Melbourne Stars vs Adelaide Strikers: Adelaide Strikers Have a Stronger Side on Paper and Look in Great Form

• Adelaide Strikers and Melbourne Stars are equal on the head-to-head scoreline with both teams winning eight games each.

• Adelaide Strikers have a stronger side on paper and look in great form.

• Melbourne Stars are coming off three losses in a row and look out of sorts. 

Melbourne Stars vs Adelaide Strikers Odds

Melbourne Stars vs Adelaide Strikers Prediction and Pick

Adelaide Strikers and Melbourne Stars have shared a competitive rivalry over the years. They have faced each other 16 times, with each side winning eight games. However, the Strikers have a stronger side on paper and are in much better shape than their opponents. The Stars have lost their last three matches and look out of sorts. We predict Adelaide Strikers to win this match.

Predicted XI 

Melbourne Stars: Joe Clarke (wk), Thomas Rogers, Hilton Cartwright, Beau Webster, Nick Larkin, James Seymour, Clint Hinchliffe, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Luke Wood, Liam Hatcher, Adam Zampa (c)

Adelaide Strikers: Matthew Short, Ryan Gibson, Chris Lynn, Henry Hunt, Adam Hose, Harry Nielsen (wk), Thomas Kelly, Wes Agar, Henry Thornton/Harry Conway, Cameron Boyce, Peter Siddle (c)

Adelaide Strikers Could Prove to Be Too Strong for the Desperate Stars

Melbourne Stars and Adelaide Strikers will be up against each other in the 38th match of the BBL 12 at Melbourne Cricket Ground on January 12th. The Stars are at the bottom of the table while the Strikers sit in third place.

Melbourne Stars have played nine matches in the season so far and have only managed to win two. They have lost seven games and are in desperate need of a victory to stay alive in the competition. The Stars lost their previous game by two wickets in a close finish versus Hobart Hurricanes. 

Batting first, the Stars struggled to get any momentum in the first half of the innings. Hilton Cartwright made 57 off 47 while James Seymour smashed 20 off 7 to help the team get 131/7. The Hurricanes were 94/1 in 11 overs while chasing. Liam Hatcher (3 for 25) and Nathan Coulter-Nile (2 for 22) caused a major collapse but it wasn't enough. 

Adelaide Strikers occupy third place with 10 points to their credit and an exceptional net run rate of 0.932. They have won five games and are coming off two straight victories over Hobart Hurricanes and Melbourne Renegades. 

The Strikers held off the Renegades by 20 runs on Tuesday, where their batting line-up delivered a solid performance. Matthew Short made 38 off 22 while Adam Hose and Colin de Grandhomme also fired quick 30s. Chris Lynn was the star, smashing an unbeaten 69 off 37. Defending 203, Wes Agar and Short had identical figures of 2 for 26 in four overs. 

Team News

Melbourne Stars will be without Marcus Stoinis for this game as well, having been sidelined for 2-3 games due to a hamstring injury. It weakens their already dire batting line-up. Hilton Cartwright finding form was good news but Joe Clarke needs to up his game. The bowling attack remains their strength with Nathan Coulter-Nile, Luke Wood, and Adam Zampa in good touch. Liam Hatcher was excellent in the previous game.

Adelaide Strikers have a formidable batting line-up with Matthew Short, Chris Lynn, Colin de Grandhomme, and Adam Hose in terrific form. However, de Grandhomme has been left out of this fixture due to a hamstring injury while Alex Carey and Travis Head won't be available for this game as well. Their bowling attack will be bolstered with the return of Peter Siddle. Ben Manenti should make way for the skipper while Harry Conway and Henry Thornton fight for one spot. Cameron Boyce has the responsibility of specialist spinner. 

Key Players 

Matthew Short has been simply magnificent for the Strikers this BBL season. The opening batter has scored 359 runs in nine games at an average of 45 while striking at 145. Short has hammered one century and two half centuries. Short has also bagged 9 wickets at an economy of 6.66. Short scored 38 off 22 in the last game while picking 2 for 26. 

Adam Zampa has had a quiet season so far, picking only 8 wickets from nine innings at an economy of 7.16. But the leg-spinner could be a key figure against this opponent. Zampa has a superb record at the MCG, having picked 41 wickets from 27 BBL games at an economy of 6.71. 

How to Watch Melbourne Stars vs Adelaide Strikers

What: Melbourne Stars vs Adelaide Strikers, Match 38, BBL 2022-23

Where: Melbourne Cricket Ground 

When: January 12, 2023 / 3:15 AM EST 

How to watch: Sony Sports Network/Sony LIV (India), SportsMax (Caribbean), Fox Sports & Channel 7 (Australia), Sky Sport NZ (New Zealand), SuperSport (South Africa), Willow TV (USA), Sky Sports Cricket (United Kingdom)