Nic Maddison tips Dwayne Bravo to step up in absence of Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa

Melbourne Stars’ new skipper Nic Maddison hopes the best of Dwayne Bravo will be on show at the MCG in the absence of three of the club’s best players, starting against Perth Scorchers.

Dwayne Bravo celebrates taking a wicket for the Melbourne Stars.

The best of Dwayne Bravo could be a by-product of the exit of three of the Melbourne Stars bests players with the West Indian set to be unleashed at the MCG.

Former Aussie Test batsman Nic Maddinson will make his debut for the green team against the Perth Scorchers on Wednesday night, as captain too, taking over from Glenn Maxwell who has been called up for national duties.

On paper the Stars have been decimated by the national selectors, losing Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis and Adam Zampa for the foreseeable future.

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But Maddinson, who signed a three-year deal with the Stars but missed the opening five games with a broken arm, is a glass half-full kind of guy and sees plenty of reason to be upbeat.

Within the ranks of his team remain seven players with international experience, including himself at both Test and T20 level, plus West Indian Bravo, who has only got to bat in three of his five games for the Stars this season.

The new skipper was well aware of the Perth team’s bowling arsenal, which includes Nathan Coulter-Nile, Andrew Tye and Ashton Agar, who were all over-looked by national selectors for the one-day series.

Dwayne Bravo in action for Melbourne Stars.

Liam Bowe is set to step up in place of Adam Zampa.

But with a batting reshuffle likely, Maddinson hopes the changes can bring Bravo to life.

“They are pretty good, but I feel like we matched up pretty well,” he said.

“Bravo hasn’t had much opportunity with the bat so far. I feel like the squad that we have got and the team we have matches pretty well against anyone.

“I think we’re still a very strong team. Obviously it hurts missing those guys for the time they are out, but I am confident there will be no holes left unfilled.”

Spinner Liam Bowe, dubbed the “wizard” is set to fill the shoes of Zampa, with young all-rounder Jonathan Merlo also set to play his second game.

Maddinson, who got the nod over veteran Ben Dunk to skipper the Stars, has captaincy experience with both NSW at Sheffield Shield level, and with the Sydney Sixers in the BBL.

Nic Maddinson will captain the Stars in Glenn Maxwell’s absence. Picture: Mark Stewart

He said he had been involved in the team’s leadership program, and was confident of a “smooth” transition from Maxwell’s leadership style to his.

Maddinson, who was the Sixers leading run scorer in last season’s BBL, was also eating up the expectation that comes with his arrival as a big signing at his new team, which is third on the ladder after the opening five games.

“I’ll bat where Maxi did, captain, things won’t change too much,” he said.

“I have pretty high expectations of myself. I’ll prepare like I want to be the best player in the game and that’s my goal.”

Originally published as Nic Maddison tips Dwayne Bravo to step up in absence of Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa