Melbourne Stars v Brisbane Heat: Big Bash Wednesday preview

Reigning champions Brisbane Heat head into the new Big Bash campaign with recent history on their side when they face Melbourne Stars at the MCG.

The Heat defeated Sydney Sixers by 54 runs to lift the trophy last season, having reached the final 12 months earlier before being beaten by five wickets by Perth Scorchers.

Brisbane were also crowned champions back in 2013, while the Stars are still searching for a first title, having lost in the final in 2016, 2019 and 2020.

Melbourne Stars v Brisbane Heat betting preview

Stars already off to a losing start

While the Heat have enjoyed plenty of success in the last two stagings of the Big Bash, the Stars have endured four consecutive seasons of struggle since reaching the tournament final in 2020.

They have failed to make the play-offs in any of the last four campaigns and will be desperate to do much better this time around, although they opened up with a comprehensive six-wicket loss to the Scorchers in Perth.

Marcus Stoinis has taken on the captaincy from fellow Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell and he joint top-scored at Optus Stadium with 37 after the Stars were reduced to 3-33.

Their top-order batting does look a little light, but the imminent arrival of England opener Ben Ducket may aid the cause, while Blake Macdonald has been drafted in as a replacement for the injured Maxwell.

Duckett will not feature in this game, leaving compatriot Joe Clarke to play his final game before departing, while Peter Siddle and Doug Warren have been replaced by Joel Paris and Campbell Kellaway.

A lot of attention will no doubt be focused on all-rounder Beau Webster, who has been released from the Baggy Green squad to feature.

The 31-year is into his fourth season with the Stars and scored 262 runs last season, as well as chipping in with six wickets with his right-arm mix of seamers and off-spin.

Botha takes over at Heat helm

The Heat have a new man in charge as they plot a title defence, with South African Johan Botha having taken over from Wade Seccombe and recently added former New Zealand batter Ross Taylor to his staff.

And Botha will have to cope with a few notable absentees as the season gets started for his side, with batters Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney and Marnus Labuschagne all away playing for Australia against India.

Those absences are added to the fact that Josh Brown - who scored 366 runs at a strike-rate of 150.61 last season - has left to join Melbourne Renegades.

That leaves huge responsibilities on the bowlers, but the Heat are blessed with an outstanding attack, with seamers Xavier Bartlett, Spencer Johnson and Paul Walter backed up by spin duo Mitch Swepson and Matt Kuhnemann.

Bartlett led the BBL with 20 wickets last season, with Johnson just one behind him, while Walter was joint-third on the wicket-taking list with 17. Michael Neser is also on the roster when international commitments allow.

The Heat will also be buoyed by the knowledge that they have won their last three meeting with the Stars, with their sole clash last season ending in a crushing 103 run victory in Brisbane.

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Melbourne Stars v Brisbane Heat odds

Melbourne Stars - 2.18
Brisbane Heat - 1.70

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.