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The first match in today’s Geelong double header will see the table topping Perth Scorchers host the Melbourne Stars, as the local team recovers from a COVID-ridden week. Warm conditions are expected for the clash which will kick off at 2:10pm AEDT.

Draftstars have offered up a $15,000 contest along with high roller, mini and double header options.

Stars Squad: Zampa (c), Qais, Burns, Cartwright, Clarke, Couch, Crone, Dean, Elliott, Hinchliffe, Larkin, O'Connell, Rainbird, Rauf, Rowe, Stoinis, Webster

Scorchers Squad: Turner (c), Agar, Bancroft, Behrendorff, Evans, Hardie, Hatzoglou, Hobson, Kelly, Moody, Morris, Patterson, Sabburg, Tye

The Stars began their challenging five games in seven days stretch with a season saving 5-wicket victory over the Adelaide Strikers at the MCG, despite missing stars Glenn Maxwell, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Marcus Stoinis. The latter was a late omission with a ‘slight back injury’, the extent of which is yet to be revealed, however must put him in serious doubt for Tuesday’s clash.

As a result, it’s likely that we will see a similar team roll out at GMHBA Stadium, although player rotation will be an ever-present factor throughout the Stars hectic week of matches.

It was “spin to win” for the men in green against Adelaide. Captain Adam Zampa leading a three-pronged attack with 2 wickets while Qais Ahmed and Clint Hinchliffe also took wickets at under 6 an over. Harris Rauf is the go-to bowler at both ends of the innings as pace options are few and far between for the undermanned Stars. Chasing a meagre total, Joe Clarke continued on his merry way, posting his fourth consecutive half-century with an 83 (over half the Stars score).

Meanwhile, Perth are sitting pretty at the top of the table after a strong win over fellow title fancies the Sydney Sixers and enter this game with a consistent run of matches under their belt.

As we have come to expect it is the Scorchers’ bowling attack that is driving their results – a strong battery of quicks taking wickets up front before Ashton Agar and Peter Hatzoglou put the screws on through the middle overs.

The West Australian side has also adapted well to life without Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis with the bat thanks to left-handers Colin Munro and Kurtis Patterson, who are setting strong platforms at the top of the order if not catalysing monster totals. Munro was a late omission in the last match for Covid reasons, along with Jason Behrendorff who was deemed a close contact. It is worth noting however that Behrendorff has been named in the squad for this clash.

Looking for Draftstars scores from previous editions from the BBL? Our Free Players Logs + Ground Fantasy breakdowns are now available in our BBL11 Data Tools

Love It – Clint Hinchliffe ($9,200) - UPDATE: Hinchcliffe has not been listed in the starting 11

I was personally surprised when left-arm spinner Hinchliffe was afforded his full complement of overs on Monday night, but that paled in comparison to the shock I felt when he padded up to open the batting. The 25-year-old justified his captain’s confidence with the ball, although the same could not quite be said for him with the willow. Nevertheless, such a role is simply impossible to pass up at this price, although there is no guarantee he will have the same involvement on Tuesday.

Love It – Ashton Agar ($17,400)

Agar has been remarkably consistent throughout BBL11 and I predict him to continue his good form in Geelong. Not only is the Stars batting line-up depleted of quality, it is also made up of nearly solely right-handers. This will allow Agar to spin the ball away from the bat, take wickets and likely tie down his end. The experienced campaigner is also good for a few runs in the middle order if required.

Don’t Love It – Beau Webster ($8,800)

A reasonably popular selection last night, I think Webster is a relatively easy fade at the moment in his current role. Batting at 6, the imposing right-hander hasn’t captured his best form in this BBL managing a best score of just 6 from his first four BBL11 innings. There is value elsewhere so no need to pay down for Beau here.

Don’t Love It – Joe Burns ($13,900)

Injected into the Stars team amid the COVID chaos, Burns just doesn’t look comfortable in the T20 arena. There are plenty of proven performers with the stick on this slate and the Queenslander has not shown enough to warrant selection.

Who Knows – Ashton Turner ($12,800)

Known by many for his international heroics in years gone by, Turner has dropped down the pecking order as of late. BBL11 was doing him no favours either, averaging under 20 until the Scorchers most recent game against the Sixers in which he made a match-winning 69 off 41 balls. The extra responsibility thrust on Turner’s shoulders by Colin Munro’s absence paid off in that game, but is the big hitter truly back or was his last knock just a flash in the pan?

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