Along with the Perth Scorchers, the Melbourne Stars are one of just two sides to have reached the semi-finals of the Big Bash League in all three seasons since its inception. However, unlike their Western Australian counterparts, the Stars have never even reached a final, despite having had one of the strongest squads in the competition. Will their fortunes finally change this season, or will another semi-final loss ensue?
Last Season
In the 2013/14 edition of the Big Bash, the Stars wowed fans with a string of classy, polished performances as they finished top of the qualifying group with eight wins out of eight. One-time England opener Luke Wright anchored the innings in the majority of games, managing 288 runs in nine matches, at a strike rate of 144.72, and Glenn Maxwell acted as the finisher; the all-rounder had the highest strike-rate out of players with over 50 runs, with a whopping 198.61. With the ball, John Hastings and Jackson Bird both contributed 13 wickets, and Sri Lankan seamer Lasith Malinga had an economy rate of just 5.95, which helped to stifle oppositions at both the start and end of the innings.
However, in the semi-final, the Stars choked.
Only Brad Hodge (51) managed to post a substantial score, and the Stars managed a well below par total of 141-8 in their 20 overs. In Hobart’s chase, Malinga was a long way from his best, and with the help of Tim Paine’s 65, the Hurricanes knocked off the runs with seven wickets and eleven balls to spare.
It was a disappointing and confusing end to an excellent season, and the Stars were left to rue their missed opportunity to win the Big Bash, having had one of the strongest Twenty20 squads ever assembled.
2014/15 Overseas Players
As mentioned, Luke Wright was a revelation last season, and this year he rejoins the Stars, having appeared for them every year since the tournament’s inception. The 29-year-old has found himself out of favour with the England ODI and T20 sides in recent times, despite having once been a key player. He was a member of the World T20 squad in Bangladesh earlier this year, having played in the preceding series against the West Indies, but did not play a single game, and has not been called up to an England national squad since Peter Moores took over as coach. He will certainly be looking for a good string of scores to re-assert his ability.
The second overseas player in the Stars’ squad needs no introduction. Kevin Pietersen is England’s all-time leading runs scorer when all formats of the game are combined, and was controversially sacked by the England and Wales Cricket Board in February. His book, KP:The Autobiography was released recently, and sent shockwaves through the cricketing world with its revelations of a ‘bullying culture’ within the national team. Since his sacking, ‘KP’ has struggled badly for runs with the Dehli Daredevils, Surrey, and the Antigua Hawksbills; the divisive figure will be hoping for a good spell of form in the BBL.
JUST IN: @KP24 has signed with Melbourne Stars for #BBL04 Full details here: http://t.co/UVcBWNapRp#StarringKPpic.twitter.com/dN0dPEkc27
— Big Bash League (@BigBashLeague) July 28, 2014
One to Watch
Michael Beer’s name may cause a few stifled laughs from our English readers; his name has become synonymous with Australia’s dismal performance in the 2010/11 Ashes series, in which Beer played the final Test, having only made five previous first-class appearances. The 1-112 he picked up was actually harsh on the left-arm spinner, but he only played one more Test, and since then, has fallen out of favour with the national selectors.
Despite only playing 4 games for the Perth Scorchers last year, Beer’s statistics were not too bad; he took three wickets in his twelve overs, at a healthy economy rate of 6.67. Furthermore, despite bowling eight wicketless overs at the Champions League T20, his combined figures of 8-0-43-0 were admirable against strong sides. If Beer secures a spot in the Stars team as a specialist spinner, rather than the outfit choosing to use the options of Maxwell and Cameron White, the 30-year-old could prove to be very effective.
Who else?
The fifteen members of the squad other than Wright, Pietersen and Beer are as follows: Jackson Bird, Scott Boland, James Faulkner, Luke Feldman, John Hastings, David Hussey, Alexander Keath, Glenn Maxwell, Clint McKay, Rob Quiney, Clive Rose, Marcus Stoinis, Tom Triffitt, Cameron White, Daniel Worrall.
The bowling attack that the Stars can field is mouth-watering, with the prospect of McKay, Faulkner, Bird, Hastings and Beer as front-line options, and Maxwell and Wright as part-timers. However, the batting this year may prove overly reliant on the top order, with Hussey, Wright, Pietersen and White the only consistent players in the side. Marcus Stoinis is also due a breakthrough season; the all-rounder has never firmly nailed down a spot in the Stars’ side.
The position of concern for the Stars is behind the stumps. Tom Triffitt, a late replacement in the 18-man squad for the injured Peter Handscomb, averages just 9.25 in Twenty20 cricket, and at 24 years of age, really should be doing better. Matthew Wade’s contract was not renewed, and this may prove to be an error for the Stars.
Predicted finish: 4th
Fixtures:
18th December 2014: Adelaide Strikers (A)
20th December 2014: Hobart Hurricanes (H)
28th December 2014: Brisbane Heat (A)
3rd January 2015: Melbourne Renegades (A)
5th January 2015: Sydney Sixers (H)
10th January 2015: Melbourne Renegades (H)
17th January 2015: Sydney Thunder (A)
21st January 2015: Perth Scorchers (H)
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