The Melbourne Stars host the Adelaide Strikers at the MCG on Tuesday, January 13, and there’s a lot riding on this one. The Stars, sitting third with a 5-3 record, just snapped out of a three-game slump by steamrolling the Renegades in the derby. They chased down 167 with eight wickets in hand and plenty of balls left, pretty convincing. Sam Harper keeps lighting up the league. He’s BBL’s top run-scorer: 356 runs, averaging a wild 89. He’s not just padding stats, either. He smashed 84* off 51 in the derby and already has an unbeaten century from Boxing Day. Thomas Rogers chipped in too, blasting the second-fastest fifty in Stars history, just 19 balls.
The Strikers, though, are in trouble. They’re sixth at 3-5, and after back-to-back losses to the Hurricanes and Scorchers, their finals hopes are fading fast. Now, they pretty much have to win two of their last three just to stay alive. Alex Carey returned to the BBL with a cracking 71 off 39 against Perth, picking up right where he left off after the Ashes. Matthew Short added 52 off 31. But the rest of the lineup hasn’t offered much support. Liam Scott, with 274 runs, has been their most consistent. Chris Lynn has struggled for rhythm. Pope has been a bright spot with the ball, 13 wickets at 16.45, but overall, their bowling has lacked bite.
Melbourne Stars vs Adelaide Strikers Match Preview
The Stars’ turnaround has been all about Harper and the openers. He’s the engine, 356 runs, striking at almost 159. Rogers and Kellaway have chipped in, and while Glenn Maxwell hasn’t really caught fire, the batting order’s deep enough to cover it. On the bowling front, Peter Siddle (14 wickets) and Haris Rauf (15) lead the way.
For the Strikers, it’s been a rough couple of games. Against Hobart, they slumped to 8/4 in the powerplay. Meredith and Ellis tore through them. Liam Scott’s unbeaten 91 was the only thing keeping it respectable. Then against Perth, even after a 93-run opening stand from Carey and Short, they lost 6 for 14 chasing 233. The batting collapses have been brutal.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Melbourne Stars vs Adelaide Strikers, BBL Match 34 |
| Date | Tuesday, 13th January, 2026 |
| Time | 7:15 PM Local / 1:45 PM IST / 8:15 AM GMT |
| Venue | Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Melbourne |
| Tournament | Big Bash League 2025-26 |
Pitch Report
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Pitch Type | Balanced track with good bounce and pace |
| Average Score | 158 runs (T20 matches at MCG) |
| Favours | Even contest between bat and ball; fast bowlers get assistance |
| Surface | Drop-in pitch offering consistent bounce |
| BBL Average | 150-160 runs (first innings in BBL matches) |
| Key Factor | Spinners don’t play a crucial role; pace and variations are key |
| Toss | Batting second has advantages in night games due to the dew |
Weather Report
| Condition | Details |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 22-28°C |
| Humidity | 45-55% |
| Wind Speed | Light to moderate breeze |
| Rain Chance | Low; clear summer evening expected |
| Conditions | Perfect evening conditions for cricket |
Toss Prediction
The MCG pitch usually accommodates everyone. Average first-innings scores hover around 150-160. There’s bounce and pace for the quicks, but it’s still fair for batters. With the dew and easier conditions under lights, captains usually prefer to chase, and both sides have shown they can do that this season.
Injury Updates
Melbourne Stars: No major injury concerns.
Adelaide Strikers: Alex Carey returned from Ashes duty with a brilliant 71 vs Perth. Travis Head is resting ahead of the T20 World Cup and won’t feature. Tabraiz Shamsi was surprisingly omitted against Perth after taking 3/30 vs them in Perth the previous week.
Dream11 Team for Melbourne Stars vs Adelaide Strikers
Melbourne Stars vs Adelaide Strikers Head-to-Head
Head-to-head, it’s tight, Stars lead 10-9 in 19 BBL meetings. Lately, though, the Stars have had the edge, winning four of the last five. The Strikers took the points at Adelaide Oval, winning by 15 runs. Both teams have piled up big totals in this matchup before, so expect some fireworks.
Last Five Games
- Stars won by 6 wickets (with 11 balls remaining) 23-Dec-2025
- Strikers won by 15 runs 20-Dec-2024
- Stars won by 7 wickets (with 6 balls remaining) 31-Dec-2023
- Stars won by 9 wickets (with 33 balls remaining) 12-Jan-2023
- Stars won by 8 runs 31-Dec-2022
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Top Picks For The Match
| Player | Reason |
|---|---|
| Sam Harper (Captain) | BBL’s leading run-scorer with 356 runs at 89.00; strike rate 158.92; 84* and 100* in last two innings; in career-best form |
| Alex Carey (Vice Captain) | 71 off 39 balls vs Perth; fresh from Ashes heroics (323 runs at 46.14); point to prove after missing T20 World Cup squad |
| Haris Rauf | Stars’ leading wicket-taker with 15 wickets at 17.66; strikes every 12.2 balls; loves bowling in BBL |
| Peter Siddle | Defying age with 14 wickets at 15.64; strikes every 13.3 balls; clever death bowling |
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