The focus now shifts to Australia for the 10th edition of the Big Bash League (BBL), which kick-started with a terrific match between Sydney Sixers and Hobart Hurricanes in Hobart. The action now moves to the capital – Canberra – where Melbourne Stars will go toe-to-toe against Brisbane Heat at the Manuka Oval in the second match of the tournament.

The Brisbane Heat who have had the upper hand not just in the overall records, but they have also won three out of the previous five matches over Melbourne Stars.

BBL head-to-head 

Overall: Matches – 14 | Heat – 8 Wins | Stars – 4 Wins | Other results - 2

Last 5 Matches: Heat – 3 Wins | Stars – 1 Wins | Other results - 1

Suggested TeamsWhile you could go for the above team, you also have the option of choosing your own team from cricket.com’s Fantasy Research Centre. Based on algorithms we come up with six different teams that could fetch crucial points.

Marnus Labuschagne, Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson and Will Pucovski are unavailable for this match due to their involvement in the Australia A squad. Lewis Gregory, Nicholas Pooran and Mujeeb Ur Rahman who are unavailable for this match will feature at some point in the upcoming weeks.

Ground Details

The Manuka Oval in Canberra has been a batsman’s delight in the BBL since the 2018 edition, having seen a run-rate of 8.7, which is the highest among venues where at least five innings have been played in this period, meaning we could once again have another run-feast on the cards. In this period, the average first innings score has been 170, while in the second innings it is just 101. Hence, winning the toss and batting is clearly the way to go.

The recent T20I between India and Australia at this venue however turned out to be a pretty close contest, but a score of 161 was good enough to win the match on that day. It could very well be enough in this match too.

While the pacers have the higher share of wickets, a better average (28.6) and strike-rate (18.6) compared to the spinners who strike once every 30.1 balls, 22.1 apart at the Manuka Oval, the tweakers have a much better economy rate conceding just 8.2, compared to pacers (9.2).

There could be a few interesting match-ups too.

Marcus Stoinis was in tremendous form in the previous edition, but if there is one bowler capable of getting him early, it has to be BBL’s leading wicket-taker Ben Laughlin. In their six meetings in T20 cricket, Laughlin has dismissed the allrounder twice, giving away just 34 runs off 29 deliveries. In their last three meetings, Laughlin may not have dismissed Stoinis, but has given away just 14 runs from 13 deliveries.

Adam Zampa has not just gotten the better of Chris Lynn on three occasions in T20 cricket, but has ensured that the batsman scores at a strike-rate of 83 from eight innings at an average from 14.7. Zampa in the last three innings has conceded just three runs from 14 balls, dismissing him twice in the process. Will be interesting to see who comes out on top this time.

Captain Selection

Marcus Stoinis showed his true potential when he scored more than 700 runs in the previous season with a best of 147 not out to lead Stars to the BBL final. Although he bowled just a couple of overs in the previous edition, his bowling came in handy in the IPL for Delhi Capitals, for whom he picked up 13 wickets from 17 matches. Batting in the top-order, coupled with his medium-pacers that can fetch you a wicket or two is just the player you need as the captain of your side.

Our Criclytics player projector predicts Stoinis could score 13-36 runs and pick up 0-1 wickets in this match.

X-Factors

Glenn Maxwell scored 398 runs at a strike-rate of 148.50 in the previous edition and his good show in the limited-overs leg against India shows that he is ready to take on the challenge in the BBL, after a forgetful IPL, to say the least. Along with his explosive batting skills, we could see him chip in with a wicket or two with his offspinners, which will only add further value to your team.

Our Criclytics player projector predicts Maxwell could score 12-29 runs and pick up 0-1 wickets in this match.

Chris Lynn followed up his impressive spell in the BBL last season (387 runs at a strike-rate of 148.84) with another spectacular showing with Lahore Qalandars in the PSL, in which he scored 284 runs at 40.57, which included a highest score of an unbeaten 113. The Brisbane Heat captain will hope to replicate his success in this edition of the BBL as well.

Our Criclytics player projector predicts Lynn could score 14-37 runs in this match. 

BBL’s leading wicket-taker Ben Laughlin could once again be a crucial pick in this game. More so considering that he has a wonderful record against Melbourne Stars, picking up 22 scalps at 16.10 in his 12 matches against them. Laughlin is the only bowler to have picked up 100-plus wickets in the tournament’s history. 

Our Criclytics player projector predicts Laughlin could pick 0-1 wickets in this match.