It’s do-or-die in Hobart as the Hurricanes host the Stars in the BBL|15 Knockout
Match facts
Who: Hobart Hurricanes v Melbourne Stars
What: The Knockout, KFC BBL|15
Where: Ninja Stadium, Hobart
When: Wednesday, January 21. Bat flip at 6.45pm AEDT, first ball at 7.30pm 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 and Big Bash apps
Officials: Mike Graham-Smith and Phil Gillespie (field), Donovan Koch (third), Drew Crozier (fourth), Kepler Wessels (match referee)
Match squads
Hobart Hurricanes: Jackson Bird, Nikhil Chaudhary, Rishad Hossain, Chris Jordan, Ben McDermott (c), Riley Meredith, Mitch Owen, Will Prestwidge, Billy Stanlake, Matthew Wade, Charlie Wakim, Tim Ward, Beau Webster, Mac Wright
Ins: Jackson Bird, Charlie Wakim. Outs: Rehan Ahmed (national duties), Nathan Ellis (injured).
A devastating blow to the Hurricanes’ finals ambitions, with skipper Nathan Ellis ruled out of the final due to an injury sustained in his side’s last game against the Heat. The extent of the injury, and Ellis’ future in BBL|15, is yet to be determined. Ben McDermott will lead the side in Ellis’ absence. English spinner Rehan Ahmed also departs the squad on national duties, with Jackson Bird and Charlie Wakim recalled. Meanwhile, Jake Weatherald will be take no part in the Hurricanes’ finals campaign as he prioritises his red-ball cricket with Tasmania.
Melbourne Stars: Hilton Cartwright, Joe Clarke, Tom Curran, Sam Harper, Liam Hatcher, Campbell Kellaway, Blake Macdonald, Glenn Maxwell, Hamish McKenzie, Haris Rauf, Tom Rogers, Peter Siddle, Marcus Stoinis (c), Mitch Swepson
Unchanged
The Stars will field an unchanged line-up as they look to topple the reigning champions in pursuit of their maiden BBL title.
Club news
Hobart Hurricanes
Melbourne Stars
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Players to watch
Mitch Owen (Hurricanes): Hasn’t reached the same heights he did last season to power the Hurricanes to their maiden title but Owen is still striking at 200 for his 146 runs in BBL|15. The powerful right-hander loves Ninja Stadium and rises to another level in finals matches, which the Stars will no doubt be wary of.
Glenn Maxwell (Stars): A quieter season by Maxwell’s lofty precedent but don’t let that fool you, the mercurial allrounder is built for the big moments. Has form against the Hurricanes too, it’s the team he hit his epic 154 not out against back in BBL|11 while last season, with a finals spot on the line, he slammed 76no from 32 balls. In fact, Maxwell has only been dismissed once in his past four innings against Hobart, for scores of 154no, 35no, 32 and 76no, while striking at an incredible 225.
Top performers
Local knowledge
Rapid stats
Melbourne Stars have won their past two BBL matches against Hobart Hurricanes, including an eight-wicket victory when they last met earlier this season (December 18, 2025); the Stars will be aiming to defeat the Hurricanes more than once in a single season for only the second time in BBL history (won two in BBL|09).
Hobart Hurricanes will be looking to avoid consecutive defeats in the BBL in Tasmania for the first time since December 2021, following their three-run loss against Brisbane Heat in their most recent match in their home state.
Melbourne Stars have a bowling economy rate of 7.6 this season, the best of any team in the competition; in addition, the Stars’ bowling strike rate (16.1) is the second best of any team in the campaign (Sydney Sixers – 15.1).
Melbourne Stars duo Blake Macdonald (22.6 per cent of 53 balls faced) and Marcus Stoinis (24.5 per cent of 196 balls faced) have the best batting false shot rates of any players in BBL|15 season (minimum 10 balls faced).
Mitch Owen (Hobart Hurricanes) has recorded 3.32 runs per scoring shot in BBL|15 (146 runs scored), the best average of any player in the competition (minimum 40 runs).
What’s on the line?
There are no second chances in the Knockout with the winner to march on to meet the loser of the Qualifier on Friday night and keep their championship hopes alive. For the loser, it’s season over, try again in BBL|16.
BBL|15 finals schedule
Qualifier: Perth Scorchers v Sydney Sixers, Optus Stadium (Tuesday, January 20, 7.30pm AEDT)
Knockout: Hobart Hurricanes v Melbourne Stars, Ninja Stadium (Wednesday, January 21, 7.30pm AEDT)
Challenger: Loser of Qualifier v winner of Knockout, TBC (Friday, January 23, 7.15pm AEDT)
Final: Winner of Qualifier v winner of Challenger, TBC (Sunday, January 25, 7.15pm AEDT)
*A reserve day on Monday, January 26 (7.15pm AEDT) is available for the Final
KFC BBL|15 standings
Team
Matches played
M
Wins
W
Losses
L
Ties
T
No results
N/R
Net Run Rate
NRR
Deductions
Ded.
Total points
PTS
1
SCO
10
7
3
0
0
1.363
0
14
2
SIX
10
6
3
0
1
0.605
0
13
3
HUR
10
6
3
0
1
0.331
0
13
4
STA
10
6
4
0
0
0.759
0
12
5
HEA
10
5
5
0
0
-0.431
0
10
6
STR
10
4
6
0
0
-0.231
0
8
7
REN
10
3
7
0
0
-1.202
0
6
8
THU
10
2
8
0
0
-1.212
0
4
Legend
M: Matches played
W: Wins
L: Losses
T: Ties
N/R: No results
NRR: Net Run Rate
Ded.: Deductions
PTS: Total points
