Melbourne Stars will ramp up contract talks with coach Stephen Fleming after the BBL Grand Final
The Melbourne Stars are on the brink of completing a remarkable zero-to-hero Big Bash championship but the man leading the charge is soon to be out of contract. However, that might not be for long.
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Melbourne Stars will ramp up contract talks with coach Stephen Fleming after Sunday’s Grand Final with the green team on the brink of completing a remarkable zero-to-hero Big Bash championship.
Stars crashed to last summer’s wooden spoon but after turning over one third of their squad they have bounced back under the leadership of Fleming and new captain Glenn Maxwell.
Fleming falls out of contract and while negotiations between him and the club were recently parked, the early dialogue was positive. Both parties have agreed to pick up talks after the season.
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The New Zealand great has steered Stars to three finals series in four seasons, including two deciders.
Fleming, 45, also coached Chennai Super Kings to last year’s Indian Premier League title in a challenging season where they lost access to their home ground.
But Sunday’s BBL decider is likely to be West Indies star Dwayne Bravo’s last match in Australia.
The all-rounder — who has “Hottest man alive” printed on his shoes — has lost some of his bowling velocity due to recent injuries.
But Bravo, 35, has still taken 15 wickets (No. 1 at Stars) and cleared the rope six times with the bat.
Bowler Jackson Bird is being considered for a recall for Sunday and recently praised the “role clarity” under Fleming and Maxwell.
Evan Gulbis replaced Bird in Thursday night’s semi-final victory because Maxwell was conscious he might need an extra batter against Hobart and was happy to load up with spin.
Gulbis again went unused and the all-rounder has not been required to bat or bowl in five of his past nine BBL games.
Stars have qualified for the semi-finals in seven out of eight BBL seasons but are still chasing their first trophy.
Fleming and highly-regarded list manager Trent Woodhill oversaw the departures of captain John Hastings, James Faulkner, Sam Harper, Kevin Pietersen, Luke Wright and Rob Quiney last year.
Pietersen and Quiney retired, Harper and Wright were delisted while Hastings (Sixers) and Faulkner (Hurricanes) were released early from their Stars contracts.
A medical condition then forced Hastings to retire on the cusp of the season.
Stars rejuvenated their list with Bird (Sixers), Bravo (Renegades), Sandeep Lamichhane (Nepal), Nic Maddinson (Sixers), Jonathan Merlo and Travis Dean.
Batsman Seb Gotch eliminated Hobart with a six and Gotch has now shared 52-run and 72-run stands with Maxwell to close the past two innings.
“I’ve been pretty lucky batting with Maxi,” Gotch said.
“It’s very easy and he’s very clear with what he needs us to do. “
Gotch said swing bowler Dan Worrall (4/23) sent down “some of the best yorkers could bowl” at the death.
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