In signing a 2-year contract extension with the Melbourne Stars prior to the Big Bash League season, Glenn Maxwell has once again pledged his loyalty to this club. With multiple franchises chasing marquee players during this window, Maxwell's decision to stay with his home state team at this important time reaffirms his faith in the Stars' long-term strategy.

Despite the fact that competing franchises have shown interest in him with larger contracts, he prefers to remain with the franchise from his home state and thus confirms his confidence in the long-term vision of the Stars. Resigning with the club provides them with a consistent leader who has demonstrated over the years that they can achieve great things if they work together as a team and support one another.

Glenn Maxwell has been associated with the Melbourne Stars since the 2012-13 season and is still one of the most effective players in the league. He will play an integral role for the Stars as they attempt to return to the league title race this season. With his wealth of experience, explosive hitting, reliable off-spin bowling, and exceptional all-around fielding ability, he will provide the Stars with both a mentor and a captain.

Also read: SL vs ENG Today Match Prediction – Who Will Win the 3rd ODI?

Sydney Thunder miss out as Maxwell stays loyal to Melbourne Stars

The Sydney Thunder were very keen to sign Glenn Maxwell for their list of players for next season, after finishing last in the previous season as part of their rebuilding plan. They were looking to have Maxwell play alongside David Warner, forming an experienced and powerful nucleus that could help them rebound quickly from being at the bottom of the table.

Maxwell decided to decline Sydney Thunder's offer in favor of staying with the Melbourne Stars, stating that he wanted to stay with the Stars for stability rather than to make a change. He wants to finish what he started with the Stars, and that has given the Stars a renewed belief that they can finally win their first Big Bash League championship.

Hobart Hurricanes will face Melbourne Stars in the Knockout match of the Big Bash League 2025-26 at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart on Wednesday, January 21. The Hurricanes wrapped up the league stage in third position after registering six wins from ten matches. However, they head into this crucial fixture without their regular skipper Nathan Ellis, who has been ruled out due to injury. Despite the setback, Hobart will rely on their collective strength and home advantage to secure a spot in the next stage.

Melbourne Stars, meanwhile, booked their place in the Knockout after finishing fourth with six victories and four defeats. Their season began on a dominant note, as they won their first four matches on the trot, but consistency eluded them later. Marcus Stoinis and his men suffered defeats in four of their final six league games. As a result, the Stars will be eager to rediscover their early-season form and deliver a strong performance in this high-pressure encounter.

See Also: Watch: Steve Smith's massive six against Brody Couch in BBL 2025/26 1st Qualifier goes viral

BBL 2025-26, Knockout, HUR vs STA: Live Streaming Details

BBL 2025-26, Knockout, HUR vs STA: Probable Playing XI

Hobart Hurricanes

Tim Ward, Mitchell Owen, Beau Webster, Ben McDermott (C), Nikhil Chaudhary, Matthew Wade (WK), Rehan Ahmed, Chris Jordan, Rishad Hossain, Riley Meredith, Billy Stanlake.

Melbourne Stars

Thomas Rogers, Sam Harper (WK), Joe Clarke, Campbell Kellaway, Marcus Stoinis (C), Hilton Cartwright, Glenn Maxwell, Tom Curran, Mitchell Swepson, Haris Rauf, Peter Siddle.

Match 39 of the BBL 2025-26 promises a thrilling contest as Perth Scorchers take on Melbourne Stars at Optus Stadium, Perth, on Saturday, January 17. With both teams locked in a tight race, the winner of this clash will climb to the top of the points table and significantly boost their chances of securing a direct route to the final. The encounter carries added importance, as momentum at this stage of the league could prove decisive heading into the knockout phase.

See Also: 3 Indian batters apart from Shreyas Iyer who could have replaced Tilak Varma in IND vs NZ 2026 T20Is ft. Sarfaraz Khan

Perth Scorchers have enjoyed a largely consistent campaign, overcoming minor setbacks to stay among the frontrunners. They have won four of their last five matches and will be eyeing a third straight victory to end the league stage on a high. Already assured of a playoff berth, a win would strengthen their seeding. Melbourne Stars have followed a similar trajectory, starting strongly before a mid-season dip. Under Marcus Stoinis’ leadership, they have regained form and will aim to deliver another commanding performance.

BBL 2025-26, Match 39, SCO vs STA: Live Streaming Details

BBL 2025-26, Match 39, SCO vs STA: Probable Playing XI

Perth Scorchers (SCO):

Ashton Turner (C), Mitchell Marsh, Finn Allen, Josh Inglis (WK), Aaron Hardie, Laurie Evans, Cooper Connolly, Luke Hold, David Payne, Jhye Richardson, Mahli Beardman

Melbourne Stars (STA):

Tom Rogers, Sam Harper (WK), Campbell Kellaway, Blake Macdonald, Marcus Stoinis (C), Glenn Maxwell, Hilton Cartwright, Tom Curran, Haris Rauf, Peter Siddle, Mitch Swepson

It has been a long-standing rule and tradition at the Docklands Stadium in Melbourne, where if the ball hits the roof, then the umpires will mostly signal it as sixes before they change it a little bit, where the umpires will not decide if the ball would have gone for six, or otherwise, they would address it as dead balls.

Such an incident took place during a clash between Melbourne Renegades and Melbourne Stars in the 30th match of the ongoing 2025/26 season of the Big Bash League (BBL). It was the third ball of the ninth over from Marcus Stoinis, to which Jake Fraser-McGurk nailed a massive shot which went straight up in the air and hit the roof of the stadium.

See Also: Watch: Sanjay Manjrekar defends his ODI stance of ‘easiest format’ after claim on Virat Kohli

However, because it did not have much power to cross the boundary rope, the umpire signaled it as a dead ball. Had it touched the root portion near the boundary rope and had enough power to potentially get over the boundary, it could have been a six-signal from the umpire.

Jake Fraser McGurk’s six hits Dockland Stadium’s roof in Melbourne Derby

Renegades, who won the last Melbourne Derby at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground a week ago, posted a decent score of 166 for the loss of seven wickets in their allotted 20 overs. They are opening batter, Josh Brown was the highest run getter with 80 runs in 50 balls, thanks to his seven boundaries and four sixes.

Watch the video here: 

The ball has hit the roof!

Jake Fraser-McGurk tried to go BIG off Marcus Stoinis, but he hit the roof at Marvel Stadium. #BBL15 pic.twitter.com/lZSU2Ra4kt

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 10, 2026

However, apart from Brown’s contribution, there wasn’t a massive score from the other batters, with Hassan Khan being the second leading run-getter individually with 23 runs in 18 balls. For the Stars, captain Stoinis was the peak of the bowlers with three wickets in four overs for 33 runs.

The 84-run opening stand put the nail in the coffin of the Renegades before the opening wicket keeper, Sam Harper, celebrated an unbeaten knock of 84 runs in 51 balls to complete the chase by eight wickets as he was well supported by Thomas Rogers, who smashed a fine knock of 53 runs in just 24 balls.

Brief Scores: Melbourne Stars 170/2 (Sam Harper 84*, Thomas Rogers 53, Hassan Khan 1/20) beat Melbourne Renegades 166/7 (Josh Brown 80, Marcus Stoinis 3/33) by 8-wickets.

Babar Azam’s difficult campaign in the Big Bash League 2025–26 continued as the Sydney Sixers opener was dismissed for yet another low score, this time by Marcus Stoinis in a tense, low-scoring encounter against the Melbourne Stars at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Chasing a manageable target, the Sixers needed stability at the top, but Babar failed to provide it. Despite showing composure early, he could not build a meaningful partnership, putting his side under pressure once again in a crucial phase of the chase.

The key moment arrived in the 6.3rd over with the Sixers at 48 for 2. Stoinis bowled a full delivery that shaped back sharply after pitching, sneaking past Babar’s inside edge and striking him on the pads. The on-field umpire raised the finger, and although Babar briefly discussed a review with his batting partner, he ultimately chose not to challenge the decision. Subsequent ball-tracking confirmed that the ball would have gone on to hit leg stump, validating the dismissal.

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Babar walked back after scoring 14 runs from 17 balls, managing just one boundary during his short stay at the crease. His dismissal was followed by an aggressive and animated send-off from Stoinis, which quickly drew attention from fans and commentators alike. The moment further highlighted the growing pressure on the Pakistan star, who has struggled to find rhythm on Australian pitches this season. While his defensive technique remained solid, his inability to convert starts into substantial innings has continued to fuel debate around his form in the tournament.

Watch the video here;

Marcus Stoinis removes Babar Azam, and doesn't he love that 👀 #BBL15 pic.twitter.com/eyAAOhIRsH

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 8, 2026

Sydney Sixers seal the game with six wickets to spare

Earlier in the match, the Sydney Sixers’ bowling unit set up the victory by bowling the Melbourne Stars out for just 128 runs. The Stars struggled to gain momentum, losing wickets at regular intervals and failing to form any solid partnerships. Ben Dwarshuis was the standout performer, claiming a brilliant four-wicket haul while making excellent use of the pitch conditions. His consistent movement and accuracy kept the Stars under pressure, ensuring they never managed to post a competitive total on the board.

Despite losing a couple of early wickets during the chase, the Sixers remained in complete control of the pursuit. Their batters paced the innings sensibly, rotating the strike well and capitalising on any loose deliveries from the Stars’ bowlers. The modest target was chased down comfortably in 17.1 overs, with six wickets to spare. While the victory boosted Sydney’s position in the tournament, much of the focus stayed on Babar Azam, whose underwhelming form continues to be a growing concern for the franchise.

On Thursday, January 8, the Melbourne Stars and the Sydney Sixers will meet up in Match 27 of the BBL 2025/2026 season at the Melbourne Cricket Ground as both teams are in the playoff race with this game meaning a lot to both teams. The Stars will have the advantage of playing at home and want to keep their excellent performances going while the Sixers want to show that they can compete with the teams in front of them for a playoff spot.

Currently the Melbourne Stars have won four out of six games and sit in third place in the standings due to their earlier win against the Sydney Sixers. The Stars will want to repeat their success again and advance up the ladder. The Sydney Sixers are currently in fourth place with three wins in six games and with the competition tightening this game is critical for them to stay in the top four and improve their position in the standings.

See Also: Harbhajan Singh reveals why CSK never felt pressure under MS Dhoni's leadership

BBL 2025-26, Match 27, STA vs SIX: Live Streaming Details

BBL 2025-26, Match 27, STA vs SIX: Probable Playing XI

Melbourne Stars (STA):

Sam Harper (wk), Thomas Rogers, Campbell Kellaway, Blake Macdonald, Marcus Stoinis (c), Glenn Maxwell, Hilton Cartwright, Tom Curran, Mitchell Swepson, Haris Rauf, Peter Siddle

Sydney Sixers (SIX):

Daniel Hughes, Babar Azam, Josh Philippe (wk), Moises Henriques (c), Jordan Silk, Jack Edwards, Joel Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Sean Abbott, Ben Manenti, Hayden Kerr

The Women’s Big Bash League 2025 continues with Match No. 13, where Melbourne Stars Women (MS-W) lock horns against Melbourne Renegades Women (MR-W) on Sunday, November 16 at Junction Oval, Melbourne. This is one of the most entertaining rivalries in the league, as both squads have a closely battled head-to-head record.

The Melbourne Stars Women have had a mixed start to their season because of rain interruptions. Their first match was abandoned after they scored 184/5, but rain stopped the Adelaide Strikers’ chase early. Their next match against the Perth Scorchers Women was also affected by rain, but this time the Stars managed to win. With three points from two matches, the Stars will look to build on their good start and add more points on Sunday. 

The Melbourne Renegades Women started their campaign with back-to-back wins by chasing down the targets set by the Brisbane Heat Women and Sydney Thunder Women. They failed to keep the winning streak going as they lost the last game to the Adelaide Strikers Women by seven wickets. The Renegades will be desperate to get on track once again in this crucial encounter.

MS-W vs MR-W: Head-to-Head Record

• Matches Played: 20
  
• Melbourne Stars Women Won: 8
  
• Melbourne Renegades Women Won: 9
  
• No Result: 1
  
• Tied: 2
  

MS-W vs MR-W: Pitch Report

The pitch at the Junction Oval is known for being friendly for batters. Players who stay at the crease for some time can score freely. Fast bowlers are unlikely to get much movement from the surface, so they will need to rely on accuracy. Captains winning the toss usually prefer to bowl first, as the pitch stays flat and becomes even better for batting in the second innings.

See Also: WBBL 2025: MS-W vs MR-W Dream11 Prediction 13th Match Fantasy Cricket Tips, Probable Playing XI

MS-W vs MR-W: Predicted Playing XIs

Melbourne Stars Women (MS-W):

Meg Lanning, Rhys McKenna, Amy Jones (WK), Annabel Sutherland (C), Marizanne Kapp, Danielle Gibson, Kim Garth, Sasha Moloney, Georgia Prestwidge, Maisy Gibson, Sophie Day.

Melbourne Renegades Women (MR-W):

Davina Perrin, Courtney Webb, Deandra Dottin, Alice Capsey, Naomi Stalenberg, Georgia Wareham (C), Nicole Faltum (WK), Tess Flintoff, Sarah Coyte, Charis Bekker, Milly Illingworth.

The Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) 2025 will continue with Match No. 8, where Perth Scorchers Women (PS-W) will face Melbourne Stars Women (MS-W) on Friday, November 14, at the Karen Rolton Oval in Adelaide. This is the first of two matches lined up for Friday in the tournament.

The Perth Scorchers Women did not have the ideal start to their season, as they lost their first game to the Sydney Sixers Women by 10 wickets. However, they came back strongly in their next game and beat Brisbane Heat Women easily. Having won a game and lost one, the Scorchers are currently positioned fourth on the points table and look to carry this good form forward.

On the other hand, the Melbourne Stars Women had their opening match against the Adelaide Strikers Women washed out because of rain. They have one point on the board and will be hoping to start their campaign properly with a strong performance on Friday. With experienced players on their side, the Stars will aim to earn two points and move up in the standings.

PS-W vs MS-W: Head-to-Head Record

• Matches Played: 21
  
• Perth Scorchers Women Won: 12
  
• Melbourne Stars Women Won: 9
  
• No Result: 0

PS-W vs MS-W: Pitch Report

The pitch at the Karen Rolton Oval is fresh for this season. Even though this is the first WBBL match at this venue in 2025, the ground has hosted 31 WBBL games in the past. The pitch usually helps batters, offering good bounce and making it easier to score runs. Spinners might get some help as the match goes on. Teams that bat first have often done better here, so the captain winning the toss is likely to choose to bat first.

See Also: WBBL 2025 Match 9: AS-W vs MR-W head-to-head, pitch report & predicted playing XIs

PS-W vs MS-W: Predicted Playing XIs

Melbourne Stars Women (MS-W):

Meg Lanning, Rhys McKenna, Amy Jones (WK), Annabel Sutherland (C), Marizanne Kapp, Danielle Gibson, Kim Garth, Sasha Moloney, Georgia Prestwidge, Maisy Gibson, Sophie Day.

Perth Scorchers Women (PS-W):

LllBeth Mooney (WK), Katie Mack, Paige Scholfield, Sophie Devine (C), Freya Kemp, Mikayla Hinkley, Chloe Ainsworth, Alana King, Lilly Mills, Amy Edgar, Ebony Hoskin.

Melbourne Stars will have a special stand for Pakistani cricket fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL) season. The stand will be called the “House of Rauf” and is meant to connect with South Asian fans, especially Pakistanis, during home matches. Stars’ General Manager, Max Abbott, said this idea was started to celebrate Pakistani fans and their culture. Haris Rauf, who has been with the Stars since 2019, is now one of the main fast bowlers for Pakistan.

The “House of Rauf” stand will honour his journey and give Pakistani fans in Australia a chance to feel more involved. On match days, the stand will be full of food, music, and cultural events, making it one of the busiest places at the ground.

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Melbourne Stars Launch “House of Rauf”

Max Abbott, General Manager of Melbourne Stars, said the initiative is designed to build a stronger bond between the franchise and South Asian fans. “We want Pakistani fans to come, enjoy our matches, and showcase their heritage,” Abbott said.

Haris Rauf, one of Pakistan’s top fast bowlers and a fan favorite in the BBL, has been chosen as the key ambassador for the stand. The right-arm pacer has been part of the Stars since 2019. By 2024, he has played 22 BBL matches, taking 36 wickets with an economy rate of 7.75. Abbott praised Rauf, saying, “Haris has been an incredible ambassador for the Stars, and we love the support from the Pakistani community that he has helped us build.”

A Vibrant Match-Day Experience

The House of Rauf stand will give fans a lively match-day experience inspired by Pakistani culture. It will feature food, music, and community activities. Abbott also said this initiative fits with Cricket Australia’s Multicultural Action Plan, which works to include multicultural groups and promote diversity in cricket. Rauf has already left a big mark in the BBL. In just 22 matches, he has taken 36 wickets, including his best figures of 5/27 against Hobart Hurricanes in his debut season (2019–20). That season, he also took his only T20 hat-trick, making an instant impact in the league.

BBL 2024–25 Season

The new Big Bash League season will start on December 14, with Perth Scorchers facing Sydney Sixers. The Stars will play their first game against Hobart Hurricanes on December 18.

The overseas player draft for the 2025-26 seasons of the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) and Big Bash League (BBL) will be held on Thursday, June 19, ushering in a fresh season of top-class cricket in Australia. The WBBL draft starts at 4 PM AEST and is followed without a gap by the BBL draft. These drafts enable every one of the eight clubs in each of the competitions to choose from a large number of international players to complete their rosters.

How the Draft Operates

The draft is a formal four-round format.

• Round 1: Platinum players only
• Round 2: Platinum and Gold
• Round 3: Gold and Silver (in reverse order)
• Round 4: Silver and Bronze

Every team needs to pick at least two overseas players except for their pre-signed players. Clubs can miss only one round. Every team has already pre-signed one overseas player prior to the draft, and players have to be assigned to a round according to how much they are earning on their contracts. Clubs can also pick a fourth overseas player as a substitute.

Draft Order

Draft order was determined through a weighted lottery based on the standings of the prior season.

• WBBL Round 1 Order: 1. Sydney Sixers, 2. Adelaide Strikers, 3. Melbourne Stars, 4. Perth Scorchers, 5. Hobart Hurricanes, 6. Sydney Thunder, 7. Melbourne Renegades, 8. Brisbane Heat.
• BBL Round 1 Order: 1. Brisbane Heat, 2. Adelaide Strikers, 3. Melbourne Renegades, 4. Perth Scorchers, 5. Hobart Hurricanes, 6. Sydney Sixers, 7. Melbourne Stars, 8. Sydney Thunder.

There was a trade in the BBL draft, with the Thunder and Scorchers exchanging picks in the second and third rounds.

Pre-signed Players (Prior to Draft)

• Adelaide Strikers: Laura Wolvaardt, Jamie Overton
• Brisbane Heat: Nadine de Klerk, Colin Munro
• Hobart Hurricanes: TBC, Chris Jordan
• Melbourne Renegades: Hayley Matthews, Tim Seifert
• Melbourne Stars: Marizanne Kapp, Tom Curran
• Perth Scorchers: Sophie Devine, Finn Allen
• Sydney Sixers: Amelia Kerr, Babar Azam
• Sydney Thunder: Chamari Athapaththu, Sam Billings

See Also: [WATCH] WAS vs LAS: Glenn Maxwell smashes 8th T20 century in MLC 2025

Notable Overseas Nominees

More than 600 overseas players have thrown their names into the pool for the upcoming WBBL and BBL drafts, which promises to be a great mix of talent from around the globe. The BBL has some exciting names included in the nominations, including Pakistani superstars Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, and Mohammad Rizwan. England's T20 hitters include Jofra Archer, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, and Alex Hales. All of these big names are among the nominations for the BBL, along with New Zealand's Lockie Ferguson, Tim Southee, and Kane Williamson, who has declared himself available for three matches. Bangladesh's Mustafizur Rahman and West Indies speed demon Shamar Joseph round out the marquee BBL names.

For the WBBL, we have some Indian stars with award-winning resumes. Jemimah Rodrigues, Shikha Pandey, and Yastika Bhatia have all made nominations to the process. West Indies' Deandra Dottin and Pakistan's Fatima Sana also add some firepower to the draft. England has featured great players like Sophie Ecclestone, Heather Knight, Danni Wyatt, and Alice Capsey, while South Africa's Shabnim Ismail and Chloe Tryon help improve the quality of nominations.

Player Salaries

WBBL:

• Platinum: $110,000
• Gold: $90,000
• Silver: $65,000
• Bronze: up to $40,000

BBL:

• Platinum: $360,000-$420,000
• Gold: $300,000
• Silver: $200,000
• Bronze: up to $100,000

Retention and Replacement Rules

Each club can have a single retention pick, typically for players who played or signed for the team the season before. Replacement players will need to be selected from the draft pool unless sanctioned under exceptional circumstances.

Season Timeline and Scheduling Conflicts

• WBBL: Late October to early December
• BBL: Mid-December to late January

The BBL would face schedule conflicts with other competing leagues such as ILT20 (Dec 2 - Jan 4) and SA20 (Dec 26 - Jan 26). Yet, Cricket Australia still has hope that international stars could be free for the second part of the season and playoffs.

See Also: MLC 2025: Points Table, leading run scorers, and wicket takers after WAS vs LAS Match 8

Although there were initial worries about the clash of T20 leagues causing overseas players to miss the BBL, Dobson was feeling positive about this season having better outcomes than in earlier years. He highlighted the fact that instead of a mass exodus at the later stages of the BBL, it's possible that some of the players playing in the ILT20 would be available for the back end of the tournament and finals. He added that this coincided with Australia’s Test stars’ availability, as no international matches are scheduled in January after the Ashes series.

"I think so," Dobson told ESPNcricinfo. "We probably pay more attention to our teams and players and who wants to come and play in the Big Bash. And we're hearing from players that they still love coming to the BBL. It's a bucket list for many of them. We're always looking at windows and player availability, but ultimately, I think our job is to make sure our comp is as appealing as it can be."

The 2025 drafts promise high drama and strategic decisions as clubs shape their overseas core. With global superstars up for grabs and new scheduling dynamics in play, this draft season is shaping up to be one of the most competitive yet.