BBL 7, Match 19, Preview: Stage set for the much anticipated Melbourne Derby

Melbourne Renegades will like to pile the misery on the Melbourne Stars who after having a terrific last season is finding it a little tough in this edition of the Big Bash League (BBL). Although they have more or less the same squad that they had in BBL 6, they have not managed to put up collective performances on the ground and that has been the cause of their downfall as they have slipped to 3 losses in 3 games already.

Batting is a bigger issue than bowling for the Stars even though they have some of the really big names batting in top 4 including two of their overseas signings. Luke Wright who has been a part of the Stars’ set up since their inception and has been very consistent for them is uncharacteristically struggling this season and Kevin Pietersen is clearly looking uncooked which is understandable as he didn’t have much cricket under his belt coming into the tournament.

One player whom the Stars would have really backed to deliver right from the word go was Glenn Maxwell as he had been in good form in Shield Cricket and was really hitting the ball well, but he also has failed to make a match-winning contribution in any of the games. He got a fifty in the last game, but he didn’t quite take the game away from the opposition something he normally does when he gets going.

The Renegades’ batting, on the other hand, is firing. Aaron Finch was the only guy in the whole line-up who was out of sorts and even he found his rhythm in the last game against the Sixers. The skipper is a match-winner at the top of the order and with Brad Hodge, Cameron White and Dwayne Bravo in the middle order, it’s an explosive batting line-up.

Comparing the bowling of the two sides, the Renegades look superior here as well as they have got mystery and variation in their attack with the veteran chinaman Brad Hogg and the West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo who is one of the best T20 bowlers in the world. The Stars’ bowling is lesser versatile in comparison as they rely only on medium pace and orthodox spin.

There is no real possibility of any change in the Stars’ XI. Although their big names are not being able to come to the party, they are the best players in their squad and it’s highly unlikely they will bench those players. Both Pietersen and Luke Wright will play in all probability and they will want to raise their game and show the value they bring to the Stars.

Melbourne Renegades (Predicted XI): Marcus Harris, Aaron Finch (C), Cameron White, Dwayne Bravo, Tom Cooper, Brad Hodge, Mohammad Nabi, Tim Ludeman, Jack Wildermuth, Kane Richardson, Brad Hogg

Melbourne Stars (Predicted XI): Ben Dunk, Luke Wright, Kevin Pietersen, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Rob Quiney, James Faulkner, John Hastings (C), Adam Zampa, Liam Bowe, Michael Beer