Sydney Thunder v Melbourne Stars Big Bash Tips: Stars look to Maxwell for inspiration

• Stars need to bat first

• Maxwell fit again

• Sixes could fly

Sydney Thunder v Melbourne Stars
Saturday 23 December, 04.30
TV: Live on Sky Sports

Sydney Thunder v Melbourne Stars team news

Glenn Maxwell is fit again after recovering from a torn forearm muscle. Stars feared the worst when the all-rounder injured himself in their first game. Joe Burns has also been added to the squad. Olly Stone's stint appears to be over. Nathan Coulter-Nile is injured.

Probable XI: Rogers, Harper, Burns, Maxwell, Stoinis, Cartwright, Dawson, Mir, Rauf, Paris, Steketee

Thunder have also received good news with Jason Sangha fit again after a wrist injury. He could slot straight back in at No 3.

Possible XI: Bancroft, Hales, J Sangha, Gilkes, Davies, Ross, Sams, Green, McAndrew, Zaman, T Sangha

Melbourne Stars v Sydney Thunder pitch report

There has been only one Bash match played at the Lavington Sports Ground. Thunder posted 228 against Hurricanes and defended with ease. The suspicion is that this outground has smaller boundaries and could be very flat. Thunder managed 13 sixes and Hurricanes 11. Over 14 sixes is available on Betfair Exchange.

Melbourne Stars v Sydney Thunder match odds

Thunder are 1.784/5 with Stars 2.206/5. These are two poor teams and there seems little justification for the gap in the odds. Stars have been hammered twice and Thunder couldn't defend 200-plus versus Strikers. It's a choice affair.

And if we're right about this being a flat pitch and small boundaries then the side batting first should be short favs at the break. If it's Stars then we could see a trade to 1.705/7.

Melbourne Stars v Sydney Thunder player bets

Maxwell has been boosted to 11/53.20 by Sportsbook fot top Stars bat. Alex Hales, who top scored with 77 on this ground, is 5/23.50 and although we were on last time for a loss we need that bet boost to play. Cameron Bancroft, who topped in defeat by Strikers, is boosted to 23/103.30.

Read Big Bash analysis here

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