Melbourne Stars BBL10 preview: Squad, key KFC SuperCoach players

After coming so close to ending their title drought last summer, can Melbourne Stars go one step further? We analyse their BBL10 squad and best KFC SuperCoach buys.

Glenn Maxwell will lead Melbourne Stars again in BBL10.

With two of the most exciting signings of BBL10 in Jonny Bairstow and Nicholas Pooran locked in, Melbourne Stars have reason to dream of a breakthrough title.

The Stars will be led by skipper Glenn Maxwell and star all-rounder Marcus Stoinis, who plundered the most runs in a BBL tournament last season.

The increased availability of Australian spinner Adam Zampa is a huge bonus and he will form a dangerous pairing with Afghani spinner Zahir Khan.

Zahir is no stranger to BBL audiences after featuring in eight games for Brisbane Heat in BBL09.

The Stars are shaping as a serious contender — but when don’t they look formidable?

The ONLY place to watch every single match of India’s Tour of Australia is on Fox Cricket, available on Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your free trial now & start streaming instantly >

OTHER TEAM PREVIEWS:

SYDNEY SIXERS: WHY REIGNING CHAMP CAN GO BACK-TO-BACK

BRISBANE HEAT: CAN NEW FACES LIFT HEAT BACK TO FINALS?

PERTH SCORCHERS: CAN BIG GUNS GET BACK TO THEIR BEST?

BBL10 SQUAD

Jonny Bairstow (Eng), Hilton Cartwright, Jackson Coleman, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Ben Dunk, Seb Gotch, Liam Hatcher, Clint Hinchliffe, Zahir Khan (Afg), Nick Larkin, Nic Maddinson, Glenn Maxwell (C), Lance Morris, Tom O’Connell, Nicholas Pooran (WI), Will Pucovski, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.

In: Billy Stanlake (Strikers), Will Pucovski, Jonny Bairstow, Nicholas Pooran, Liam Hatcher (Thunder)

Out: Daniel Worrall (Strikers), Peter Handscomb (Hurricanes), Pat Brown, Haris Rauf, Sandeep Lamichhane (Hurricanes), Jon Merlo, Dale Steyn.

Internationals: Jonny Bairstow (Eng), Nicholas Pooran (WI), Zahir Khan (Afg)

Melbourne Stars captain Glenn Maxwell was one of the top point scorers last season.

KEY SUPERCOACH BBL PLAYERS

Glenn Maxwell BAT-BWL BBL09 avg: 64.6

The Stars skipper is arguably the most dynamic player in the BBL — capable of changing a game and racking up KFC SuperCoach points with bat, ball and in the field. He monstered 273 points in a double game round last season, posting 109 against Sydney Thunder and 164 against Melbourne Renegades. Maxwell compiled 398 runs at a strike rate of 148.5 and took 10 wickets in BBL09. His increased bowling load, in particular during the powerplay, was a big plus. Perhaps the only worry is he can be stuck at No. 4 or No. 5 in the batting line-up which becomes an issue if Stoinis gets going.

Marcus Stoinis was a prolific KFC SuperCoach scorer despite only bowling two overs in BBL09.

Marcus Stoinis BAT-BWL BBL09 avg: 64.9

Stoinis shattered records last season and produced the third highest KFC SuperCoach BBL score of all time. Stoinis’ 147 not out against Sydney Sixers was worth 244 points, 13 short of the mark he set in the opening round of the 2017-18 season. The Stars all-rounder has one of the biggest upsides of any player. While it would be an almighty effort to come close to his 705-run tournament again, he only bowled two overs in BBL09. Compare that to BBL08 when he delivered 27 overs and the potential increase in bowling points is significant.

Aussie white-ball spinner Adam Zampa managed 20 wickets in 12 matches last summer.

Adam Zampa BWL BBL09 avg: 64.3

The Aussie tweaker has stamped himself as one of the best white-ball spinners in the world, snaring a series-high 10 scalps during Australia’s recent tour of England. Zampa was ranked 15th for KFC SuperCoach averages last season, but only featured in 12 matches due to international duties. He was a key contributor for the Stars when available with 20 wickets and an impressive economy rate of 7.2.

Jonny Bairstow WKP-BAT

It’s a shame for KFC SuperCoaches the English star, one of the top T20 batsmen in the world, will miss the Stars’ Round 1 double. However, there will be enough rounds where no team has a double once Bairstow arrives for him to become a top trade target. Bairstow will almost certainly opening the batting with Stoinis and has a career average of 28.3 (strike rate 133.8) in T20s. Anyone who watched his 97 from 55 balls in the recent IPL, which included six sixes and seven boundaries, will have no doubt Bairstow is worth his $175,000 starting price.

Jonny Bairstow is one of the best signings of BBL10.

Nicholas Pooran WKP-BAT

Will he be here for Round 1? It’s the question any KFC SuperCoaches are asking after the West Indian T20 star signed for six games with the Stars. Pooran takes the gloves for the West Indian national team and boasts a phenomenal strike rate of 144.5 from 152 career T20s. The 25-year-old is regarded as one of the best ball strikers in the world and if he arrives for the Stars’ opening double at Manuka Oval, he’s going to enjoy the batsmen-friendly conditions in the capital. The third T20 between West Indies and New Zealand is on November 30, but he won’t be in Australia for the start of the BBL if he stays for the Test series.

KFC SuperCoach doubles: Round 1, Round 10

KFC SuperCoach byes: Round 3

PREDICTIONS

Finishing position

The Phantom: First — too much talent, and that’s even before Bairstow and Pooran arrive.

Tim Michell: Fifth — Haris Rauf is a massive loss and the pressure is on Billy Stanlake to recapture top form and bowl the Stars into finals.

Top KFC SuperCoach BBL scorer

The Phantom: Marcus Stoinis — he’s my tip for the top overall scorer, let alone for his team.

Tim Michell: Glenn Maxwell — Marcus Stoinis surely can’t compile another season of record runs and Maxwell is a player who racks up KFC SuperCoach points at will.

BEST LINE-UP

Marcus Stoinis

Jonny Bairstow

Glenn Maxwell

Nicholas Pooran

Will Pucovski

Nic Maddinson

Seb Gotch

Nathan Coulter-Nile

Clint Hinchliffe

Adam Zampa

Billy Stanlake

Melbourne Stars will be hoping Billy Stanlake can get back to his best.

BURNING QUESTIONS

Can Billy Stanlake recapture his best form?

It’s been three summers since the towering quick — who has played 19 T20s for Australia — has struck fear into BBL batsmen. In the past two seasons Stanlake has taken 15 wickets in 22 matches, conceding more than nine runs an over in BBL08 and BBL09. Stanlake finished with 11 wickets in BBL07 and BBL08 but the biggest difference was his economy rate ballooned from 6.47 to 9.07. If he can rein that in during his first campaign as a Star, he could be a bargain as a KFC SuperCoach bowling option.

How often does Marcus Stoinis bowl?

KFC SuperCoaches spent most of BBL09 tearing their hair out when Stoinis, who was listed as a BAT-BWL, only bowled two overs. Despite reports of a side strain hampering the Australian all-rounder, the Stars never officially confirmed if Stoinis was carrying an issue during the tournament. While he made up for not bowling by clubbing a record 705 runs, Stoinis’ scoring potential will be greatly increased if he’s bowling regularly. The signs have been positive in the Indian Premier League.

Nicholas Pooran behind the stumps to Chris Lynn in a Caribbean T20 game.

What impact can Nicholas Pooran have in six games?

Six games isn’t a huge time to make a big impact and it means if you want Pooran in KFC SuperCoach BBL, you’re going to need to take a leap of faith. His T20 form against New Zealand might give a better indication but in his most recent tournament, the IPL, Pooran finished with 353 runs at 35.3 and a strike rate of 169.7. Batting stats from the IPL will be slightly skewed by ground sizes, but that sky-high strike rate will give KFC SuperCoaches an idea of the talent Pooran is bringing to the BBL.

MORE KFC SUPERCOACH BBL:

Originally published as Melbourne Stars BBL10 preview: Squad, key KFC SuperCoach players