BBL 14: Glenn Maxwell and Ben Duckett to return for Melbourne Stars

The Melbourne Stars have news on the availability of two key players following a disappointing 0-2 start to their BBL campaign.

The winless Melbourne Stars will be bolstered by the inclusion of their two best bats, with Glenn Maxwell and Ben Duckett locked in to face Adelaide Strikers on Friday.

The 0-2 Stars will regain Maxwell from a hamstring injury and get a first look at their prized English import with Duckett due to fly from New Zealand to Adelaide on Thursday to meet his teammates.

The left-hander, who scored three half-centuries in his 12 games for Brisbane Heat in 2021-22, missed the first two games as he finished his Test duties with England against the Kiwis.

The Stars took the 30-year-old with the first pick in this year’s overseas player draft.

Duckett will take the place of countryman Joe Clarke, who injured his hamstring in Wednesday night’s loss to the Heat but was due to depart anyway after signing as a replacement player for the first two games.

Melbourne Stars gun all-rounder Glenn Maxwell will play his first game of the BBL season on Friday night against the Adelaide Strikers. Picture: Morgan Hancock / Getty Images

Maxwell, who has been cleared to return from the hamstring strain he suffered while fielding in Australia’s final T20 against Pakistan, was poised to replace Campbell Kellaway, who was listed to bat at nine and bowled one over for 11 runs in the eight-wicket loss to the Heat.

It could cause a reshuffle of the Stars’ order with Tom Rogers (14 and 1) likely to slide down from an opening spot, where new captain Marcus Stoinis could return alongside Duckett.

Stars coach Peter Moores said he was pleased with the show of greater “intent” with the bat than in the tournament opener against the Scorchers, but wanted to see more consistency from his side.

“We’ve got to move our game on by the time we get to Adelaide,” he said.

“We get Ben Duckett coming over from England, so the side freshens up a little bit anyway.

“I want us to play with a smile on our face … I thought we were fully committed (on Wednesday), plenty of energy in the field. We’ve just got to play better.”