BBL 2025-26: Predicting playing XI for match 14

Melbourne Stars will take on the Sydney Thunder in the 14th match of the Big Bash League 2025-26 on Sunday, December 28, at the Manuka Oval in Canberra. The Stars have won all three games so far and are in first place. The Thunder are in sixth position and have won one out of three matches. They have won the last five matches against the Stars.

Let’s look at the probable playing XI for match 14 of the BBL 2025-26:

Melbourne Stars

Top Order: Joe Clarke, Sam Harper (wk), and Campbell Kellaway

Joe Clarke, Sam Harper, and Campbell Kellaway will likely be a part of the top order in the playing 11. Harper is the leading run-scorer for the Stars with 165 runs in three matches at a strike rate of 171.87.

Middle Order: Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis (c), and Hilton Cartwright

Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, and Hilton Cartwright are likely to be there in the middle order. Stoinis is the second-highest run-scorer for the team with 94 runs in three matches.

Lower Middle Order: Tom Curran and Jonathan Merlo

Tom Curran and Jonathan Merlo are likely to be in the lower middle-order. Curran is the joint-highest wicket-taker for the team with seven wickets in three matches at an average of 12.28.

Bowlers: Mitchell Swepson, Haris Rauf, and Peter Siddle

Mitchell Swepson, Haris Rauf, and Peter Siddle could be the three bowlers for the team. Siddle is the leading wicket-taker with seven wickets in three matches at a strike rate of 10.28.

Sydney Thunder

Top Order: Sam Konstas, Matthew Gilkes, and David Warner (c)

Sam Konstas, Matthew Gilkes, and David Warner will likely be a part of the top order in the playing 11. Gilkes is the highest run-scorer for the Thunder with 108 runs in three games at a strike rate of 183.05.

Middle Order: Cameron Bancroft and Sam Billings (wk)

Cameron Bancroft and Sam Billings are likely to be there in the middle order. Bancroft has made 68 runs in two outings at a strike rate of 117.24.

Lower Middle Order: Shadab Khan and Daniel Sams

Shadab Khan and Daniel Sams are likely to be in the lower middle-order. Shadab is the highest wicket-taker for the Thunder with six wickets in three matches at an average of 15.50.

Bowlers: Chris Green, Nathan McAndrew, Tanveer Sangha, and Reece Topley

Chris Green, Nathan McAndrew, Tanveer Sangha, and Reece Topley could be the four bowlers for the team. McAndrew has taken three wickets in three matches.