The Match No. 5 of Big Bash League (BBL) 2025-26 will be played between the Melbourne Stars (STA) and the Hobart Hurricanes (HUR) at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday, December 18. The Stars, who finished fourth in the previous season, are yet to kickstart their campaign.
Ths Stars have announced their 14-member squad for their tournament-opening clash, with Marcus Stoinis leading a power-packed line-up. Their unit will aim at getting off to a good start at their home venue. They possess a balanced squad capable of dismantling any opposition on their day, and will be hoping to get off to a winning start to their BBL campaign.
Hobart Hurricanes, the defending champions, got their campaign up and running off a four-wicket victory against the Sydney Thunder, as they clinched the last-over thriller. Chris Jordan won the Player of the Match award for his efforts with bat and ball. The side will be hoping for yet another two points with the clash on Thursday.
STA vs HUR Match Details
| Match | Melbourne Stars vs Hobart Hurricanes, Match 5, BBL 2025-26 |
| Date and Time (IST) | Thursday, December 18, 2025; 1:45 PM |
| Venue | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne |
| Broadcast and Live Streaming Details | Click here to watch the STA vs HUR | Live Stream on Sports Live Hub (SLH) |
Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Pitch Report
In the 28 T20I matches that have been played at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground so far, teams batting second have managed to win 16 times. The average first innings score is 140. However, a lot more than that will most likely have to be scored for the target to be an above-par one. The pitch assists bowlers better, but once the surface wears out, batting becomes relatively easier at the ‘G’.
STA vs HUR Head-to-Head Record in T20s
| Matches Played | 22 |
| Won by STA | 14 |
| Won by HUR | 8 |
| Tied | 0 |
| No Result | 0 |
| First-ever Fixture | January 9, 2012 |
| Most-recent Fixture | January 19, 2025 |
STA vs HUR — Predicted Playing 11s
Melbourne Stars
Joe Clarke, Sam Harper (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis (c), Hilton Cartwright, Tom Curran, Campbell Kellaway, Haris Rauf, Peter Siddle, Mitch Swepson, Tom Rogers
Hobart Hurricanes
Mitchell Owen, Nikhil Chaudhary, Rehan Ahmed, Ben McDermott, Tim David, Matthew Wade (wk), Chris Jordan, Nathan Ellis (c), Rishad Hossain, Riley Meredith, Billy Stanlake
STA vs HUR — Probable Top Performers
Probable Best Batter — Mitchell Owen
Mitchell Owen looked to be in good nick during his brief stay at the crease in the Hurricanes’ tournament-opening match. The top-order batter can be anticipated on providing another fiery start while batting up top and potentially play a big knock too.
Probable Best Bowler — Haris Rauf
Although in a different format, Haris Rauf was amongst the wickets in the three-match ODI series played against Sri Lanka last month. Rauf can be expected to be a threat to the opposition during the powerplay as well as the death.
Today’s Match Prediction: Team bowling first to win the match
Disclaimer: The prediction is based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While making your prediction, consider the points mentioned, and make your own decision.
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