Melbourne Stars Team Players List, Schedule, and Probable Playing XI: BBL 2024/25

One of the consistent franchise of BBL without having a silverware in their cabinet is what they would want to add in the upcoming edition.

They have entered in the last four for staggering eight times, including being runners-up thrice ,shattered in the final.

However,since 2020-21 Stars performance have been on downward spiral , failing to qualify in the semifinals even once. 

Melbourne-based franchise has blown hot and cold in the last season. With loosing first three matches on the bounce,they came back stronger with winning four in a row. It appeared they would break the finals jinx but they faltered in their own backyard , suffering defeats in all three games.

Stars are on the verge of an Ingonominous record,as no team has failed to qualify for finals in successive five seasons. If Stars are to avoid this unwanted feat, they’ll have to play at their lofty standards, punching above their weight.

Melbourne Stars squad

Scott Boland, Hilton Cartwright, Brody Couch, Tom Curran, Ben Duckett, Sam Harper, Campbell Kellaway, Glenn Maxwell, Hamish McKenzie, Usama Mir, Joel Paris, Tom Rogers, Mark Steketee, Marcus Stoinis, Beau Webster

New Additions:

Tom Curran, Ben Duckett and Hamish McKenzie.

Melbourne Stars Key Players 

Tom Curran: The World Cup winning English all-rounder will be looking to settle things back after sustaining a four-match ban for Sixers in the last season.

However, Tom brings wealth of experience in the Stars contingent. With having played 211 T20 matches with experience all around the world including the IPL, the Hundred, T20 Blast, PSL and numerous BBL stints with the Sydney Sixers,he will play a pivotal role in Melbourne-based side’s campaign in upcoming edition.

He had a great start to the season when he claimed 16 wickets in 9 matches in T20 Blast,also in The Hundred,he scalped 6 wickets to his name. Curran had been brilliant with the willow in T20 Blast too, blasting 140 runs at a stonking strike rate of 157. These stats just vindicating his all-round abilities. As Tom has not featured for England since 2021, he will be available for the entire season,intensifies his opportunities to showcase his pristine prowess.

Ben Duckett: one of the most exciting and chief-architects of English Bazball approach Duckett  will be plying his trade for the second time in BBL after making his bow for Brisbane Heat in 2021-22, scoring 302 runs with a best of 78 in 12 games. Duckett would be eager to bring his attacking game right from ball one in a bid to imprint his name to cause apprehension among the Aussies as Australia would be hosting next Ashes .

However, looking from Stars’ perspective,Coach Moors had talked about bringing a southpaw batter in a heavy line-up of righthanders. They couldn’t have found better than gunslinger Duckett who sets the ball rolling from the outset. 

Glenn Maxwell: Maxwell’s form might have dwindled recently,but he still remains the hot property in T20 Cricket across the globe. After relinquishing the Captaincy post last season’s debacle,he could play his natural game more freely now.

The ferocity while batting which he brings for opponents or even for his own side sometimes is second to none. However,on his day the only show that rules the roost is The Big Show.

Having amassed more than 10k T20 runs at a strike rate of 153.87 shows his marauding yet incessant run-churning attitude. With his off-spin bowling,he has scalped 173 wickets and being electric in the field adds more value into the team.

In BBL 2023-24, he bludgeoned 243 runs striking at Staggering 173.57 while averaging 34.71. He accounted for seven wickets with his off-spin.

Marcus Stoinis: After Maxwell stood down from the Captaincy, Stoinis has thrown his hat in the ring to lead a sinking Stars franchise. Way back in IPL 2023, Australian Speedster had advocated for Stoinis taking over the reins and it could become a reality in the upcoming season of BBL.

Although ,he does not have a lot of captaincy experience in domestic cricket, but being a experienced campaigner and proven performer will help him in donning Captain’s hat.

Having garnered around 6K runs in T20 Cricket and 152 wickets to his name,he boasts destructive batter’s attitude who can take down any bowling lineup. With change of pace and applying variations he has troubled the batters quite often. Being a remarkable fielder he provides a complete package to any Cricketing Unit.

In the last edition of BBL, he scored a sub-par 169 runs at a modest Strike rate of 135. Stoinis also just picked a single wicket while conceding runs at 10.84 was a worrying indicator he needs to brush aside in order to fill new vigour in the stuttering team.

As Stoinis vouchers for the Captaincy, Stars would hope for the powerful batter living up to his billing and showcase his towering credentials, leading the team in a new and promising direction.

Usama Mir: The Pakistani leggie is famously known for dismissing Shahid Afridi and not allowing him to score in the last over in a PSL match. However, has a lot in his arsenal to showcase, deceptive googly being the major weapon. 

He possess a plethora of experience under his belt as Mir is a globetrotter. The 28-year-old has featured in numerous leagues, including PSL,CPL, BPL, T20 Blast,The Hundred, Global T20 Canada. Leggie has snaffled 138 T20 wickets to his name,6/40 being his best performance to date. Mir can also play some cameos with the bat down the order.

In his debut season of BBL 2023-24, he only managed to pick five wickets in five games. The tall-lanky will have to exceed the expectations in a bid to turn the tides in Stars’ fortunes.

Melbourne Stars Probable Playing Xi

Thomas Rogers, Ben Duckett, Beau Webster, Marcus Stoinis(C), Glenn Maxwell, Sam Harper(WK), Tom Curran, Hilton Cartwright, Joel Paris, Mark Stekette, Usama Mir 

Melbourne Stars Matches BBL 2024-2025