Sydney Thunder and Melbourne Stars are taking on each other in the opening game of Big Bash League 2022-23. Sydney Thunder won the toss at the Manuka Oval in Canberra, and they asked the Melbourne Stars to bat first, who are missing their usual captain Glenn Maxwell.
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Rilee Rossouw and Fazalhaq Farooqi are making their debut for Sydney Thunder in this match. Alex Hales is again back at the top, and he was the best batter of the side last season. It will be interesting to see how this team will play under the captaincy of Jason Sangha.
Melbourne Stars handed a debut to Trent Boult and Luke Wood in this match, and Joe Clarke is the 3rd overseas player of the side. It is certain that the bowling of the side has improved this season, but the batting is not looking that strong on paper. Marcus Stoinis’ form will play a very big part for this team.
Why is Glenn Maxwell not playing today’s Big Bash League 12 match?
Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell was the designated captain of the Melbourne Stars for BBL 12, but he is not playing the tournament opener against Sydney Thunder. Maxwell recently injured his foot during a party, and he has been ruled out of the whole Big Bash League season this time around.
.@Gmaxi_32 with a gameday update 🤣 pic.twitter.com/JpeknmXyfC
— Melbourne Stars (@StarsBBL) December 13, 2022
Maxwell has undergone surgery on his foot, and he is set to miss months of cricketing action. Under Maxwell’s absence, leg-spinner Adam Zampa has been made the captain of Melbourne Stars for BBL 12. It will be really tough for the Stars to replace someone like Maxwell as he used to contribute with both bat and the ball.
Maxwell was brilliant in the last season for the Stars where he scored 468 runs with the help of 2 centuries and 1 half-century, and he also scalped 4 wickets in bowling. Tom Rogers has been named the replacement for Maxwell this season.