Big Bash League, 2018 | Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Thunders, Match 03 | MLS vs SDT Who Will Win
The third match of the 2018 Big Bash League will see Melbourne Stars square off against Sydney Thunders in what is expected to be a pulsating encounter. This will be an important season for both sides. After spending six seasons at the top of the ladder, the Stars went to the doghouse in the last season and claiming the wooden spoon. Sydney Thunder, on the other hand, will be vying to get their name into the finals after having spent all the preceding seasons outside the top two.
Devasted by injuries to Nic Maddinson, Seb Gotch and Dan Worrall and with incumbent skipper Peter Handscomb on Test duty, the Stars are sweating over their team combination. Ben Dunk needs to fire at the top of the order. Signed as a marquee player last year, Dunk had an underwhelming season, having registered 115 runs in 10 innings.
With the top-order looking thin on paper, the Stars will look to the likes of Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis and Renegades import Dwayne Bravo to play a crucial role. The bowling department looks good with Nepal import Sandeep Lamichanne, Michael Beer, who has become an out-and-out opening bowler while Boland, Bird and Zampa need to improve from a lacklustre season last year.
Global superstars in Jos Buttler, Joe Root and Shane Watson give the Sydney based franchise a cutting edge at the top of the order but there’s plenty of intrigue around the make-up of their bowling line-up. The squad has almost every base covered; should it be a spin-friendly wicket, they have the likes of Fawad Ahmed, Chis Green and Arjun Nair, or if it is a seamer-friendly attack, it brings Gurinder Sandhu, Daniel Sams and Sam Rainbird into the game.
Match Details
Venue:-Manuka Oval, Canberra
Match Timing:- Friday, December 21, 2018, 01:45 PM IST
Read on for MLS vs SDT team news and MLS vs SDT dream11 prediction.
Melbourne Stars
Glenn Maxwell [c], Michael Beer, Scott Boland, Dwayne Bravo, Jackson Coleman, Travis Dean, Ben Dunk, Evan Gulbis, Sandeep Lamichhane, Nick Larkin, Lance Morris, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
Here’s how both teams’ might line-up:-
Melbourne Stars
Batsmen – Glenn Maxwell, Nick Larkin, Travis Dean
Wicket-keeper – Ben Dunk
All-rounders – Marcus Stoinis, Dwayne Bravo, Evan Gulbis
Bowlers – Sandeep Lamichhane, Scott Boland, Jackson Coleman, Michael Beer
Sydney Thunder
Batsmen:- Shane Watson, Joe Root, Calum Ferguson
Wicket-Keeper:- Jos Buttler
All-rounders:- Jason Sangha, Arjun Nair, Nathan Mcandrew
Bowlers:- Gurinder Sandhu, Fawad Ahmed, Daniel Sams, Chris Green
If you look at the batting line-up of both sides, with the addition of international superstars, Sydney Thunder looks a formidable line-up with the likes of Buttler, Watson, Ferguson and Root set to up the ante.
From Melbourne Stars, Glenn Maxwell and Ben Dunk will be key. My pick for the batting line-up would be Watson, Buttler, Root and Maxwell.
Buttler will also don the wicket-keeping gloves.
If Sydney boasts of a formidable batting line-up, the Stars have beefed up their all-rounder’s slot by roping in Dwayne Bravo and the omnipresent Marcus Stoinis. They will spearhead the all-rounder’s spot of my Dream11 team as well.
Other Options:- Jason Sangha
Fawad Ahmed has had a great year thus far in T20 cricket, claiming 29 wickets at an average of 14.70. He, along with Lamichhane will lead the spinners department while Sandhu, Beer and Coleman will spearhead the fast bowling department
Jos Buttler, Shane Watson, Marcus Stonis, Dwayne Bravo& Glenn Maxwell
Disclaimer- This MLS vs SDT Dream11 prediction is based on news sourced from various sources. We suggest you pick your playing 11 as per your discretion from the squad listed above basis MLS vs SDT Team News.