The Match No. 5 of the Big Bash League (BBL) 2025-26 will see Melbourne Stars (STA) take on Hobart Hurricanes (HUR) at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday, December 18. This STA vs HUR Dream11 prediction focuses on the Stars’ opening game of the season and the Hurricanes looking to build momentum after a winning start.
Match Info & Preview
| Match | Melbourne Stars vs Hobart Hurricanes, Match 5 |
|---|---|
| Tournament | Big Bash League 2025-26 |
| Date | Thursday, December 18, 2025 |
| Time | 1:45 PM IST |
| Venue | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne |
| Live Stream & Broadcast | JioStar Network Channels, JioHotstar (App and Website) |
Melbourne Stars are yet to begin their BBL 2025-26 campaign and will be playing their first match of the season at their home venue. The Stars have announced a 14-member squad led by Marcus Stoinis and will aim to start the tournament on a positive note with a balanced and power-packed lineup.
Hobart Hurricanes, the defending champions, have already opened their campaign with a four-wicket win against Sydney Thunder in a last-over thriller. Chris Jordan played a key role with both bat and ball in that match and earned the Player of the Match award. The Hurricanes will be keen to continue their winning momentum with another strong performance.
STA vs HUR Head-to-Head Record
| Matches Played | STA Won | HUR Won | Tied | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | 14 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
Probable Playing XI
Here is the expected playing XI for todays clash.
Melbourne Stars Playing XI
- Glenn Maxwell
- Marcus Stoinis
- Tom Curran
- Haris Rauf
- T Fraser Ro…
- Joe Clarke
- Sam Harper (wk)
- Hilton Cartwright
- Campbell Kellaway
- Peter Siddle
- Mitch Swepson
Hobart Hurricanes Playing XI
- Matthew Wade (wk)
- Ben McDermott
- Tim David
- Chris Jordan
- Nikhil Chaudhary
- Mitchell Owen
- Rehan Ahmed
- Nathan Ellis (c)
- Rishad Hossain
- Riley Meredith
- Billy Stanlake
Pitch & Weather Report
Here is the pitch and weather report for todays match.
The Melbourne Cricket Ground pitch has seen teams batting second win 16 out of 28 T20I matches. The average first innings score at the venue is around 140, though a higher total may be required to post an above-par score. The surface tends to assist bowlers initially, with batting becoming easier as the pitch wears.
Weather conditions are expected to be cloudy with a temperature of around 32.5°C and humidity close to 28 percent.
Dream11 Fantasy Player Picks
Here are todays match fantasy picks.
| Player | Team | Role |
|---|---|---|
| M Wade | HUR | WicketKeeper |
| B McDermott | HUR | WicketKeeper |
| GMaxwell | STA | Batter |
| TDavid | HUR | Batter |
| T Fraser Ro | STA | Batter |
| M Stoinis | STA | AllRounder |
| C Jordan | HUR | AllRounder |
| T Curran | STA | AllRounder |
| N Chaudhary | HUR | AllRounder |
| M Owen | HUR | AllRounder |
| H Rauf | STA | Bowler |
Injury Updates
There are no injury updates available yet for this match. If any official updates are announced closer to the game, they will be added here accordingly.
Match Prediction
Melbourne Stars will be playing their first match of the season at home, which gives them familiarity with conditions at the MCG. However, Hobart Hurricanes come into this contest with winning momentum and confidence after their opening victory. Considering current form and recent momentum, Hobart Hurricanes appear slightly better placed to edge out a close contest.
Predicted Winner: Hobart Hurricanes
Team Form – Last 5 Matches
| Team | Form |
|---|---|
| Melbourne Stars | L W W W W |
| Hobart Hurricanes | W L L L W |
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Disclaimer
Cricket match predictions are for informational and entertainment purposes only. We do not promote or support any form of betting or gambling.
This article is intended solely for free fantasy contests and complies with the Indian Government’s Gaming Regulation Bill, 2025. All opinions and predictions are based on publicly available data, team news, and expert analysis; actual match outcomes may differ.
