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Melbourne Stars betting

Melbourne stars

The Melbourne Stars are the Big Bash League‘s glamour club.

Responsible for the game’s biggest attendance records as a proud tenant at the mighty MCG, the Stars come with a big reputation, but have been unable to turn six consecutive finals appearances into a title.

Things took a turn for the worse in 2017/18, when an ageing squad riddled with injury issues and absentee internationals finished dead last.

That was the first time the Stars had ever missed the finals, so there is big pressure to perform this year with fresh faces taking over from the likes of Kevin Pietersen, Luke Wright and Rob Quiney.

We’ll look at the Stars’ odds, their squad, the BBL fixture list and the best betting markets in our full team preview.

About the Melbourne Stars

Established: 2011
Home ground: Melbourne Cricket Ground
Coach: Stephen Fleming (NZ)
Captain: Glenn Maxwell
BBL titles: 0

Best bookmakers to bet on the Melbourne Stars

Melbourne Stars 2018/19 fixture

Stars BBL dates
Opponent Date Venue Time
Sydney Thunder Friday, December 21, 2018 TBC 7.15pm AEDT
Hobart Hurricanes Monday, December 24, 2018 Blundstone Arena 3.45pm AEDT
Sydney Sixers Thursday, December 27, 2018 SCG 7.15pm AEDT
Melbourne Renegades Tuesday, January 1, 2019 MCG 7.15pm AEDT
Sydney Thunder Saturday, January 5, 2019 Metricon Stadium 6.15pm AEDT
Perth Scorchers Wednesday, January 9, 2019 MCG 7.15pm AEDT
Adelaide Strikers Friday, January 11, 2019 Adelaide Oval 7pm AEDT
Hobart Hurricanes Monday, January 14, 2019 MCG 7.15pm AEDT
Melbourne Renegades Saturday, January 19, 2019 Marvel Stadium 6.45pm AEDT
Adelaide Strikers Wednesday, January 23, 2019 Ted Summerton Reserve 2.45pm AEDT
Brisbane Heat Sunday, January 27, 2019 MCG 7.40pm AEDT
Perth Scorchers Sunday, February 3, 2019 Optus Stadium 9.15pm AEDT
Brisbane Heat Friday, February 8, 2019 The Gabba 8.40pm AEDT
Sydney Sixers Sunday, February 10, 2019 MCG 2.45pm AEDT

Melbourne Stars squad

Melbourne Stars futures betting

After a horror BBL07, the Melbourne Stars will start the 2018/19 Big Bash League season in the middle of the pack at around +600 for the title with Sportsbet.com.au.

With competition fierce for finals spots, the green half of Melbourne will be offering better value than ever to finish in the top four.

For more outright markets and futures bets, see our dedicated Big Bash odds page.

Tips for betting on the Melbourne Stars

The Melbourne Stars have made the finals in every season of the Big Bash League for a reason – they’re usually packed with talent.

While odds are not yet released on leading run-scorers and wicket-takers for the season ahead, we’ve outlined the players to watch and the ones to avoid when laying down your hard-earned.

Most wickets betting:

If it’s one thing the Stars lack, it’s real pace. Scott Boland, James Faulkner, Ben Hilfenhaus and John Hastings will all share the new ball at different stages throughout the campaign, but we think the man who will clean up the wicket tally is short leg-spinner Adam Zampa.

Spin continues to be a weapon in the shortest form of the game and Zampa, despite modest returns last season from five matches, is our tip. He’ll start at juicy odds and continues to mature and develop his skill-set, so keep an eye on him, especially at the MCG, where it’s hard to hit a spinner out of the ground.

Most runs betting:

The Stars squad features plenty of players who are keen to reenter the national selection frame. Peter Handscomb would love another chance in Australia’s middle order, while Glenn Maxwell will be eager to impress after missing out on the Pakistan tour.

But no name stands out more than that of Nic Maddinson. Chopped by NSW in acrimonious circumstances at the end of last season, the big-hitting lefty has crossed the Murray to sign on for both Victoria and the Stars. Another good year in the Big Bash would go some ways to shoving it up the Blues and catching the selectors’ attention.

Melbourne Stars all-time XI

The Melbourne Stars have had some of the game’s biggest names don their colours, creating huge blockbuster appeal for the BBL since the inception of the competition.

Names like Lasith Malinga, Glenn Maxwell, Kevin Pietersen and Luke Wright are some of the very best to ever play short-form cricket.

Let’s not forget the original Star that captained the side for its first two seasons – the legendary Shane Warne.

Warne was able to lead the side well into his late 30s, providing expert field-placing, some lower order hitting and his trademark leg spin that was a big factor until his very last game. Fans and television viewers were often left in awe as Warne, who often played with a microphone for the broadcast, would plot wickets openly and detail plans that would inevitably come to fruition.

The Melbourne Stars all-time XI from the past six seasons is one of the best you could assemble for this competition:

1. Luke Wright
2. Brad Hodge
3. Kevin Pietersen
4. David Hussey
5. Glenn Maxwell
6. Cameron White
7. Matthew Wade
8. James Faulkner
9. Lasith Malinga
10. Shane Warne (c)
11. Jackson Bird

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