BBL7 - Stars v Hurricanes Preview - (Plus The Lurker's Pack and Bank)

Melbourne Stars (1-8) v Hobart Hurricanes (5-4) @ MCG
 
Head to Head History - Melbourne Stars 5, Hobart Hurricanes 2
 
Last 5 - Melbourne Stars 3, Hobart Hurricanes 2
 
Melbourne Stars 13-Man Squad - John Hastings (c), Scott Boland, Ben Dunk, Jackson Coleman, James Faulkner, Peter Handscomb, Evan Gulbis, Ben Hilfenhaus, Kevin Pietersen, Seb Gotch, Liam Bowe, Daniel Worrall, Rob Quiney
 
Hobart Hurricanes 13-Man Squad - George Bailey (c), Dan Christian, Cameron Boyce, Clive Rose, Ben McDermott, Jake Reed, Simon Milenko, Tymal Mills, Tom Rogers, D'Arcy Short, Jofra Archer, Matthew Wade, Nathan Reardon, Alex Doolan
 
Preview - The Stars will be looking to finish a nightmare season on a high note when they take on the finals bound Hurricanes at the MCG tonight. The Stars are cast adrift at the bottom of the table, have won just one from nine games this season, making it a wooden spoon season and the first time they have missed the finals in franchise history. The Hurricanes are all but assured of a finals’ spot for the first time in four years at 5-4, however they will be looking to rebound from back-to-back losses against the Strikers and Scorchers.
 
Big Batting Battle - Kevin Pietersen v D'Arcy Short – Here we have one departing superstar against an emerging superstar, as Kevin Pietersen bids farewell to the Melbourne Stars, coming up against explosive Hurricanes’ opening batsman D'Arcy Short. Pietersen has been a fabulous signing for the Stars on and off the field over the past four years, however has experienced a quiet and injury laden season in BBL7. Short has been rewarded for a remarkable season with a call up to the Australian T20 side. Short has 500 runs for the season and is a near certainly to be the BBL& play of the series.  
 
Big Bowling Battle - James Faulkner v Tymal Mills - It seems a long time ago that James Faulkner was an established go-to guy in the Australian ODI side. This BBL7 he has bizarrely bowled just 20 overs, despite having played all nine games in a side that has struggled all season. Tymal Mills has been a bit all over the place for the Hurricanes, having taken just six wickets and going at over 9 runs per over. If the Hurricanes want to win a maiden title, one of their overseas imports will have to improve over the final week of the tournament. 
 
 Ground Dynamic - The MCG - The MCG curator has produced some pretty good batting wickets in the BBL this season, however the Stars have struggled in their games at the MCG batting first this season, failing to score over 157, and the ground is not typically the highest scoring T20 venue with its vast expanses. I think the team batting first will be very competitive with a score of 165. 
 
THE LURKER'S PICK (21-17) - Hobart Hurricanes  "The Canes are just a better side and will be more motivated then a Stars side on holidays already  
 
THE LURKER'S 10 UNIT BANK - (-48 units ) 
 
6 Units Hurricanes to win by 1-20 runs or 1-4 Wickets @ $4.75
 
2 Unit Stars high bat/bowler double to be Pietersen/Bowe @ $24
 
2 Units Hurricanes high bat/bowler double to be Short/Mills  @ $13