A trio of stars will battle it out for player of the year honours

Everything will be on the line as this season’s three best BBL 08 players battle it out for a spot in the final on Thursday night.

Marcus Stoinis of the Stars hits a six during the Big Bash League (BBL) match between the Brisbane Heat and the Melbourne Stars at The Gabba in Brisbane, Friday, February 8, 2019. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY, IMAGES TO BE USED FOR NEWS REPORTING PURPOSES ONLY, NO COMMERCIAL USE WHATSOEVER, NO USE IN BOOKS WITHOUT PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT FROM AAP

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A Brownlow Medal-style voting system will decide the Big Bash League player of the tournament with the three leading contenders set to light up Thursday’s semi-final in Hobart.

But fireworks at Bellerive Oval will not help Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade or D’Arcy Short secure the gong with umpires only voting 3-2-1 during home-and-away matches.

That system is set to hamper Stoinis, who missed three BBL games because he was playing one-dayers for Australia against India.

Stoinis had his preparation for another game disrupted as he jetted from Melbourne to Canberra and then to Perth after being added to the Test squad but overlooked for a baggy green debut.

Marcus Stoinis is one of the front runners for the player of the year in BBL08. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

Stoinis, 29, was named player of the match in four out of five consecutive BBL games either side of the ODI series.

The all-rounder blasted 53 (45) and took 3/20 in the match where BBL03 winner Ben Dunk was preferred, with that golden run set to deliver 13-15 votes.

Short and Wade played all 14 BBL games as they were overlooked for national duty.

Stoinis and Short will fly to India on Monday for the upcoming T20 and ODI series while Wade has again been ignored.

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While Stoinis has picked up four best-on-grounds, Short has secured five in his quest to join Chris Lynn (Heat) as back-to-back winners.

Lynn is the only player to win it more than once.

Wade was best-on-ground three times this season and was named the domestic player of the year on Monday night.

“I don’t think you can discount Wadey, he’s been exceptional,” Stars captain Glenn Maxwell said.

Darcy Short is aiming to join Chris Lynn as a back-to-back winner. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

“The three of them (are) the three best players in the tournament. The partnership Wade and Short have had at the top has been nothing but exceptional.”

Stars bowler Jackson Bird said Stoinis was the man.

“He seems to get 50 every game and take crucial wickets for us as well, and he’s a jet in the field,” Bird said.

“Hopefully he can back that up (tonight). He says himself he loves performing on the big stage.”

While Short and Wade have combined for 61 eye-catching sixes, Stoinis has cleared the rope just nine times but boasts a similar strike-rate to Short.

Hobart captain Wade has recorded nine dismissals as wicketkeeper and has bowled Short every game.

Matthew Wade has been in great form for the Hurricanes, not that it has helped his Australian selection cause. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

But Stoinis has taken four more wickets than Short from 11 fewer overs and is often turned to in clutch moments.

It was widely believed in cricket circles the award was decided by broadcasters but it is the umpires who cast votes.

They have favoured batsmen with David Hussey (Stars), Aaron Finch (Renegades) and Dunk (Hurricanes) all winning the award along with all-rounder Jacques Kallis (Thunder).

Lynn and Short have won the past three seasons.

THE CONTENDERS

D’ARCY SHORT (Hurricanes)

Batting

Games: 14

Runs: 602

Average: 54.7

Strike-rate: 139.6

50s: 6

Highest score: 96

Bowling

Overs: 35

Wickets: 10

Average: 27.8

Economy: 7.9

Best: 2/17

MATTHEW WADE (Hurricanes)

Batting

Games: 14

Runs: 590

Average: 45.4

Strike-rate: 147.9

50s: 6

Highest score: 88

MARCUS STOINIS (Stars)

Batting

Games: 11

Runs: 476

Average: 59.5

Strike-rate: 136

50s: 4

Highest score: 81

Bowling

Overs: 24

Wickets: 14

Average: 14.1

Economy: 8.2

Best: 4/21

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Originally published as A trio of stars will battle it out for player of the year honours