Hobart Hurricanes vs Melbourne Stars – Big Bash League – Match Preview 28 Dec 2023

On December 28, the 17th match of the Big Bash League will feature a face-off between Hobart Hurricanes and Melbourne Stars at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart.

• The two teams are experiencing parallel seasons, currently placed sixth and facing challenges in the points table standings.
• The Hurricanes hold the sixth position with two points from three matches, while the Stars’ performance has been even more challenging.
• With only one victory in four matches, they find themselves in a precarious situation in the current season.

HUR vs STA – BBL – Venue Details

Venue: Bellerive Oval, Hobart

Date: December 28th 2023

Time: 19:15 (local)

HUR vs STA – BBL – Team Previews

Hobart Hurricanes

The Hobart Hurricanes faced initial setbacks with two consecutive losses in the season but managed to reverse their fortunes last weekend by defeating the Melbourne Renegades. Eager to maintain their winning streak, they are gearing up for their upcoming challenges.

Matthew Wade showcased outstanding form at the top of the order, delivering a brilliant innings of 82 runs in the last match. His goal will be to provide the Hurricanes with a robust start. Macalister Wright, playing his first match of the season on Saturday, also contributed significantly with a score of 63, displaying excellent form.

However, the bowling performance has not been up to par. Nathan Ellis leads the wicket-taking charts with three wickets in as many matches, while Jordan, Meredith, and Anderson have collectively taken five wickets. The spin department appears to be understaffed, with Patrick Dooley being the sole full-time spinner.

Melbourne Stars

Similar to the Hurricanes, the Melbourne Stars faced a challenging start to their campaign with three consecutive losses. However, they managed to secure their first points on the table by defeating the Sydney Sixers on Boxing Day.

The opening pair of Thomas Rogers and Sam Harper has been somewhat inconsistent, and the Stars need a solid start from them. Hilton Cartwright, who scored 47 runs in the last match, stands out as the leading run-scorer for the team. Beau Webster, a dependable all-rounder, assumes a crucial role for the Stars.

Webster and Usama Mir share the top spot among the team’s leading wicket-takers, each having claimed four wickets. Haris Rauf delivered an impressive bowling performance in the last match, securing three wickets for 38 runs. The return of Imad Wasim for this game is expected to provide a significant boost to both the middle order and the bowling setup.

HUR vs STA – BBL – Probable Playing XI’s

Hobart Hurricanes: C Jewell, Matty Wade (wk), M Wright, S Hain, C Anderson, T David, N Chaudhary, C Jordan, P Dooley, N Ellis (Cap), R Meredith

Melbourne Stars: S Harper (wk), T Rogers, B Webster, G Maxwell (Cap), M Stoinis, H Cartwright, I Wasim, J Merlo, U Mir, H Rauf, J Paris

HUR vs STA – BBL – Pitch Report and Toss Prediction

Hobart’s batsman-friendly pitch might throw a curveball this time: overcast skies on match day could tip the scales in favour of bowlers. While recent games here averaged around 160 runs, expect the overcast conditions to tighten things up and bring scores closer to the 140-150 range.

HUR vs STA – BBL – Win Prediction

The Stars look the superior side on paper and go into this game as favourtites.