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History’s weight is not fazing the Melbourne Stars as they seek to lock their place in the top two on the BBL|15 ladder Listen on SpotifyListen on Apple PodcastsListen on iHeart Radio Is this finally the year the Melbourne Stars break the drought? After 14 iterations of the Big Bash League, the Stars, famously, are the only club not to win a title. Thrice runners up, and nine-time finalists, their short history of near misses is famous among the BBL fraternity. That, though, might at last be set to change.After eight of their 10 group matches, the Stars are second…

Ashleigh Gardiner is among several of Australia’s biggest names to set the tone in the opening matches of India’s WPL They may have left India empty-handed after last year’s World Cup – but a host of Australia’s top cricketers have wasted no time in hitting the ground running on their return to the country in the Women’s Premier League in Mumbai. Ashleigh Gardner, one of the Australians’ biggest success stories before they got knocked out in the semis in the DY Patil Stadium last November, returned to the stadium on Saturday, leading from the front with a blistering captain’s knock…

A change from a previous batting approach has seen the Melbourne Stars opener reap the rewards in BBL|15 Harper’s humongous hits seal Stars’ derby win BBL leading run-scorer Sam Harper says his match-winning feats are largely down to simplicity and stillness as he seeks to steer the Melbourne Stars to a long-awaited title. Harper has enjoyed an extraordinary campaign so far, scoring 356 runs at an average of 89.00 and strike rate of 158.92, including an unbeaten century against the Sydney Sixers on Boxing Day. The diminutive wicketkeeper-batter’s hot form continued with 84 not out from 51 balls as the…

Young leg-spinner Shay Manolini starred with four big wickets to set up WA’s big win over South Australia Western Australia v South Australia | WNCL Western Australia have humbled a South Australian side boasting of international heavyweights with an eight wicket win in the Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL). The dominant victory followed another comfortable win over the same side two days earlier as WA somewhat repaired their floundering start in the tournament to climb to fourth on the ladder. Veteran spearhead Megan Schutt joined her Australian teammates Tahlia McGrath and Darcie Brown on the field on Saturday, but the…

Stars won the return Melbourne derby at the Renegades’ home ground as Tom Rogers smashed the equal second-fastest half-century in club history Melbourne Renegades v Melbourne Stars | BBL|15 Tom Rogers smashed the equal second-fastest half-century in Stars history as his team reignited their push for a maiden BBL title with a commanding eight-wicket Melbourne derby win over the Renegades. In-form Renegades blaster Josh Brown laid the platform for the hosts’ 7-166 at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night with 80 off 50 balls. But Rogers and fellow opener Sam Harper both fired to help the Stars reach 2-170 with 25…

The young skipper admitted the period away from the field was a testing one, particularly after taking on the leadership role. “Obviously, never easy, especially you know, whenever you get injured, watching your team play and you feel like you are missing out on all those games, especially when you have just been named the captain. “There are so many things that you want to do and when you set out, it’s definitely very frustrating, but at the same time, you just have to focus on what are the things that you need to do in that moment and kind…

Usman Khawaja’s international career may be over, but he showed he is far from a spent force, stroking a fine 78 to help the Brisbane Heat to a BBL victory Brisbane Heat v Sydney Thunder | BBL|15 The Sydney Thunder’s dismal BBL campaign has crashed from bad to worse, with captain David Warner suffering a knee injury in a comprehensive seven-wicket loss to the Brisbane Heat. Warner’s 82 steered the Thunder to 6-180 at the Gabba on Saturday, before fellow 39-year-old and retired Test great Usman Khawaja stroked 78 to steer the Heat home with 22 deliveries remaining. Warner was…

NSW Cricket Hall of Fame inductee Alex Blackwell weighs in on Australia’s captaincy choices, backs Nicola Carey to make a comeback Former Australian skipper Alex Blackwell has endorsed Ashleigh Gardner and Phoebe Litchfield as future national captains in waiting. Blackwell, who led Australia to a maiden Women’s T20 World Cup title in 2010, believes the selectors don’t need to commit themselves to a long-term option after Alyssa Healy’s eventual retirement, with vice-captain Tahlia McGrath another in the mix to take on the role full-time. One of the all-time leading run-getters for the Australian women’s team, Blackwell was inducted into the…

Ashes winners Alex Carey and Josh Inglis return as the Strikers host the Scorchers at Adelaide Oval Match facts Who: Adelaide Strikers v Perth Scorchers What: Match 32, KFC BBL|15 Where: Adelaide Oval When: Sunday, January 11. Bat flip at 6pm local (6.30pm AEDT), first ball at 6.45pm local (7.15pm AEDT) How to watch: Channel Seven, 7plus, Fox Cricket, Kayo Sports Listen: ABC, SEN Radio. Listen in standard and real-time with no delay to live play via Cricket Radio on the CA Live app. Find out more here Buy tickets: Tickets are on sale here Live scores: Match Centre Highlights, news and reactions after…

Superstar Steve Smith returns for the Sixers as they host the Hurricanes at the SCG Match facts Who: Sydney Sixers v Hobart Hurricanes What: Match 31, KFC BBL|15 Where: SCG, Sydney When: Sunday, January 11. Bat flip at 1.20pm AEDT, first ball at 2.05pm AEDT How to watch: Channel Seven, 7plus, Fox Cricket, Kayo Sports Listen: ABC, SEN Radio. Listen in standard and real-time with no delay to live play via Cricket Radio on the CA Live app. Find out more here Buy tickets: Tickets are on sale here Live scores: Match Centre Highlights, news and reactions after the match: cricket.com.au, the CA Live…