Melbourne Stars vs Adelaide Strikers Prediction & Match Preview – BBL 34th Match
Match summary
Melbourne Stars won by 6 wickets: Melbourne Stars 86/4 (15.1 ov), Adelaide Strikers 83 (19.3 ov). Player of the match: Tom Curran.
Our preview of Melbourne Stars vs Adelaide Strikers in the BBL at the MCG: form, key performers, pitch conditions and expected scores for the game.
Match details
| Match | Melbourne Stars vs Adelaide Strikers, 34th Match |
|---|---|
| Series | Big Bash League 2025-26 |
| Date | 13 Jan 2026 |
| Venue | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne |
| Status | Result |
| Result | Melbourne Stars won by 6 wickets |
| Player of the match | Tom Curran |
| Our pick | Melbourne Stars ✓ |
| Toss pick | Adelaide Strikers |
Matches in this series
Match preview
Melbourne Stars look to be back in rhythm after an eight-wicket win over Melbourne Renegades ended a three-match losing run. With two group games left, one at home, they have a real chance to push for the qualifiers.
Sam Harper has been the batter of the season so far, and Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis and Campbell Kellaway support him in the middle order, Stoinis having made 186 runs and Kellaway 153. Haris Rauf and Peter Siddle have taken 29 wickets between them, Mitch Swepson handles the spin, and Tom Curran and Stoinis have shared 23 wickets.
Adelaide Strikers are sixth with three wins and five defeats from eight games and must win both remaining matches while relying on other results. Captain Matthew Short has 242 runs, Liam Scott 274 and Chris Lynn 149 at a strike rate of 146. Lloyd Pope and Jamie Overton have taken 24 wickets between them, while Luke Wood has eight but is going at 9.38 an over.
The MCG surface is true and sporting. Pace bowlers can extract bounce and carry from the slightly grassy pitch early on, so disciplined opening overs matter, and it tends to flatten out for batters later. Spinners get limited help, with the large boundaries rewarding placement over raw power.
Expected scores
| Innings | Predicted | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| First innings | 155–170 | 86/4 (15.1 ov) |
| Second innings | 145–165 | 83 (19.3 ov) |
Melbourne Stars
The Stars have regained form with a convincing win and a strong batting group at home, while the Strikers need to win both remaining games.
Toss pick: Adelaide Strikers
FAQ
Where is Melbourne Stars vs Adelaide Strikers being played?
The 34th match of BBL 2025-26 is scheduled for the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Who do we pick to win?
Our preview picks Melbourne Stars, buoyed by an eight-wicket win over Melbourne Renegades.
Who is the Stars’ leading batter this season?
Sam Harper, with 356 runs in seven matches at a strike rate of 159, the most by any batter so far.
Probable XIs
Expected line-ups from our preview. c = captain, wk = wicketkeeper.
Melbourne Stars
- Thomas Rogers
- Sam Harperwk
- Campbell Kellaway
- Blake Macdonald
- Glenn Maxwell
- Marcus Stoinisc
- Hilton Cartwright
- Mitchell Swepson
- Tom Curran
- Haris Rauf
- Peter Siddle
Adelaide Strikers
- Matthew Shortc
- Alex Carey
- Chris Lynn
- Liam Scott
- Mackenzie Harveywk
- Jamie Overton
- Harry Manenti
- Luke Wood
- Hasan Ali
- Cameron Boyce
- Lloyd Pope
Head-to-head
Earlier meetings of Melbourne Stars and Adelaide Strikers that we covered.