Who will win Melbourne Stars vs Melbourne Renegades?
Melbourne Renegades will look to continue their good start to this year's Big Bash League in a fixture in which they have not enjoyed so much recent success. Scheduled to start on January 6, the live action begins at 19:10 local time.
MLS vs MLR, Big Bash League: Where to watch/Live streaming
TV channels: BT Sport, Sony Six, Network Ten, Fox Sports, Super Sport
Live streaming: Sony Liv, Cricket Australia website
Toss Prediction
The only other game at the MCG so far in this year's Big Bash League saw Brisbane Heat opt to bowl first on their way to a crushing nine-wicket win – expect the team who wins the toss to choose to chase again.
Read on for team previews, betting tips, latest odds and match prediction for Melbourne Stars vs Melbourne Renegades, Big Bash League.
Melbourne Stars Team News & Playing 11
Team News
Melbourne Stars are expected to ring the changes after a poor start to this year's competitions, with Australia international Glenn Maxwell describing his team's performances as 'putrid'. Captain John Hastings is among those in poor form, but is likely to retain his place despite being out for a duck against Brisbane, returning 0-22 from his two overs and dropping what should have been a straight-forward catch to dismiss Chris Lynn, who went on to score an unbeaten 63. Scott Boland is pushing for a recall, however, with Adam Zampa's place in danger, while Peter Handscomb could return behind the stumps with Ben Dunk out-of-form with the bat.
Key Players
Glenn Maxwell showed shoots of recovery for Melbourne Stars with a half-century in the defeat to Brisbane Heat, though he was unhappy with the speed at which he scored. Marcus Stoinis' 99 in their defeat to Brisbane on the opening day has not been followed up, either, while the Stars are still waiting for English duo Kevin Pietersen and Luke Wright to fire. If all four find form, however, the Stars can recapture the form that has seen them reach every play-off in the Big Bash's short history. James Faulkner remains key with the ball, meanwhile, and as a lower-order batsman - he is yet to be dismissed in this year's Big Bash League after scores of 47*, 35* and 20*.
Recent Form
Melbourne Stars are yet to win a game in this year's Big Bash League, losing twice to Brisbane Heat either side of defeat to Perth Scorchers. Last time out, in their first game at the MCG so far in this year's competition, they posted 141/7 from their 20 overs only to see the Heat storm to victory in just 14.4 overs for the loss of just one wicket.
Stars Predicted Playing 11
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Handscomb, Wright, Pietersen, Maxwell, Stoinis, Quiney, Faulkner, Hastings, Boland, Bowe, Beer
Melbourne Renegades Team News & Playing 11
Team News
After returning to winning ways in comfortable fashion against the Sydney Sixers, Melbourne Renegades are likely to be unchanged for their short trip to the MCG to face their Melbourne rivals. Big-name signing Kieron Pollard - who dropped out of West Indies' recent T20 matches against New Zealand - is yet to feature.
Key Players
Aaron Finch's return to form with a half-century in the win against Sydney Sixers is an ominous sign for the Renegades' rivals. His 47th half-century in the shortest form of the game ended a below-par start to the tournament by his standards. He will want to make an impact before he joins up with the national team for the ODI series against England. Cameron White has impressed in the Big Bash so far, meanwhile, with scores of 79*, 51 and 49* among his four innings so far. Dwayne Bravo has taken 11 wickets, meanwhile - his 5/28 in the opening match against Hobart set the tone for the tournament so far and he claimed 3/29 in the win at Geelong last time out. They are also yet to see the best of new signing Mohammad Nabi, either, though the Afghanistan all-rounder did take two wickets against Sydney.
Recent Form
Melbourne Renegades have played four and won three so far in the Big Bash League. They chased 165 to beat Hobart in their opening match, while disciplined bowling performances led them to victories against Brisbane Heat and the Sydney Sixers. Their only blip so far came in the match against Perth Scorchers, between those two final victories, when a score of 130/9 was not enough to beat the defending champions.
Renegades Predicted Playing 11
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Harris, Finch, White, Bravo, Cooper, Hodge, Mohammad Nabi, Ludeman, Wildermuth, Richardson, Hogg
Team Form in Last Five Matches (most recent first)
Melbourne Stars: L L L L L
Melbourne Renegades: W L W W L
Melbourne Stars vs Melbourne Renegades H-to-H
Melbourne Stars have won four of their last five matches against their Melbourne rivals, the Renegades. Their one defeat did come the last time they met at the MCG, however, when Cameron White hit an unbeaten 64 and Brad Hogg picked up three wickets in a seven-run D/L method win. Their most recent meeting, however, saw the Stars exact their revenge with Kevin Pietersen smashing 73 from 46 balls as they posted 200/7 and went on to win by 46 runs.
Melbourne Stars vs Melbourne Renegades Betting Odds
Melbourne Renegades' good start to the tournament makes them favourites to win the derby, at 1.72 with Bet365. Melbourne Stars are priced at 2.10. Aaron Finch is 4.00 to capitalise on his recent return to form to be the Renegades' top scorer, while in form Cameron White is 4.33. With the Renegades' top order in decent form, meanwhile, it might be worth a punt on the Renegades scoring more from the first six overs than the Stars – Bet365 are offering 1.90 on that eventuality.
Melbourne Stars vs Melbourne Renegades Prediction
Melbourne Renegades have made the better start to this year's tournament and while the Stars should never be written off, and certainly have the star power to turn it around, confidence is low. The Renegades will be disappointed if they do not win.
Final Verdict: Back Melbourne Renegades to beat Melbourne Stars at 1.72 with Bet365.
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