The BBL11 season continues on Monday night with just the one game, but it is certainly a big one! The Melbourne Derby will get its first instalment of the season as the Stars host the Renegades from the MCG. As always, Mr. Cricket has you covered with a full preview and betting tips for the clash below.
BBL11 Stars vs Renegades Betting Tips
MCG, Monday 3rd January, 7.15pm (AEDT)
Melbourne Stars
Predicted XI: Joe Clarke, Tom Rogers, Glenn Maxell, Charlie Hakim, Hilton Cartwright, Tom O’Connel, Justin Avendano, Xavier Crone, Qais Ahman, Brody Couch, Haris Rauf
The Stars were dealt a body blow in the lead up to their last match as a bunch of players tested positive for COVID. They went down to the Scorchers by 50 runs on Sunday afternoon and will have to back it up with another game on Monday without Marcus Stones, Adam Zampa, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Nick Larkin and a few more.
The absences give some good opportunities for lesser known players like Tom Rogers, Justin Avendano and Charlie Hakim, but it seriously impacts the Stars depth. Ringwood player Tom Rogers was the best of the ring-ins on Sunday afternoon, smashing 32 off 25 opening the batting.
NOTE: FURTHER BAD NEWS FOR THE STARS AS JOE CLARKE AND TOM ROGERS HAVE BOTH BEEN RULED OUT OF THE GAME WITH COVID - MONDAY AFTERNOON
Melbourne Renegades
Predicted XI: Aaron Finch, Mackenzie Harvey, Shaun Marsh, Nick Maddinson, Sam Harper, Mohammad Nabi, Will Sutherland, James Pattinson, Jack Prestige, Reece Topley, Zahir Khan
The Renegades, at the moment, appear to be unaffected by COVID and they have some big inclusions for this match. Skipper Nic Maddinson will return after seemingly finishing his duties with the Australian Test squad, while veterans Shaun Marsh and James Pattinson will both return to the side.
James Seymour was slated to play and bat at No.3 in the Sixers clash but with Marsh and Maddinson coming back, Seymour and Fraser-McGurk will likely be the ones to miss out. The Renegades will also want to make the most of Reece Topley while they have him, as it was announced recently that all English international ODI players would be departing on the 7th of January.
Match Prediction
When both teams are at full strength, it’s hard to see the Renegades competing with their cross town rivals. However, given the Stars are so hindered by absences at the moment, it turns this derby into a really interesting clash. I thought this was a straight up 50-50 but with the news that Pattinson, Marsh and Maddinson were all back in the line-up for the Renegades, I'm now leaning slightly towards them.
Same Game Multi
We originally fancied Joe Clarke to score 20+ runs in this game but since he has been ruled out on Monday afternoon, we are turning our attention to Glenn Maxwell. The skipper will have so much responsibility in this clash, I think he plays a less agressive and more anchor role in this one.
Pairing Clarke with a duo of Renegades players to pass the 10 run mark. Shaun Marsh will likely slot straight back in at No.3 on Monday night, which means the $1.22 on offer for him to score 10+ is decent value. Sam Harper has also been ultra consistent, passing 10 runs in five of his six games this season.
Maxwell 20+ Runs
Marsh 10+ Runs
Harper 10+ Runs
STA vs REN Same Game Multi
$3.20
