BBL 2026 · Match 32 · Mon 11 Jan, 7:15 pm AEDT (1:45 pm IST)

Sydney Thunder vs Melbourne Stars match prediction and playing 11

Sydney Thunder play Melbourne Stars in match 32 of the BBL on Mon 11 Jan at 7:15 pm AEDT (1:45 pm IST), Manuka Oval, Canberra. Sydney Thunder and Melbourne Stars have met 22 times in the BBL: 11–11. Our fantasy pick for captain is David Warner, with Finn Allen as vice-captain.

Suggested fantasy XI

Highest expected points from both probable XIs: 11 players, at most 7 from one side, 1–4 wicketkeepers, 3–6 batters, 1–4 all-rounders and 3–6 bowlers

Wicketkeepers · 2

Batters · 4

All-rounders · 2

Bowlers · 3

  • Option 2: Matthew Gilkes in for Marcus Stoinis (316 expected points, against 317)
  • Option 3: Peter Siddle in for Marcus Stoinis (316 expected points, against 317)

Build your own: pick players and get the three best teams →

Suggestions are statistical estimates from past matches, not guarantees. CricketViz is not affiliated with the Big Bash League or any fantasy sports app.

Captain and vice-captain picks

Who to make captain and vice-captain, and why

CaptainDavid Warner STExpected 33 points, so about 67 as captain (2×)Top scorer of this XI in 21% of 4,000 simulated matchesTop scorer of the match in 9 of 68 T20s (4 of 22 in the BBL)
Vice-captainFinn Allen MSExpected 29 points, so about 44 as vice-captain (1.5×)In the XI's top two in 32% of 4,000 simulated matchesSecond-top scorer of the match in 7 of 67 T20s (3 of 21 in the BBL)
  • The captain earns double and the vice-captain one and a half times their points, so these two picks swing a fantasy team more than any other. Put your two highest expected scorers there.
  • When expected points are close, prefer the player who tops the scoring more often (the simulated share and the record below), or pick the other one as a differential that fewer teams will have.
  • All-rounders and top-order batters are steadier picks: they can score with the bat, the ball and in the field.
Captaincy options from the suggested XI
PlayerExp. ptsTop scorerTop twoBest CBest VC
David Warner STC25 recent T20s3321%34%13%9/6810%7/68
Finn Allen MSVC25 recent T20s2921%32%10%7/6710%7/67
Sam Harper MS25 recent T20s2814%26%9%3/346%2/34
Craig Overton MS25 recent T20s275%11%4%2/472%1/47
Jamie Overton MS25 recent T20s268%19%8%6/804%3/80
Daniel Sams ST25 recent T20s247%18%1%1/906%5/90
  • Exp. pts: from the player's recent T20s (up to 25, shown under the name), newest counting most.
  • Top scorer / top two: how often the player scores the most (or is in the top two) in this XI, over 4,000 simulated matches.
  • Best C / VC: how often the player was the match's top (or second-top) fantasy scorer, across both teams, in their T20s of the last three years; not how many people picked them. How we calculate this

Sydney Thunder predicted playing 11

PlayerExp. ptsLast 5 games
David WarnerBAT · 25+ T20s33705113037
Sam BillingsoverseasWK · 25+ T20s2224-213043
Daniel SamsAR · 25+ T20s241626332419
Chris GreenBOWL · 25+ T20s2438632746
Nic MaddinsonBAT · 25+ T20s182026172119
Matthew GilkesWK · 25+ T20s17938340
Cameron BancroftWK · 25+ T20s14120382
Tanveer SanghaBOWL · 25+ T20s1216462-3
Sam KonstasBAT · 14 T20s14117-3019
Aidan O'ConnorBOWL · 1 T20s1712
Lockie FergusonoverseasBOWL · 25+ T20s14-410-42254
Rest of the squad (2)
Trent BoultoverseasBOWL · 25+ T20s113148-32
Ryan HadleyBOWL · 4 T20s10-422-41

Melbourne Stars predicted playing 11

PlayerExp. ptsLast 5 games
Marcus StoiniscaptainBAT · 25+ T20s1922572636
Sam HarperWK · 25+ T20s28759413155
Finn AllenoverseasBAT · 25+ T20s292311712079
Craig OvertonoverseasBOWL · 25+ T20s272789231623
Jamie OvertonoverseasAR · 25+ T20s262434284014
Hilton CartwrightBAT · 25+ T20s20151924635
Peter SiddleBOWL · 25+ T20s17512421222
Glenn MaxwellBAT · 25+ T20s16421473-3
Tom RogersBAT · 25+ T20s1526180136
Mitchell SwepsonBOWL · 25+ T20s13254221
Liam HatcherBOWL · 25+ T20s12-3-63062
Rest of the squad (3)
Campbell KellawayBAT · 21 T20s13613-463
Todd MurphyBOWL · 25+ T20s131466302
Austin AnlezarkRole unknown · no T20 record in our data12—

Predicted playing 11s are our estimate from each squad: once a side has played this season, its last XI, otherwise the captain first, then recent fantasy points, experience and last season's selections (with at most three overseas players). They change when the teams are announced at the toss.

How the points are counted

Playing in the XI+2
Each run+0.5
Each four / six (bonus on top of the runs)+0.5 / +1
50 / 100 runs (highest milestone only)+4 / +8
Out for a duck−2
Strike rate (5+ balls): under 70 / 130 and over−2 to −6 / +2 to +6
Each wicket (not run outs); bowled or lbw bonus+10; +2
3 / 4 / 5 wickets (bonuses add up)+6 / +8 / +10
Maiden over+4
Economy (1+ over): under 6 / 10 and over+2 to +6 / −2 to −6
Catch; 3+ catches bonus+4; +4 to +8
Stumping / direct-hit run out+6
Other run outs (thrower and catcher not recorded)+3 each
Captain / vice-captain2× / 1.5×

Our summary of a common T20 fantasy scoring system; apps differ, so check the values in the one you use. How we calculate expected points and picks →

More on this match