‘Never going to lose’: Heat veteran shines as Stars’ ‘strange’ selection exposes glaring void

Melbourne Stars are scrambling for early season answers in BBL|14, as injuries, selection troubles and a Jimmy Peirson masterclass handed them a second straight loss. WATCH THE HIGHLIGHTS

Brisbane Heat veteran Jimmy Peirson has left the Melbourne Stars scrambling for early season answers, as their Big Bash campaign delivers a second straight loss to start their summer.

Watch every game of the BBL live and ad-break free during play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.

The Stars set the Heat 6/162, with first drop Sam Harper (46 runs) and Beau Webster (28 not out) giving the home side hope of their first win for BBL|14.

But Peirson (72 not out) and Max Bryant (36 not out) steered the reigning champions home with a 78-run partnership for the third wicket, which ultimately guided Johan Botha’s side home with 11 balls to spare.

It was a disastrous finish for the Stars, with Campbell Kellaway misfielding a ball for four, Marcus Stoinis injuring his finger and Tom Curran dropping a catch all within the space of six balls.

The result is even more impressive for the Heat, considering they were without stars all of Colin Munro, Spencer Johnson and Michael Neser through injury — as well as premiership captain Nathan McSweeney who is currently playing in Australia’s Test side.

STARS’ ODD SELECTION CALL CAUSES CONFUSION

Having started their tournament with back-to-back losses, the Melbourne Stars are already well and truly on the back foot before franchises like the Hobart Hurricanes have even played a game.

And while the likes of Sam Harper, Beau Webster and Marcus Stoinis (1/20 off four overs) all provided sparks for the Stars at various points throughout the night, their team balance was that little bit off centre tonight.

Victorian first drop Campbell Kellaway was picked for the 10th Big Bash game of his ultra-promising career, but there was one catch.

The 22-year-old wasn’t picked as a bat, and seemingly nor as a bowler — yet he was listed to come in at number nine.

Kellaway sent down just one over under lights at the MCG against the Heat, and just his second ever for the Stars since his debut over two years ago.

Speaking to foxsports.com.au, former first-class cricketer and ABC Grandstand’s Adam Crosthwaite was stumped by Kellaway’s pigeon holing down the order, for a batter with so much talent and potential.

“When Kellaway was selected, I thought: ‘Yep, great, they’re giving a young batter a go,’ — because from what we saw in Perth, they needed more batting depth,” Crosthwaite noted.

“But to have him bat at nine when he’s a Sheffield Shield top-order batter, I thought was a really strange selection. And to have him bowl at a tough time (in the 14th over) as well, it was a bit odd.”

This isn’t to say that his left-arm orthodox’s aren’t of use to Marcus Stoinis’ side; they certainly can be, but to pick someone who is traditionally a part-timer bowler at state level, at number nine, is out of the ordinary.

St Kilda batting duo Jono Merlo and Blake Macdonald were overlooked in the squad for the match, as was left-arm seamer Joel Paris — so if the franchise were so adamant on selecting a second spinner, you can understand why they went with Kellaway’s left-field role.

But on a pitch that ultimately proved favourable to slower bowling, did the Stars miss a trick with both his management and position in the batting order?

JUST HOW BIG IS MAXWELL’S ABSENCE?

It may sound like a silly question to ask, but it’s hard not to think it given the Stars’ lacklustre start to BBL|14.

The absence of former Stars skipper Glenn Maxwell has been close to damning, as he recovers from a hamstring injury sustained last month.

And while he has every intention of returning for the Stars’ next match, there is a chance fans won’t see him back on the field until Boxing Day at the SCG against the Sydney Sixers.

“Glenn Maxwell added to any cricket team in the world is going to make a difference,” Crosthwaite told foxsports.com.au.

“The Stars’ middle order is very good, and they had a platform that they could’ve really launched from — but they really missed Maxwell tonight.

“On the MCG they also really missed his bowling. We saw with Mitch Swepson and Matt Kuhnemann’s bowling in the first innings how much of a difference on the game they made; they were the difference.”

In more promising news however, England opener Ben Duckett is expected to be available for the Melbourne-based side on Friday in what could be a much-needed double boost for Peter Moores’ side.

Maxwell had a light bowl in the Melbourne Stars’ pre-game warm up on Wednesday evening (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)

PEIRSON GIVES AUS SELECTORS FOOD FOR THOUGHT

It was admittedly a slow start at the crease for Brisbane Heat wicketkeeper Jimmy Peirson in his side’s pursuit of 163 tonight, but the opener well and truly steered his side’s ship once he got his eye in for what is quite possibly a friendly reminder to international selectors.

And while he finished unbeaten on 72 not out off 56 balls, it took the 32-year-old nine balls to get off the mark on Wednesday night — meaning his total score in some ways came off just 49 deliveries.

Peirson hit five fours and two sixes in his 81-minute stay at the crease, and in the process, eclipsed his previous high score in the BBL — a 69* (36) batting at seven agains the Adelaide Strikers in 2020.

“Peirson just had the game under control and on his bat; he was slow early, but he took it on when he needed to,” Adam Crosthwaite explained to foxsports.com.au post-game.

“When he was at the crease, they were never going to lose … the Stars never made him work too hard for it. He’s probably had to step into that (opening) role through injuries, but he’s been a mainstay for 10 to 15 years for Queensland; he could have a huge tournament for them.”

The uncapped 32-year-old has spent brief periods around the Australian side; most notably the beginning of last year’s Ashes tour of England, but hasn’t been given the opportunity at the top level yet as he sits behind Alex Carey and Josh Inglis in the keeping pecking order.

Originally published as ‘Never going to lose’: Heat veteran shines as Stars’ ‘strange’ selection exposes glaring void