How the club is shaping up for Big Bash League 2020-21 – Melbourne Stars
With the player contracting window for the Big Bash League 2020-21 clubs set to open in the coming weeks, we’ve laid out all the specifics of who your team has under lock and key and who might be exploring the open market.
Melbourne Stars
Big Bash League 2019-20 result: Runners-up (first on the regular season standings)
Big Bash League 2020-21 squad so far: Nathan Coulter-Nile, Hilton Cartwright, Clint Hinchliffe, Ben Dunk, Seb Gotch, Glenn Maxwell, Nic Maddinson, Lance Morris, Daniel Worrall, Tom O’Connell, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
Big Bash League 2019-20 squad members off contract: Jackson Coleman, Pat Brown (Eng), Samuel Elliot, Dilbar Hussain (Pak), Peter Handscomb, Nick Larkin, Sandeep Lamichhane (Nep), Dale Steyn (SA), Jonathan Merlo, Haris Rauf (Pak)
The silver lining in the amazing finals flops series of the Melbourne Stars is the fact that they keep making the finals in the 1st place.
Apart from Nick Larkin and Peter Handscomb, the majority of local players who saw the club to their 8 finals appearance in 9 seasons remain under contract, ensuring they are well positioned to challenge for an elusive maiden title.
The Melbourne Stars shouldn’t be counting on having player-of-the-tournament Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis available again for the entire campaign, as they did last summer. But Nic Maddinson and Ben Dunk, both experienced match-winners coming out with the bat from poor seasons, are able to make up at least some of the pair’s performance with the bat.
If they can once again land quality international players – luring Haris Rauf back for some part of the season after a stunning maiden campaign that propelled him into international cricket will be the priority – then expect the Melbourne Stars to be a force again.
