In the second of the doubleheader on New Year’s Day, Brisbane Heat will host Melbourne Stars in the 19th match of the Big Bash League 2024/25. Brisbane Heat have lost their momentum, going down in their previous two outings against the Perth Scorchers and Sydney Sixers. On the other hand, the Melbourne Stars made a horrendous start, losing all five matches.
Ready to dance tomorrow 🕺
🎟️https://t.co/jR5CSGF28B pic.twitter.com/vYsqt8byiL
— Brisbane Heat (@HeatBBL) December 31, 2024
Match Details:
Brisbane Heat vs Melbourne Stars, Match 19
Venue: The Gabba, Brisbane
Date & Time: January 1st at 1:45 PM IST and 6:15 PM Local Time
Live Telecast & Streaming: Star Sports Network & Disney+hotstar
What is the Pitch Report for HEA vs STA, Big Bash League 2024/25, Match 19?
It takes a lot of effort to clear the fence, especially the square ones. The surface offers purchase for the seamers at the start and tends to get flat as the game progresses. Teams batting second won the last 2 matches here in the ongoing BBL 2024/25, so bowling first makes sense.
Recent form:
Brisbane Heat: Lost, Lost, Won, Won, Won
Melbourne Stars: Lost, Lost, Lost, Lost, Lost
HEA vs STA, Big Bash League 2024/25, Match 19 Probable Winners:
Brisbane Heat are expected to win this match.
What is the Expected, Probable Playing XIs for HEA vs STA, Big Bash League 2024/25, Match 19?
Brisbane Heat
Tom Banton (wk), Colin Munro (c), Nathan McSweeney, Matt Renshaw, Max Bryant, Paul Walter, Michael Neser, Xavier Bartlett, Mitchell Swepson, Spencer Johnson, Matthew Kuhnemann / Jack Wildermuth.
Melbourne Stars
Ben Duckett, Tom Fraser Rogers, Sam Harper (wk), Dan Lawrence, Marcus Stoinis (c), Glenn Maxwell, Hilton Cartwright, Usama Mir, Joel Paris, Brody Couch / Mark Steketee, Peter Siddle.
If you start watching #REIGNITE at 10:54:40 PM tonight, you can celebrate the New Year with Xavier Bartlett bowling us to victory in BBL13 Final. pic.twitter.com/GJrHg3nlSw
— Brisbane Heat (@HeatBBL) December 31, 2024
Injury Updates:
Brisbane Heat: Michael Neser has been included in the Brisbane Heat squad after recovering from a hamstring tendon injury.
Melbourne Stars: Tom Curran ruled out for the next 2 games due to a calf injury.
What are the Fantasy Cricket Top Picks, Players for HEA vs STA, Big Bash League 2024/25, Match 19?
Top Pick – Batter
Nathan McSweeney looked in good touch, ever since he was axed from the Australian Test squad. In 3 matches in the BBL 2024/25, he scored 120 runs at a strike rate of 136.36 with the best score of 78*.
Top Pick – All-Rounder
Marcus Stoinis is struggling to convert his starts to bigger ones. His scores in the tournament are 22, 20, 27, 26 and 37.
Top Pick – Bowler
Peter Siddle is using all his experience in the tournament and he is the best bowler for Melbourne Stars, having picked up 5 wickets in 4 matches at an economy of 7.34.
Top Pick – Wicketkeeper
Tom Banton will don the wicket-keeping gloves for Brisbane Heat in this match. The 26-year-old Englishman has managed 26 runs in 2 matches in the tournament.
X-Factor:
Ben Duckett has hit 2 half-centuries in 3 innings he batted in the tournament and collected overall 135 runs at a strike rate of 170.88.
Stoin provided the fireworks on NYE in ’22 & ’23 🎆 pic.twitter.com/8bEUMvgQ2w
— Melbourne Stars (@StarsBBL) December 31, 2024
What are the Fantasy Suggested Teams for HEA vs STA, Big Bash League 2024/25, Match 19?
1. Sam Harper, Tom Banton, Ben Duckett, Nathan McSweeney (vc), Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Matt Renshaw, Paul Walter, Peter Siddle, Xavier Bartlett (c), Spencer Johnson.
2. Sam Harper, Colin Munro, Ben Duckett (c), Max Bryant, Nathan McSweeney, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Paul Walter (vc), Usama Mir, Xavier Bartlett, Spencer Johnson.
https://t.co/tSEtzih4i3
— Melbourne Stars (@StarsBBL) December 31, 2024
Pre-Match Analysis:
Brisbane Heat paid a price for not showing the right intent with the bat against Sydney Sixers as a result, easily got beaten in the end by 8 wickets. This is the second time in a row, they have settled for 130-odd runs, which is the major reason behind their loss. In their 3rd fixture, they bow down to Perth Scorchers, enduring 33 runs loss. In both defeats, they made lots of mistakes that backfired immensely.
Melbourne Stars are on the verge of elimination, having 5 matches on the trot and still languishing at the bottom of the standings with no points. The only option they have is to win their remaining 5 matches to keep themselves alive in the playoff race.
Luck didn’t favor them once, while they were thoroughly outplayed on most of the occasions. Batters should be blamed as they weren’t consistent enough to win games. Only Ben Duckett has scored a half-century (2) for the Heat in the tournament, while Marcus Stoinis (132) and Sam Harper (111) have scored in excess of 100 runs.
Dan Lawrence replaces injured Tom Curran in the squad for the next two games, who has been ruled out with a calf injury.
