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The Melbourne Stars have been dealt an early blow, with star allrounder Glenn Maxwell to the Big Bash League opener against the Perth Scorchers on Sunday.
Maxwell suffered a grade two left hamstring strain in the final Twenty20 international against Pakistan in Hobart last month, and has been in a race against time to be fit for the start of the domestic T20 summer at Optus Stadium.
The Stars confirmed on Saturday he will not line up against the Scorchers in Perth, and remains in a battle to be fit for the home opener against Brisbane at the MCG on Wednesday night.
Glenn Maxwell.Credit: Getty Images
Maxwell, one of the most dynamic white-ball players in world cricket, has stepped down as skipper this season, replaced by Marcus Stoinis, as the Stars chase an elusive BBL title. They are just one of two teams who have not won a championship, joining the Hobart Hurricanes.
The Stars were runners-up in the 2015-2016, 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 seasons.
Stoinis, 35, is determined that “gang green” finally tastes the ultimate success.
“Us not winning the years where we were in the finals or around the finals and super competitive every year, we might have got too obsessed with the fact that we weren’t winning the final, and we forgot how much we were doing well,” Stoinis said.
“We probably tried to change too much ... in the chase of a title. We are overdue some success. I’ve been here a long time and we’ve been through some transitions. From being super successful, even though not winning it, to having a few lean years.
“It’s nice to have the responsibility to work with the Stars, who I’ve been with for so many years.“
The Stars missed the finals last season, and were last in season 2022-23.
Stoinis said he and coach Peter Moores, the latter with two stints in charge of England, were working well together.
“We’ve got a relatively new coach and me as a new captain, I think it’s going to be exciting,” he said.
“We’ve got a good squad, good overseas players and we’ve got some good replacements in as well.“
Stars squad: Austin Anlezark, Scott Boland, Hilton Cartwright, Joe Clarke (ENG), Brody Couch, Tom Curran (ENG), Ben Duckett (ENG), Sam Harper, Campbell Kellaway, Glenn Maxwell, Hamish McKenzie, Jonathan Merlo, Adam Milne (NZ), Usama Mir (PAK), Joel Paris, Tom Rogers, Peter Siddle, Mark Steketee, Marcus Stoinis, Doug Warren, Beau Webster.