ago. Adam Zampa took 5/17.

Possible Playing 11

Melbourne Stars welcome a number of players back after COVID-19 isolation. They will field a stronger team for this match. Adam Zampa will captain the team.

Melbourne Stars: 1. Marcus Stoinis, 2. Joe Clarke (wk), 3. Nick Larkin, 4. Joe Burns, 5. Hilton Cartwright, 6. Beau Webster, 7. Xavier Crone, 8. Adam Zampa (c), 9. Haris Rauf, 10. Brody Couch, 11. Qais Ahmed

Matt Renshaw is out after testing positive for COVID-19. Strikers are yet to name their official squad yet for this match.

Adelaide Strikers: 1. Matt Short, 2. Henry Hunt, 3. Jake Weatherald, 4. Jono Wells, 5. Thomas Kelly, 6. Harry Nielsen (wk), 7. Rashid Khan, 8. Peter Siddle (c), 9. Wes Agar, 10. Daniel Worrall, 11. Harry Conway

MCG Pitch Report and Weather

It is a beautiful day in Melbourne today with a top of about 26 degrees. It is also a good-looking pitch, with the Hurricanes-Thunder match taking place earlier in the day.

Earlier this season, Stars defended 165 vs Thunder and then Sixers chased 178 vs Stars. Last game on this ground, a very weakened Stars side scored 126 vs Renegades. It is a stronger Stars side today.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

Option 2:

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

• Wicket-keepers: Joe Clarke
• Batsmen: Marcus Stoinis, Hilton Cartwright, Jono Wells
• All-rounders: Matt Short
• Bowlers: Adam Zampa, Haris Rauf, Peter Siddle, Rashid Khan

Match Prediction

The Stars have a number of players back and they will be motivated to perform well. Stars to win.