Match: Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Sixers (MS vs SS)
Date: January 6, Friday, 1:45 PM IST
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground
Melbourne Stars will play against Sydney Sixers in the 31st game of the Big Bash League 2022-23 on Friday, January 6 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The Sixers have been one of the best teams this season with four wins in eight games. Their last game against the Brisbane Heat was washed out. A win in this game will help them make it to the top of the points table. The Stars, on the other hand, have been one of the weaker sides this season. They are languishing at the bottom of the points table with just two wins in seven matches.
This will be the second encounter between the Stars and Sixers this season. The first game was won by the Sixers by seven wickets on December 26. A knock of 78 from Beau Webster helped the Stars post a total of 150 for 5 in 20 overs, which their bowlers were unable to defend. An unbeaten half-century from skipper Moises Henriques took the Sixers to a win with five ball to spare.
The Sixers have thoroughly dominated the Stars in the last few seasons, winning all of the last eight matches between the two teams. The last time the Stars against the Sixers was in 2019.
Ahead of the 31st game of BBL 2022-23, let’s look at the head to head of both the teams, pitch report, weather update, top picks for your MPL fantasy team and more.
Weather update and pitch report for MS vs SS, BBL 2022
The pitch at the Melbourne Cricket Ground looks good for batting but the pacers might play a key role as the game progresses. The average first innings score in the last five T20 matches played on this ground is 171 runs. Overall, a total of 22 T20Is have been played at this venue, of which 12 have been won by the teams bowling first.
The average first innings score is 143, while the average second innings score is 128. The highest and lowest T20 total recorded at this venue is 186 for 5 and 74 for 10.
The weather in Melbourne will be mostly sunny and the skies clear. The temperature will fluctuate between 17 to 20 degrees.
Sydney Sixers team news and predicted XI
Team news: Sixers are resting Steve O’Keefe for the next game. The left-arm spinner was one of their top performers in the rain-curtailed match against Brisbane Heat. 19-year-old spinner Izharulhaq Naveed is likely to replace O’Keefe in the Sixers’ playing 11
Squad: Sean Abbott, Jackson Bird, Dan Christian, Ben Dwarshuis, Moises Henriques, Daniel Hughes, Hayden Kerr, Nathan Lyon, Izharulhaq Naveed, Chris Jordan, Steve O’Keefe, Kurtis Patterson, Josh Philippe, Jordan Silk, James Vince, Todd Murphy, Mickey Edwards, Jack Edwards, Steve Smith, Josh Kann
Predicted XI: Josh Philippe, James Vince, Daniel Hughes, Moises Henriques, Jordan Silk, Dan Christian, Hayden Kerr, Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis, Chris Jordan, Izharulaq Naveed
Melbourne Stars team news and predicted XI
Team news: Melbourne Stars have been struggling in the absence of injured Glenn Maxwell, who is missing the entire tournament due to an injury. Trent Boult has also flown back home to take part in another tournament.
Squad: Trent Boult, Joe Burns, Hilton Cartwright, Joe Clarke, Brody Couch, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Liam Hatcher, Clint Hinchliffe, Nick Larkin, Glenn Maxwell (c), Marcus Stoinis, Beau Webster, Luke Wood, Adam Zampa, Campbell Kellaway, Tom O’Connell, Sam Elliott, Cam McClure
Predicted XI: Joe Clarke, Tom Rogers, Beau Webster, Marcus Stoinis, Hilton Cartwright, Nick Larkin, Campbell Kellaway, Luke Wood, Trent Boult, Liam Hatcher, Adam Zampa
Head to head record
Melbourne Stars and Sydney Sixers have played a total of 19 matches against each other in the past. Of those 20 games, the Sixers have won 12 while the Stars have seven wins.
Five players to watch out for
Here we list five players you must pick in your MPL fantasy XI MS vs SS, BBL 2022-23
Josh Philippe – wicketkeeper batsman, Sydney Sixers
Josh Phillips has made 160 runs in seven innings at an average of 22.85 and a strike rate of 141.59 in the on-going BBL season. A good striker of the ball, Philippe has a strike rate of almost 138 in his 92-match T20 career. He has also played 10 T20 internationals for Australia.
Joe Clarke – wicketkeeper batsman, Melbourne Stars
Joe Clarke has been one of the top performers for the Stars this season and is also the only player who has scored a century in BBL 2022-23. Clarke has made 232 runs in seven innings at an average of 38.66 and a strike rate of 134.1.
Ben Dwarshuis – bowler, Sydney Sixers
The 28-year-old pacer has taken seven wickets in five matches at an average of 22.71, an economy of 8.83, and a strike rate of 15.4. Dwarshuis is a good pick for your MPL team’s vice captaincy for the game. He is likely to continue with his good form on the pace-friendly MCG wicket.
Hayden Kerr – all-rounder, Sydney Sixers
Hayden Kerr is the leading wicket-taker for the Sixers this season with 11 wickets in eight matches at an average of 22.9, an economy of nine, and a strike rate of 15.2.
Luke Wood – bowler, Melbourne Stars
Luke Wood is the leading wicket-taker for the Stars with 13 wickets in seven games at an average of 18.15, an economy of 8.58, and a strike rate of 12.6.
MPL fantasy XI – MS vs SS, BBL 2022
MS vs SS – where and what time to watch the match live in India
The Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Sixers game at the BBL 2022 will televised on the Sony Sports Network in India. You can also watch the game on the Sony Liv app. The match will begin at 1.45 PM IST on January 6.
Check out our detailed guide on fantasy cricket for more tips and tricks. https://www.mpl.live/blog/todays-match-prediction/
Note: The players recommended here need not be a part of the Playing 11 on game day. Users are advised to do their own research also and follow official sources and create their teams.
