It’s the rematch of the BBL08 final however plenty has changed since that historic day in February when the Renegades claimed their first Big Bash title with a miraculous victory against the Stars. The Renegades sit 0-5 after a loss to the Sixers at home on Thursday after again squandering a game that they were well positioned to win. The Stars on the other hand are sitting are sitting pretty at the top of the table with a game in hand on the second placed Sixers, after beating the Thunder in Sydney on Thursday afternoon. The Stars smashed the Renegades in their two regular season fixtures in BBL08 before losing the final and hold an 11-5 head to head record against the Renegades.
It’s positive news for the Stars at the selection table with Sandeep Lamichhane and Hilton Cartwright will return from injury and replace Jono Merlo and Haris Rauf who has been a revelation since being a late call up on the eve of the season, taking 10 wickets in just three matches. The Renegades have made a big call dropping Marcus Harris who has been terribly out of form scoring just 29 runs in three matches so far this season, another Australian Test representative Joe Mennie has also been left out of the squad. Harry Gurney is back after missing the last match after flying back to the UK for his brother’s wedding, all rounder Jack Wildermuth also returns to the squad of 13.
Melbourne Stars Squad (13): Glenn Maxwell (c), Hilton Cartwright, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Ben Dunk, Pete Handscomb, Clint Hinchliffe, Sandeep Lamichhane, Nick Larkin, Nic Maddinson, Dale Steyn, Marcus Stoinis, Daniel Worrall, Adam Zampa
Melbourne Renegades Squad (13): Aaron Finch (c), Tom Andrews,Cameron Boyce, Dan Christian, Tom Cooper, Richard Gleeson, Harry Gurney, Sam Harper, Shaun Marsh, Kane Richardson, Will Sutherland, Beau Webster, Jack Wildermuth
Stars vs Renegades Betting Tips
Stars
The Stars are coming off what was looking like a convincing win when they were 1/122 in the sixteenth over chasing 143 before losing 6/19 in a collapse that nearly mirrored the BBL08 final. Although the Stars did get over the line in unconvincing fashion, they were dominant for 36 of the 40 overs in the contest in what has been an excellent season for the men in green. Marcus Stoinis has been in red hot form scoring 213 runs at an average of 53.25, including 58 against the Thunder in their last match. The Stars spin attack of Zampa, Hinchliffe, Lamichhane and Maxwell has gotten the job done all season and it got the job against the Thunder, combing for four wickets which included Alex Hales, Usman Khawaja, Matt Gilkies and Chris Morris. The Renegades struggled against the spin of Lloyd Pope and Ben Manenti, expect the Stars to bowl plenty of spin throughout the middle overs.
Marcus Stoinis dominated the Melbourne Renegades in BBL08, in three matches Stoinis scored 187 runs and was only dismissed once, with knocks of 78*, 70* and 39. Stoinis currently sits as the second leading run scorer having played one less game the Callum Ferguson who leads the league in runs. Stoinis’ 213 runs at an average of 53.25 along with a strike rate of 122 has been crucial for the Stars this season and is a continuation of his incredible form from last season where he scored 494 runs at an average of 54.89. Stoinis loves playing in the Melbourne derby and is in red hot form, look no further than Stoinis to be the Stars top run scorer.
Stoinis Top STA Batsman
$3.25
Renegades
The Renegades came into the season with high expectations after winning the BBL08 title and bringing an even stronger squad in for the BBL09 season. However they have failed to live up to the hype starting 0-5 with a bowling attack that has been abysmal outside of Kane Richardson and a batting line up that has got solid contributions from Aaron Finch, Sam Harper, Shaun Marsh and Beau Webster but lacked any innings of substance that could win them a match. The Renegades middle to lower order has not been able to capitalise on the Renegades strong powerplays. Their last outing against the Sixers was a perfect summary of their season. 1/57 in the powerplay with Harper and Marsh putting in solid starts, however the lower order failed to contribute, and the Renegades could only muster 153. The Renegades are going to need to put together a complete twenty overs with the bat if they are going to be any chance to compete against the Stars.
Sam Harper has shown the most potential of any Renegades batsmen getting a big score. His aggressive style that has him striking at 152.77 won the Renegades many games last season, however he needs to put together an innings of substance and the derby is a good match up for him. The Stars pace brigade of Steyn, Coulter-Nile and Worrall will suit Harper who likes pace on the ball. In the corresponding fixture last season he scored 30 off just 16, if Harper can get to the tenth over he’ll have plenty of runs on the board. The Renegades lack of run scorers helps Harper’s chances of being the Renegades top run scorer.
Harper Top REN Batsman
$4.00
Prediction
This clash couldn’t have come at a worse time for the Renegades who can’t seem to do anything right with bat or ball, coming up against the Stars who have barely put a foot wrong all season. The Stars batting line up with balance from top through to bottom coming up against a Renegades bowling attack that has struggled to execute all season. The Stars spin attack will also have a field day against the Renegades who have struggled to score off spin bowling in every match it has played this season. The Stars just simply have too much quality across all facets of the game and will comfortably defeat their cross town rival in the first derby of the season.
Melbourne Stars H2H
$1.70
