Table-topping Melbourne Stars will look to maintain their excellent start to the 2019-20 Big Bash League when they take on Sydney Thunder at the G.
The Stars' derby win against Melbourne Renegades was their fifth victory in six games this season and they sit top of the table as a result, level on points with Sydney Sixers.
Sydney Thunder, meanwhile, are fourth with three wins and three defeats after losing a rain-affected match against Brisbane Heat last time out.
MLS vs SYT Win Probability
The "Chance of Winning" Widget shows winning percentage depending upon live betting odds of teams participating in the match. The winning percentage is changed immediately when odds are updated.
Who will win Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Thunder, BBL 2020?
Top-of-the-table Melbourne Stars will look for more MCG success when they host Sydney Thunder in the 2019-20 Big Bash League. The match takes place in Melbourne on January 8 and the live action starts at 19:10 local time.
Melbourne Stars now have five wins in six matches and sit top of the Big Bash League points table with ten points – level with Sydney Sixers ahead of Wednesday’s fixtures. Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell led them to an eight-wicket victory against Melbourne Renegades in their most recent match, which was also at the MCG.
Sydney Thunder, on the other hand, lost their most recent game – a rain-affected defeat to Brisbane Heat proving to be their third loss of the season. They have three wins to their name too, but sit three points behind the Stars in fourth place.
MLS vs SYT, BBL 2020: Where to watch/Live streaming
Live TV: Fox Sports, Seven Network, Sony Six, BT Sport, SuperSport, Sony Ten Network, BeIn Sports
Live streaming: SonyLiv, Kayo Sports, SuperSport Live, Foxtel Sports, Optus Sport
MLS vs SYT Toss Prediction
Last time out at the MCG, Melbourne Stars won the toss and elected to field first. It is a tactic Sydney Thunder may be just as keen to adopt.
MLS vs SYT Weather Report
Showers the previous day should have cleared by Wednesday with zero chance of rain on the forecast.
MLS vs SYT Pitch Condition
The MCG groundstaff have restored their reputation with some well-balanced wickets lately.
Read on for team previews, betting tips, latest odds and match prediction for Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Thunder, BBL 2020...
Melbourne Stars Team News & Playing 11
MLS Team News
Dale Steyn’s stint with the stars is over but, after Pat Brown suffered a stress fracture in his back, it is likely to be Haris Rauf who replaces the South African in the bowling attack. The Stars have struck lucky with the Australian ODI squad too – neither Marcus Stoinis nor Glenn Maxwell will be in India, and Nathan Coulter-Nile will still be available too. The two players called up from the Stars are Adam Zampa and Peter Handscomb.
MLS Key Players
Marcus Stoinis: His unbeaten 68* led the Stars to victory against Melbourne Renegades and was his second consecutive half-century of this tournament and third in total. He has scored 281 runs in six innings.
Glenn Maxwell: Has starred with either bat or ball consistently this Big Bash League season. His 40* last time out followed 2-17 in the previous game, and he now has four wickets and 169 runs in total this season.
Sandeep Lamichhane: Claimed 3-26 last time out to prove he is ready to step up in Adam Zampa’s absence and lead the spin attack. The Nepalese teenager now has six wickets in five appearances.
MLS Team Form
Melbourne Stars made it three wins in a row and five in total when they won the Melbourne Derby last time out. After victories against Hobart Hurricanes and Sydney Thunder, the Stars restricted Melbourne Renegades to 142/9 as Sandeep Lamichhane claimed 3-26 and Dale Steyn and Adam Zampa took two wickets apiece.
Marcus Stoinis (68*) and Glenn Maxwell (40*) then led the Stars to a comfortable eight-wicket win.
Melbourne Stars Predicted Playing 11
Marcus Stoinis, Nic Maddinson, Nick Larkin, Glenn Maxwell (c), Ben Dunk (wk), Hilton Cartwright, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Clinton Hinchcliffe, Dan Worrall, Haris Rauf, Sandeep Lamichhane
MLS vs SYT Dream11 Team Prediction, Captain, Vice Captain
Wicket-keeper
With Peter Handscomb off to play for Australia, Matthew Gilkes may be a safer bet at eight credits behind the stumps, given it is almost guaranteed he will play for the Thunder. The Stars’ plans are not known.
Batsmen
With the Stars’ key players listed as all-rounders, there is a Thunder trio worth considering with the bat too. Usman Khawaja is not in the Australia squad, which is a bonus for Sydney Thunder, while Alex Hales showed he could be back to top form last time out. Callum Ferguson has been in good form this season, meanwhile.
All-rounders
Onto those all-rounders, and they may be expensive but it is hard to ignore Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell. Stoinis is batting only so far this season, but Maxwell has contributed with bat or ball in almost every game so far. For Sydney Thunder, Daniel Sams’ excellent wicket-taking form makes him a key pick too.
Bowlers
On the bowling front, Adam Zampa is on international duty and Dale Steyn’s stint with the Stars is over. That opens the door for Haris Rauf to return and he and Sandeep Lamichhane are both bargains at 8.5 credits each. The same could be argued of Nathan Coulter-Nile too. It leaves eight credits for the final bowler and, after Arjun Nair got hit for five sixes in an over last time out, Dan Worrall could be a safer bet.
Captain/Vice-captain
Glenn Maxwell captains the Stars and he could be a top pick to captain your Dream 11 team too. He has either batted well or bowled well in almost every game so far. His bowling may be more prominent with Adam Zampa away now too. Team-mate Marcus Stoinis is in excellent batting form and could be a good alternative, but Daniel Sams is hard to ignore given his brilliant wicket-taking form.
MLS vs SYT Dream11 Team
BATSMEN
ALL ROUNDER
WICKET KEEPER
BOWLER
Usman Khawaja
Marcus Stoinis
Matthew Gilkes
Sandeep Lamichhane
Callum Ferguson
Glenn Maxwell (c)
Nathan Coulter-Nile
Alex Hales
Daniel Sams (vc)
Dan Worrall
Haris Rauf
Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Thunder Match Prediction
Sydney Thunder Team News & Playing 11
SYT Team News
Sydney Thunder are unaffected by Australia’s ODI squad selection, with Usman Khawaja left at home despite his good form. That is a bonus for the Thunder.
SYT Key Players
Callum Ferguson: Three half-centuries so far have proved his worth with the bat, hitting 73 against both Brisbane Heat and Adelaide Strikers and 52 in the Sydney derby.
Daniel Sams: Continued his wicket-taking form with 2-24 last time out to follow the 3-25 he took when these teams last met. He now has 14 wickets in seven matches.
Alex Hales: His innings only lasted nine balls before the rain, but an unbeaten 20 could be the platform the big-hitting Englishman needs to get back to his explosive best at the top of the order.
SYT Team Form
Sydney Thunder have now lost their last two matches. The first of those defeats was against Melbourne Stars, when they posted 142/7 and Daniel Sams took 3-25 in reply, but they lost by three wickets with two balls to spare.
Then, last time out, rain ruined their match against Brisbane Heat. The match was initially reduced to eight overs, with Sams’ two wickets not enough to prevent the visitors setting 120 to win. Sydney Thunder were then 60/4 from five overs in reply, and more rain confirmed a heavy DLS-method defeat.
Sydney Thunder Predicted Playing 11
Alex Hales, Usman Khawaja, Callum Ferguson (c), Matthew Gilkes (wk), Alex Ross, Chris Morris, Daniel Sams, Chris Green, Arjun Nair, Chris Tremain, Brendan Doggett
MLS vs SYT Team Form in Last Five Matches
MLS : WWWLW
SYT : LLWLNR
Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Thunder Head to Head
Melbourne Stars beat Sydney Thunder in Sydney on January 2. Nick Larkin hit 65 from 45 balls as the Stars reached 143/7 in 19.4 overs to seal a three-wicket win. Haris Rauf had earlier claimed 3-24 for the Stars, though Daniel Sams almost matched that with 3-25 during the Stars’ chase. It was the Stars second consecutive win against Sydney Thunder, but Sydney had won the previous five in a row and have six wins to the Stars’ five in total.
MLS vs SYT Head to Head Stats
Matches Played
MLS Won
SYT Won
Tie
No Result
11
5
6
0
0
Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Thunder Betting Odds
Melbourne Stars are in fine form and are big favourites to beat Sydney Thunder as a result.
MLS Bet365 Odds
MLS to Win the Match: Melbourne Stars are 1.66 favourites to win with Bet365.
MLS Top Batsman: In-form Marcus Stoinis can be backed at 3.50 to be Melbourne Stars top team batsman with Bet365, while Glenn Maxwell is 4.50. Also up the order, Nick Larkin and Nic Maddinson are both 5.00 and Ben Dunk can be backed at 6.00.
MLS Top Bowler: With Dale Steyn’s stint over, Haris Rauf is now favourite to be the Stars’ top bowler with Bet365 at 3.75. Sandeep Lamichhane is 4.00 and Nathan Coulter-Nile can be backed at 4.50.
SYT Bet365 Odds
SYT to Win the Match: Sydney Thunder are 2.20 outsiders to win with Bet365.
SYT Top Batsman: Usman Khawaja is 3.50 favourite with Bet365 to be Sydney Thunder’s top team batsman, while Alex Hales is 3.75 – the same price as in-form Callum Ferguson.
SYT Top Bowler: Daniel Sams is in excellent wicket-taking form and he can be backed at 3.25 with Bet365 to be Sydney Thunder’s top team bowler. Chris Morris is 4.00, while Chris Green is an outside bet at 5.50.
🏆 Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Thunder Prediction
Melbourne Stars are in excellent form and they can continue that when they take on Sydney Thunder at the MCG.
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Jan 08, 2020
13:40 IST / 8:10 GMT
Melbourne Cricket Ground - Melbourne, Australia
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