It won't just be the players lighting up Etihad Stadium tonight - the stumps will do their part, too. Photo: bigbash.com.au
Melbourne's two T20 teams clash in the opening Big Bash Twenty20 game of the summer, with plenty of big names expected to light up Etihad Stadium.
Big Bash guide
Jesse Hogan's Preview
Tournament favourites the Melbourne Stars have lived up to their name by collecting a brilliant array of talent. In Shane Warne, Brad Hodge, David Hussey, Lasith Malinga, Luke Wright, Matthew Wade and Rob Quiney, the Stars have the more identifiable players, and their international experience far out-strips their opponents. However, the Stars looked as impressive 'on paper' last year, and never lived up to their billing, just making the finals, and quickly exiting.
Spin king Shane Warne with Lasith Malingas. Photo: Paul Rovere
The Melbourne Renegades are a comparatively low-profile unit after off-loading a raft of big-name under-performers from their first season, but in Muttiah Muralitharan and Aaron Finch, they possess what could end up the most influential bowler and batsman in the competition. And in Darren Pattinson and Nathan Rimmington, they have a pair of the more effective short-form pacemen in the game.
The Big Bash, a ratings and attendance succes story last season, has again been given a privileged summer time-slot to capture the hearts and minds of cricket-lovers, and perhaps gain the sport some new adherents. Most of the gimmicks, particularly at Etihad Stadium, appeal to the very young, with under-18s making up a solid proportion of the crowds last year. Self-defined cricket purists may abhor the fireworks, dancing, and loud music, but many canny cricket-lovers are watching with interest as the evolution of Twenty20 cricket affects the longer forms of the game.
Get set for radical footwork from batsmen, variations upon variations from bowlers, and stumps that light up when the bail is dislodged. This is a mutation of the game that forces innovation.
Short-form superstar Aaron Finch. Photo: Vince Caligiuri
It's not cricket, but it can be a lot of fun.
Line-ups (T20 International experience in brackets)
Melbourne Renegades squad: Aaron Finch (3), Fawad Ahmed (0), Tom Cooper (6), Faf Du Plessis (4), Dan Harris (0), Michael Hill (0), Muttiah Muralitharan (12), Peter Nevill (0), Aaron O’Brien (0), Darren Pattinson (0), Nathan Rimmington (0), Ben Rohrer (0), Will Sheridan (0)
Melbourne Stars: Shane Warne (0), Jackson Bird (0), James Faulkner (0), Peter Handscomb (0), Brad Hodge (8), David Hussey (39), Clint McKay (4), Lasith Malinga (40), Rob Quiney (0), Clive Rose (0), Matthew Wade (15), Cameron White (38), Luke Wright (37)
Total T20 I caps: Renegades 25 v Stars 181.
Melbourne's Big Bash games:
Fri 07 Dec: Melbourne Renegades vs Melbourne Stars. Etihad Stadium, 7pm.
Sat 15 Dec: Melbourne Stars vs Hobart Hurricanes. MCG, 7pm.
Wed 19 Dec: Melbourne Renegades vs Hobart Hurricanes. Etihad Stadium, 7pm.
Fri 21 Dec: Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Sixers. MCG, 7pm.
Sat 22 Dec: Melbourne Renegades vs Brisbane Heat. Etihad Stadium, 7pm.
Wed 02 Jan 2013: Melbourne Renegades vs Adelaide Strikers. Etihad Stadium, 7pm.
Sun 06 Jan 2013: Melbourne Stars vs Melbourne Renegades. MCG, 7pm.
Tue 08 Jan 2013: Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Thunder. MCG, 7pm.
Poll: What is of more interest to you - the Test series v Sri Lanka, or the Big Bash T20 league?
- Test series v Sri Lanka
51%
- Big Bash T20 league
49%
Total votes: 35.
You will need Cookies enabled to use our Voting Feature.
Poll closes in 24 days.
Disclaimer:
These polls are not scientific and reflect the opinion only of visitors who have chosen to participate.
No comments:
Post a Comment