Adelaide Strikers v Melbourne Stars: Big Bash Friday preview

Two winless sides collide in the Big Bash League on Friday, when Adelaide Strikers go head-to-head with Melbourne Stars at the Adelaide Oval.

The Stars have lost two matches already in the competition, going down by six wickets to Perth Scorchers before an eight-wicket loss to Brisbane Heat and it looks as though it could be a long season ahead.

As for Adelaide, they lost by two wickets to Sydney Thunder on Tuesday with just two balls to spare in that contest and they will be eager for a response.

Adelaide Strikers v Melbourne Stars betting preview

Strikers can pick up first win of the season

Adelaide Strikers may have slipped to defeat in their opening contest in this season's Big Bash League but it is worth remembering they reached the Challenger stage of the playoffs in the last edition of the tournament.

And while they squeezed into the playoffs last time out, Melbourne Stars finished in sixth spot and were largely underwhelming.

Not a huge amount has changed since the 2023/24 season either and the Strikers look an appropriate price at 1.78.

The big news for the Stars heading into this contest is the return of Glenn Maxwell from a hamstring problem, while English ace Ben Duckett is also set to come into the side.

But those players alone are unlikely to carry them over the line given they could only score 146 and 162 in their first two matches of this season's competition, while they have lost their last 10 matches when batting first.

Short can impress for hosts

Duckett and Maxwell lead the betting to be top batsman for the Stars at 4.00 and 4.33 respectively, although Beau Webster is a man in form after striking 28 not out against Brisbane Heat.

Webster was the Melbourne side's top runscorer in the competition last season with 262 and an average of 43.66, although he batted at six last time out and that could hinder his chances, especially with Duckett and Maxwell coming into the side.

In Adelaide's only match of the season so far, skipper and opening batsman Matt Short could only produce seven runs off six balls before he was bowled by Lockie Ferguson.

But Short was the leading runscorer in the 2023/24 Big Bash League with 541 runs in 11 innings and he should not be dismissed easily.

Short, who is 1.83 to score over 25.5 runs in this contest, averages 39 and has a strike-rate of 147 at this venue and he is understandably favourite at 3.60 to be his team's top batter.

Read more cricket previews on site.

Adelaide Strikers v Melbourne Stars odds

Adelaide Strikers - 1.78
Melbourne Stars - 2.05

View the full market and more odds for Adelaide Strikers v Melbourne Stars on site

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.