BBL betting tips & top batsman odds for Stars vs. Heat

THIS is unfamiliar territory for the Melbourne Stars.

Defeats to the Brisbane Heat and the Perth Scorchers leave them bottom of the table and eight points off the pace.

They have fixtures in hand on the frontrunners, however, and will look to cash in when they play their first home game of BBL07 on Tuesday night.

The Stars also have plenty of upside to look forward to.

Kevin Pietersen is back from Christmas holidays, while we have yet to see the best of Ben Dunk, Peter Handscomb, or Glenn Maxwell.

The Heat have endured a mixed start to the season.

Wins over the Stars and the Sydney Thunder have been undercut by heavy defeats to the Melbourne Renegades and the Adelaide Strikers.

They were nowhere near the mark on New Year’s Eve, failing to reach triple figures while chasing 147 at Adelaide Oval.

Brisbane’s vaunted top order will have to deliver much, much more if they are to conquer the MCG.

Kevin Pietersen betting tips

Man of the match	+700	+700	+700
Top Stars runscorer	+340	+300	+250
To score 50	+325	+325	–

The Stars missed KP for their clash with the Scorchers.

Love him or hate him, he is one of the most destructive players in the Big Bash League.

He should be fired up and ready to go after a well-documented spat with Emirates over some misplaced luggage.

What better way to release some pent-up rage than with a few clean hits over cow corner?

Stars vs. Heat match prediction

• Melbourne Stars to win – -129.87 at CrownBet
• Adam Zampa top bowler – +400 at Neds

This is a case of two star-studded lineups that need to lift.

Dunk, Wright, Pietersen, Maxwell, Handscomb, Stoinis, Faulkner – that’s a hell of a batting order in anyone’s language.

The Heat, meanwhile, need at least one of Brendon McCullum, Jimmy Pierson, Chris Lynn and Joe Burns to stand and deliver.

The thing in Melbourne’s favour is their depth of bowling options.

They could call on as many as seven guys who have taken wickets for Australia at international level.

Whether John Hastings’ captaincy makes best use of that wealth is another matter.

Nevertheless, we expect the Stars will head into their upcoming derby date with a win on the board.

Also take a look at Adam Zampa for most wickets on the MCG’s big square boundaries.

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