Melbourne Stars v Sydney Thunder Big Bash Tips: Stars may get a grip

• Thunder should get the points

• Sangha fit again

• Coulter-Nile and Cutting big prices

Melbourne Stars v Sydney Thunder
Wednesday 25 January, 08:15
TV: Live on Sky Sports

Team news

Stars have named an unchaned squad. That means Marcus Stoinis remains available. He was expected to leave for the UAE when the Stars had made the play-offs but that possibility ended some weeks ago.

Coach David Hussey takes charge of his last game in what will be a bitter end. The campaign has been hopeless.

Probable XI: Clarke, Rogers, Kellway, Cartwright, Stoinis, Webster, Larkin, Coulter-Nile, Wood, hatcher, Zampa

David Warner will not be available for Thunder if they were to reach the final. They need to win to be sure of qualification but are likely to finish no higher than fourth. That means winning (including this one) five-straight games for glory.

All-rounder Jason Sangha returns to the XI after a broken collarbone. He could bat at No 3.

Probable XI: Gilkes, Warner, Sangha, O Davies, Ross, Sams, Cutting, McAndrew, Green, Sandhu, Qadir

Team news

The four first-innings scores at the MCG this season have produced scores of 188, 108, 183 and 141. Six matches from ten last season in the Bash produced scores of 160 or more in the first dig. Stars and Thunder are scoring at average rates of 7.7 and 7 this term. An overs play is risky, then.

How to play

Stars are 2.3811/8 with Thunder 1.715/7. Stars have been dreadful and are bottom of the pile. They will remain there no matter what happens.

Thunder have lost three of their last five and are a great advert for why letting five teams qualify is a ridiculous idea.

We're not enamoured with either team. But because of the recipe for chaos and incompetence here, Stars may not be the worst trade to flip the odds.

Tops value

Warner has been boosted to 16/5 with Sportsbook for top Thunder. He won with 16 in a hammering by Sixers last time out. He has, frankly, been dreadful. Joe Clarke has been okay in an average side and is 7/2 for Stars. Big prices we've been tempted by throughout the tournament include Nathan Coulter-Nile for Stars at 75/1 and Ben Cutting at 18s for Thunder. We may go to the well again.