Hobart Hurricanes will face Melbourne Stars in the Knockout of the Big Bash League 2025-26 on January 21, 2026, at Ninja Stadium (Bellerive Oval) in Hobart. This is a do-or-die clash – the winner advances to The Challenger on January 23, while the loser’s season is over.
Both teams have quality players in their squads. Hobart Hurricanes feature stars like Ben McDermott, Mitch Owen, and Beau Webster. Melbourne Stars rely on Sam Harper, Marcus Stoinis, and Glenn Maxwell to deliver match-winning performances. This match promises to be a blockbuster knockout encounter.
This article gives you a detailed Dream11 prediction, match details, head-to-head records, and key players for this BBL Knockout clash.
Hobart Hurricanes vs Melbourne Stars Knockout Preview
Ninja Stadium (Bellerive Oval) in Hobart will host The Knockout of BBL|15. The game starts at 7:30 PM AEDT (2:00 PM IST).
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Hobart Hurricanes vs Melbourne Stars, The Knockout |
| Date | 21 January 2026 |
| Time | 7:30 PM AEDT / 2:00 PM IST |
| Venue | Ninja Stadium (Bellerive Oval), Hobart |
| Series | KFC Big Bash League 2025-26 |
Stakes: This is sudden death – loser goes home! The winner advances to The Challenger on January 23 against the loser of The Qualifier (Perth Scorchers vs Sydney Sixers).
Hobart Hurricanes finished 3rd on the points table with 6 wins from 10 matches (13 points). Melbourne Stars finished 4th with 6 wins from 10 matches (12 points). Hurricanes are defending champions (won BBL|14) while Stars are still searching for their maiden BBL title despite 10 finals appearances and 3 finals losses.
Pitch Report
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Pitch Type | Batting-friendly, pace, and bounce |
| Average Score | ~182 runs (BBL 2025-26 at this venue) |
| Favors | Batters once set, pacers early witha new ball |
| Surface | Good pace and bounce, flattens as the game progresses |
| Boundaries | Shortest 62-64m, longest 75-78m |
| Toss Factor | Teams bowling first have had better results this season |
Ninja Stadium (Bellerive Oval) has a reputation for helping pace bowlers early on with movement and bounce. However, once batters settle in, batting becomes progressively easier. Five games have been played at this venue in BBL 2025-26 with an average first-innings total of around 182. Three out of five matches were won by teams batting first, but the toss-winner may prefer to bowl to know the target.
Weather Report
| Condition | Details |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 16-20°C |
| Humidity | Moderate (~60-65%) |
| Wind Speed | Light to moderate breeze |
| Rain Chance | No chance of rain |
| Overall | Clear evening conditions expected |
Toss Prediction
Winning the toss could be important. Given recent trends at this venue, the captain winning the toss is likely to choose to bowl first to know the target.
Injury Updates
Hobart Hurricanes: Nathan Ellis- MAJOR BLOW! Captain ruled out of The Knockout due to injury sustained vs Brisbane Heat. Extent of injury not specified. His availability for the remainder of finals (if Hurricanes progress) will be determined over the coming days. Also rested for the T20I series vs Pakistan – doubts over T20 World Cup fitness. Rehan Ahmed, England leg-spinner, left the BBL to join England’s World Cup squad for the preparatory series in Sri Lanka. Featured in every regular-season match. Jake Weatherald will not participate in the Hurricanes’ finals campaign, prioritising red-ball cricket with Tasmania. Jackson Bird was recalled to replace Ellis. Charlie Wakim was recalled to the squad. Ben McDermott Will captain in Ellis’ absence.
Melbourne Stars: Unchanged squad. The Stars will field an unchanged lineup.
Dream11 Team For HUR vs STA
HUR vs STA Head-to-Head Records
Hobart Hurricanes and Melbourne Stars have a storied rivalry in BBL history, with the Stars dominating overall.
| Category | Stats |
|---|---|
| Total BBL Matches | 24 |
| Melbourne Stars Wins | 16 |
| Hobart Hurricanes Wins | 8 |
Melbourne Stars lead the head-to-head convincingly with 16 wins. Stars have won the last 2 meetings, including an 8-wicket victory earlier this season (December 18, 2025), where Stoinis was Player of the Match (62* off 31 & 2/18).
Last Five Meetings
- Stars won by 8 wickets (with 24 balls remaining) 18-Dec-2025
- Stars won by 40 runs, 19-Jan-2025
- Hurricanes won by 7 runs, 15-Jan-2024
- Stars won by 7 wickets (with 3 balls remaining) (DLS method) 28-Dec-2023
- Hurricanes won by 2 wickets (with 14 balls remaining) 09-Jan-2023
Suggested Reads:
Top Picks For The Match
| Player | Reason |
|---|---|
| Sam Harper (STA) | BBL’s leading run-scorer – 371 runs at avg 61.83 with 1 century, sensational form |
| Marcus Stoinis (STA) | Big-match player, 62* & 2/18 in earlier win vs HUR, barely dismissed vs this team |
| Glenn Maxwell (STA) | Built for big moments, 154no vs HUR in BBL |
| Peter Siddle (STA) | 41-year-old with 16 wickets at avg 15.81, experience in pressure moments |
| Mitch Owen (HUR) | 146 runs at SR 200, loves Ninja Stadium, finals specialist who powered title win last year |
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