Stars to rock the 'G in Big Bash
Aug 01, 2011
The inaugural Big Bash League Twenty20 competition will hit the MCG on December 17 when the stadium's home team, Melbourne Stars, plays its first match at the home of cricket.
The Stars, coached by Greg Shipperd and captained by Cameron White, have already named a formidable squad, with the final line-up to be announced in early-December.
Australian bowlers James Pattinson, John Hastings and Clint McKay will join England all-rounder Luke Wright as a four-pronged pace attack. They will bolster a squad already possessing batsmen such as George Bailey, David Hussey, White and Adam Voges.
The matches to be played at the MCG are as follows:
• Saturday December 17 – Melbourne Stars v Sydney Thunder, 7.00pm
• Wednesday January 4 – Melbourne Stars v Perth Scorchers, 7.00pm
• Saturday January 7 – Melbourne Stars v Melbourne Renegades, 7.00pm
• Thursday January 19 – Melbourne Stars v Adelaide Strikers, 7.00pm
Depending on the form of our home team, the MCG may also host a semi final (January 21 or 22) and the final (January 28).
The MCG holds the Australian record crowd for a domestic cricket match, when 43,125 people attended a Twenty20 match two summers ago. We'll be aiming to break that record many times this season, so get on board the Melbourne Stars!
Cricket Australia will shortly confirm ticket details for the Big Bash League, as well as the schedule of Sheffield Shield and Ryobi Cup matches.
With three positions on the Stars roster still to be announced, it already has eight players with international experience, five who have captained their state and nine who have had contracts in the Indian Premier League.
Melbourne Stars squad: George Bailey, James Faulkner, Jon Holland, John Hastings, David Hussey, Alex Keath, Clint McKay, James Pattinson, Rob Quiney, Peter Siddle, Chris Simpson, Adam Voges, Matthew Wade, Cameron White, Luke Wright.