BBL Fantasy 2013/14: Melbourne Stars Preview

The Stars are, for the third time, the favourites heading into the BBL season and they have a strong list to warrant that. This year, the Stars are captained by the inform Cameron White after the retiring of Shane Warne. On paper, they look the strongest team in all regards but they have fallen over in finals on both occasions, one might say they succumbed to Colliwobbles carried over by president Eddie Maguire. Their home ground is the mighty MCG and they kick the series off there on the 20^th of December against cross-town rivals the Melbourne Renegades.

BATTING

The Stars don’t have a shortage of quality batsmen with the likes of Brad Hodge, Rob Quiney, Cameron White, Matthew Wade and Luke Wright to name a few. However, though it’s not a direct translation into BBL form, representing the Bushrangers in the Sheffield Shield, the Stars batsmen haven’t been in the greatest touch besides the captain and Rob Quiney. Whilst they may not be in the best of form, the Stars have a smorgasbord of international standard players which should hold them in good stead come the BBL season.

BOWLING

Lasith Malinga, John Hastings, Clint McKay, James Faulkner and Jackson Bird, those are the names you’ll be hearing often this season for the Stars and it is a potent bowling attack. All five quicks are wicket takers and have international experience with Malinga being one of the best in the world. The one weakness for the Stars is spin. The wake left by the retirement of king Warney will be hard to fill and whoever his replacement will be will have to be decent to push out those five quicks. The Stars have Clive Rose as an option but it seems they will rely on part-timers David Hussey and Glenn Maxwell for the majority of the competition.

Fantasy Locks

• When Lasith Malinga returns from international duties in round 3, he is one to immediately trade in. He took BBL02 apart and against the Perth Scorchers took 6/7.
• Cameron White is also great fantasy value. White is in great form and well under priced at just under $70,000.
• John Hastings is good value as your All-Rounder bench cover at $45,800 even though he is probably going to be used primarily as a bowler he’s what you need in bench cover in that he will most likely be a part of the Stars line-up all season.

Fantasy Blocks

• Daniel Worralisn’t in the stars best 13 or 14 players and therefore shouldn’t be considered for your side.
• AFL convert Alex Keath might get a game or two in the season but once again I’d be considering others ahead of him as he isn’t in the Stars immediate calculations.
• Similarly, Marcus Stoinis is an up and coming all-rounder but there are plenty of others ahead of him.

Best XII

1. Rob Quiney
2. Luke Wright
3. Brad Hodge
4. Cameron White
5. David Hussey
6. Glenn Maxwell
7. Matthew Wade
8. James Faulkner*
9. John Hastings
10. Clint McKay
11. LasithMalinga*
12. Peter Handscomb

Lasith Malinga and James Faulkner (if still 12^th man) will be unavailable due to international duties for round one, Malinga will miss the first two matches of the season. Due to this, I assume Jackson Bird who is returning from injury and spinner Clive Rose will take their places in the side for round one.

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