Check out the biggest questions facing both sides ahead of the BBL Grand Final

It is the biggest Big Bash match ever. But which key battles will decide the BBL final? SAM LANDSBERGER looks at the burning questions facing both clubs ahead of the cutthroat final.

Marcus Stoinis will be a key for the Melbourne Stars. Picture: AAP Images

It is going to be the biggest Big Bash match ever.

The Stars and the Renegades are ready for battle at a packed Marvel Stadium where one side will be known as the Kings of Melbourne.

Who will come out on top?

Sam Landsberger looks at the burning questions ahead of Sunday’s final.

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WILL THE STARS SWING A CHANGE?

Jackson Bird’s brilliant record at Marvel Stadium and against Aaron Finch is stirring discussion in the Stars camp. Bird’s five games at Marvel Stadium have reaped eight wickets with an economy rate of just 6.15. Bird also has career figures of 3/75 (61 balls) against Finch. Renegades attempted to target Bird last month and it backfired as he dismissed Finch for 14 and Sam Harper for a duck. Bird was dropped for Evan Gulbis in the semi-final because Maxwell wanted to stretch his batting line-up, but Gulbis didn’t bat or bowl for the fifth time in nine games. Maxwell said on Saturday: “Bird’s been outstanding for us all season. We’ve shown even if we win we’re not afraid to make changes and make sure we have the right team to match-up the opposition”.

Jackson Bird has a stunning record at Marvel Stadium. Picture: AAP Images

CAN THE RENEGADES WIN WITHOUT SOMEONE RAISING THE BAT?

They scored 184 on Friday night without a player reaching 50 and have only celebrated three half-centuries this season, a BBL-low. Hobart Hurricanes boast 17 half-centuries and Dan Christian said it was the red team’s weakness. “We haven’t had people go deep in the innings, we’ve relied on someone pulling a rabbit out of the hat,” Christian said. Renegades are 9-1 when a batsman scores 38 runs or more and are 0-5 when their top score is 33 or fewer. Maxwell rendered milestones irrelevant on Saturday, highlighting Nic Maddinson 18 (9) changing the momentum in his semi-final. “It’s about strike-rate and it’s about getting your team into a better position when you leave the game.” Still, six of the seven BBL champions have boasted a score of 63 not-out or better in the final.

CAN MARCUS STOINIS BE STOPPED?

STOINIS destroyed the Renegades twice in three weeks last month. At the MCG Stoinis made an unbeaten 70 (65) and took 3/19 and at Marvel Stadium Stoinis made an unbeaten 78 (49) and took 2/26. Plenty of those 148 runs were scored powerfully down the ground. Finch said they would aim to skid the ball into the top of his stumps and sweat on a mistake early. But they haven’t got his wicket from 114 deliveries. It’s the pivotal match-up while the Stars are 6-2 when Stoinis, Maxwell and Pete Handscomb play together.

Marcus Stoinis will be a key for the Melbourne Stars. Picture: AAP Images

WILL THE WICKET BE A STUD OR A DUD?

THE same Marvel Stadium pitch as Friday night’s run-fest will be used and Renegades captain Aaron Finch was confident it would hold together for another batting bonanza. Match-winner Dan Christian compared the semi-final wicket to the one his Hobart Hurricanes chased down 223 on two years ago. The roof was open that night and it will be open again on Sunday, which Stars captain Glenn Maxwell reckons devalues the importance of the bat flip. Dewy nights make it “clearly easier” to bat second but that won’t be the case in the afternoon. Bring your sunglasses, boys.

SAM LANDSBERGER’S PREDICTED LINE-UPS

RENEGADES

MARCUS HARRIS

Trumpeted to his teammates on Friday night he could be the first player to win the one-day JLT Cup, Big Bash and Sheffield Shield in the same season. One down, two to go.

AARON FINCH

Finch’s 54th game for the Renegades will be his first final. Owns the biggest derby score (111* off 65) in BBL02.

SAM HARPER

Delisted by the Stars and has been given a licence to thrill at No. 3 by Finch. Quickly pushed his keeping coach, Tim Ludeman, out of the team.

CAMERON WHITE

Out of contract but no player wants to take down the Stars in a Grand Final more than their former captain.

Cameron White would love a win against the Melbourne Stars. Picture: AAP Images

MACKENZIE HARVEY

Youngest player in the BBL is also one of the sharpest in the field. Smashed a 39-ball 50 against England’s international attack last year.

TOM COOPER

The only cricketer from Holland that anyone has ever heard of.

DAN CHRISTIAN

The T20 specialist is chasing his seventh title at his 16th club. Could ‘DC’ be part of Australia’s T20 World Cup squad next year?

CAMERON BOYCE

Bowling tighter than piano wire and approaching all-rounder status with his 12 sixes, equal No. 1 at the Gades. Hits boundaries from 20.4 per cent of deliveries faced.

KANE RICHARDSON

BBL’s leading wicket-taker has 2/95 from his past two games but the vegan boasts 2/15 (13 balls) to Pete Handscomb.

CHRIS TREMAIN

Dubbo dude didn’t feature for the first 10 games but removed Stoinis in front of 80,883 a few years ago.

HARRY GURNEY

Harder than a piñata to hit at the death and owns British pubs with Ashes villain Stuart Broad.

JACK WILDERMUTH (12th man)

STARS

MARCUS STOINIS

Muscle man has carried the Stars this season. His cheers quad includes Shane Warne and Daniel Ricciardo.

BEN DUNK

Owes the Afghanistan Cricket Board a box of chocolates for pulling Mohammad Nabi, who has dismissed Dunk for two golden ducks in Marvel Stadium derbies.

PETE HANDSCOMB

Switches into wedding mode shortly and has both hands in the air asking to wear the gloves at this year’s World Cup.

GLENN MAXWELL

Last T20 tournament for a while after opting out of the Indian Premier League to focus on his Ashes dream.

NIC MADDINSON

Bowlers are spraying Maddinson with bouncers ever since that broken arm.

Nic Maddinson has struggled throughout the Big Bash. Picture: AAP Images

SEB GOTCH

Admits he looks like he’s been plucked from “C-grade club cricket” when he wicket-keeps in short sleeves.

DWAYNE BRAVO

Named his three kids after himself — daughter Dwaynice and sons Dwayne Bravo Jr and Dwade.

JACKSON BIRD

Last player signed on the list has knocked over Aaron Finch three times.

ADAM ZAMPA

Wears headbands and scarf ties and reckons the Stars are the Yankees of Melbourne while the Renegades are the Mets.

DAN WORRALL

Swing bowler’s bizarre diagonal run up traces back to a tree in his backyard, which he had to run around growing up.

SANDEEP LAMICHHANE

Cheeky Nepalese tweaker has released three music singles and is harder to pick than the Powerball numbers.

EVAN GULBIS (12th man)

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