# 2020–21 Melbourne Stars season

The 2020–21 Melbourne Stars season was the tenth in the club's history. The team was coached by David Hussey and under the captaincy of Glenn Maxwell, they competed in the BBL's 2020–21 season.

## Season results and standings
### Ladder

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | NR | BP | Pts | NRR | Qualification |
| 1 | Sydney Sixers (C) | 14 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 9 | 36 | 0.257 | Advance to play-off phase |
| 2 | Perth Scorchers | 14 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 32 | 0.851 | Advance to play-off phase |
| 3 | Sydney Thunder | 14 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 31 | 0.949 | Advance to play-off phase |
| 4 | Brisbane Heat | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 29 | −0.286 | Advance to play-off phase |
| 5 | Adelaide Strikers | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 28 | 0.105 | Advance to play-off phase |
| 6 | Hobart Hurricanes | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 28 | −0.187 | |
| 7 | Melbourne Stars | 14 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 24 | 0.140 | |
| 8 | Melbourne Renegades | 14 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 16 | −1.727 | |

### Regular season

* Match 2 11 December 2020 19:15 (D/N) Scorecard
| Brisbane Heat 125 (19.5 overs) | v | Melbourne Stars (H) 4/129 (17.1 overs) |
| Tom Cooper 26 (24) Nathan Coulter-Nile 4/10 (3.5 overs) | | Glenn Maxwell 46 (26) Jack Wood 2/28 (3 overs) |
* Melbourne Stars won by 6 wickets Manuka Oval, Canberra Attendance: 2,471 Umpires: Phillip Gillespie and Shawn Craig Player of the match: Nathan Coulter-Nile (Melbourne Stars)
* Melbourne Stars won the toss and elected to field.
* Jack Wood and Xavier Bartlett (Brisbane Heat) made their T20 debuts.
* Match 3 12 December 2020 16:05 (D/N) Scorecard
| (H) Melbourne Stars 8/169 (20 overs) | v | Sydney Thunder 9/147 (20 overs) |
| Marcus Stoinis 61 (37) Daniel Sams 2/24 (3 overs) | | Callum Ferguson 54 (35) Liam Hatcher 3/28 (4 overs) |
* Melbourne Stars won by 22 runs Manuka Oval, Canberra Attendance: 3,295 Umpires: Greg Davidson and Phillip Gillespie Player of the match: Adam Zampa (Melbourne Stars0
* Melbourne Stars won the toss and elected to bat.
* Liam Hatcher (Stars) and Tanveer Sangha (Thunder) made their T20 debuts.
* Match 9 16 December 2020 19:15 (D/N) Scorecard
| Perth Scorchers 6/158 (17 overs) | v | Melbourne Stars 1/10 (1.1 overs) |
| Colin Munro 49 (36) Nic Maddinson 2/8 (2 overs) | | Andre Fletcher 6* (4) Jhye Richardson 1/0 (0.1 overs) |
* No result University of Tasmania Stadium, Launceston Attendance: TBA Umpires: Michael Graham-Smith and Sam Nogajski
* Melbourne Stars won the toss and elected to field.
* Rain stopped play during Perth Scorchers' innings. Melbourne Stars were set a revised target of 76 runs from 6 overs.
* X-factor subs: Ben Dunk (Melbourne Stars) replaced Tom O'Connell.
* Match 15 26 December 2020 20:20 (D/N) Scorecard
| Sydney Sixers 9/194 (19.5 overs) | v | Melbourne Stars 5/193 (20 overs) |
| Daniel Hughes 96 (51) Liam Hatcher 3/33 (4 overs) | | Glenn Maxwell 71* (47) Steve O'Keefe 2/13 (2 overs) |
* Sydney Sixers won by 1 wicket Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast Attendance: TBA Umpires: Greg Davidson and Phillip Gillespie Player of the match: Daniel Hughes (Sydney Sixers)
* Sydney Sixers won the toss and elected to field.
* Match 19 29 December 2020 19:15 (D/N) Scorecard
| Sydney Thunder 7/219 (20 overs) | v | Melbourne Stars 144 (19.5 overs) |
| Alex Hales 71 (29) Adam Zampa 3/49 (4 overs) | | Marcus Stoinis 27 (15) Chris Green 4/34 (4 overs) |
* Sydney Thunder won by 75 runs Manuka Oval, Canberra Attendance: TBA Umpires: Donovan Marius Koch and Simon Lightbody Player of the match: Alex Hales (Sydney Thunder)
* Melbourne Stars won the toss and elected to field.
* X-factor subs: Ben Dunk (Melbourne Stars) replaced Lance Morris.
* Match 23 2 January 2021 17:05 (D/N) Scorecard
| Hobart Hurricanes 5/164 (20 overs) | v | Melbourne Stars 9/143 (20 overs) |
| Dawid Malan 75 (56) Billy Stanlake 3/25 (4 overs) | | Glenn Maxwell 70 (37) Scott Boland 3/22 (4 overs) |
* Hobart Hurricanes won by 21 runs Blundstone Arena, Hobart Umpires: Gerard Abood and Shawn Craig Player of the match: Scott Boland (Hobart Hurricanes)
* Melbourne Stars won the toss and elected to field.
* X-factor subs: Lance Morris (Melbourne Stars) replaced Nic Maddinson.
* Match 27 4 January 2021 16:05 (D/N) Scorecard
| Melbourne Stars 6/183 (20 overs) | v | Hobart Hurricanes 6/173 (20 overs) |
| Marcus Stoinis 97* (55) Nathan Ellis 3/31 (4 overs) | | Ben McDermott 91 (58) Sam Rainbird 2/22 (4 overs) |
* Melbourne Stars won by 10 runs Blundstone Arena, Hobart Umpires: Gerard Abood and Nathan Johnstone Player of the match: Marcus Stoinis (Melbourne Stars)
* Hobart Hurricanes won the toss and elected to field.
* Match 32 7 January 2021 21:20 (D/N) Scorecard
| Brisbane Heat 3/115 (10 overs) | v | Melbourne Stars 5/110 (10 overs) |
| Chris Lynn 48 (23) Adam Zampa 2/7 (2 overs) | | Nick Larkin 35* (16) Mark Steketee 3/25 (2 overs) |
* Brisbane Heat won by 18 runs (DLS method) Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast Umpires: Gerard Abood and Phillip Gillespie Player of the match: Chris Lynn (Brisbane Heat)
* Melbourne Stars won the toss and elected to field.
* The match was reduced to 10 overs per side due to rain. Melbourne Stars were set a revised target of 129 runs.
* Match 36 11 January 2021 18:45 (D/N) Scorecard
| Adelaide Strikers 5/150 (19 overs) | v | Melbourne Stars 7/149 (20 overs) |
| Jonathan Wells 36 (27) Adam Zampa 2/20 (4 overs) | | Nic Maddinson 48 (34) Wes Agar 2/19 (4 overs) |
* Adelaide Strikers won by 5 wickets Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Umpires: Sam Nogajski and David Taylor Player of the match: Wes Agar (Adelaide Strikers)
* Melbourne Stars won the toss and elected to bat.
* Match 40 15 January 2021 19:15 (D/N) Scorecard
| Melbourne Stars 2/179 (20 overs) | v | Adelaide Strikers 68 (14.2 overs) |
| Andre Fletcher 89* (49) Cameron Valente 1/36 (4 overs) | | Matt Renshaw 20 (23) Adam Zampa 5/17 (3.2 overs) |
* Melbourne Stars won by 111 runs Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Umpires: Shawn Craig and Sam Nogajski Player of the match: Andre Fletcher (Melbourne Stars)
* Adelaide Strikers won the toss and elected to field.
* Match 42 17 January 2021 19:15 (D/N) Scorecard
| Melbourne Renegades 150 (19.5 overs) | v | Melbourne Stars 4/153 (19.1 overs) |
| Sam Harper 63 (52) Liam Hatcher 4/29 (4 overs) | | Marcus Stoinis 43 (32) Kane Richardson 2/24 (4 overs) |
* Melbourne Stars won by 6 wickets Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Umpires: Donovan Marius Koch and Shawn Craig Player of the match: Liam Hatcher (Melbourne Stars)
* Melbourne Renegades won the toss and elected to bat.
* Match 45 20 January 2021 19:15 (D/N) Scorecard
| Melbourne Renegades 5/160 (19.4 overs) | v | Melbourne Stars 6/158 (20 overs) |
| Mackenzie Harvey 47* (21) Nathan Coulter-Nile 3/41 (4 overs) | | Nick Larkin 61* (47) Zak Evans 2/23 (3 overs) |
* Melbourne Renegades won by 5 wickets Marvel Stadium, Melbourne Umpires: Sam Nogajski and Shawn Craig Player of the match: Mackenzie Harvey (Melbourne Renegades)
* Melbourne Stars won the toss and elected to bat.
* Match 50 23 January 2021 19:15 (D/N) Scorecard
| Melbourne Stars 6/171 (20 overs) | v | Perth Scorchers 4/182 (20 overs) |
| Nick Larkin 70 (44) Andrew Tye 2/28 (4 overs) | | Jason Roy 54 (32) Marcus Stoinis 1/16 (2 overs) |
* Perth Scorchers won by 11 runs Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Umpires: Michael Graham-Smith and Phillip Gillespie Player of the match: Jason Roy (Perth Scorchers)
* Melbourne Stars won the toss and elected to field.
* Match 56 26 January 2021 19:15 (D/N) Scorecard
| Melbourne Stars 6/177 (20 overs) | v | Sydney Sixers 5/180 (19.5 overs) |
| Glenn Maxwell 66 (41) Ben Dwarshuis 3/27 (4 overs) | | Daniel Christian 49* (23) Nic Maddinson 1/6 (1 overs) |
* Sydney Sixers won by 5 wickets Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Umpires: Phillip Gillespie and Shawn Craig Player of the match: Ben Dwarshuis (Sydney Sixers)
* Sydney Sixers won the toss and elected to field.

## Players
### Squad

The following is the Stars men's squad for the 2020–21 Big Bash League season as of 2 January 2020.
| S/N | Name | Date of birth | Batting style | Bowling style | Notes |
| Batsmen |||||||
| 10 | Will Pucovski | (1998-02-02) 2 February 1998 (age 26) | Right-handed | Right-arm off break | |
| 36 | Nick Larkin | (1990-05-01) 1 May 1990 (age 34) | Right-handed | — | |
| 53 | Nic Maddinson | (1991-12-21) 21 December 1991 (age 32) | Left-handed | Left-arm orthodox | International Cap |
| All-rounders |||||||
| 16 | Marcus Stoinis | (1989-08-16) 16 August 1989 (age 35) | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | International Cap |
| 23 | Clint Hinchliffe | (1996-10-23) 23 October 1996 (age 28) | Left-handed | Slow left-arm unorthodox | |
| 32 | Glenn Maxwell | (1988-10-14) 14 October 1988 (age 36) | Right-handed | Right-arm off-spin | Captain, International Cap |
| 35 | Hilton Cartwright | (1992-02-14) 14 February 1992 (age 32) | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | International Cap |
| Wicketkeepers |||||||
| 13 | Seb Gotch | (1993-07-12) 12 July 1993 (age 31) | Right-handed | Right-arm off-break | |
| 21 | Jonny Bairstow | (1989-09-26) 26 September 1989 (age 35) | Right-handed | — | Visa Contract and International Cap |
| 29 | Nicholas Pooran | (1995-10-02) 2 October 1995 (age 29) | Left-handed | — | Visa Contract and International Cap |
| 51 | Ben Dunk | (1987-03-11) 11 March 1987 (age 37) | Left-handed | Right arm off-break | International Cap |
| 72 | Andre Fletcher | (1987-11-28) 28 November 1987 (age 36) | Right-handed | — | Visa Contract and International Cap |
| Pace bowlers |||||||
| 7 | Nathan Coulter-Nile | (1987-10-11) 11 October 1987 (age 37) | Right-handed | Right-arm fast | International Cap |
| 9 | Jackson Coleman | (1991-12-18) 18 December 1991 (age 32) | Right-handed | Right-arm fast-medium | U-19 International Cap |
| 19 | Liam Hatcher | (1996-09-17) 17 September 1996 (age 28) | Right-handed | Right-arm fast | |
| 28 | Lance Morris | (1998-03-28) 28 March 1998 (age 26) | Right-handed | Right-arm fast-medium | |
| 37 | Billy Stanlake | (1994-11-04) 4 November 1994 (age 29) | Left-handed | Right-arm fast | International Cap |
| 43 | Sam Rainbird | (1992-06-05) 5 June 1992 (age 32) | Right-handed | Left-arm medium-fast | International Cap |
| 77 | Haris Rauf | (1993-11-07) 7 November 1993 (age 30) | Right-handed | Right-arm fast | Visa Contract and International Cap |
| 90 | Dilbar Hussain | (1993-02-20) 20 February 1993 (age 31) | Right-handed | Right-arm fast | Visa Contract |
| Spin bowlers |||||||
| 6 | Tom O'Connell | (2000-06-14) 14 June 2000 (age 24) | Left-handed | Right-arm leg spin | |
| 75 | Zahir Khan | (1998-12-20) 20 December 1998 (age 25) | Left-handed | Left-arm orthodox | Visa Contract and International Cap |
| 88 | Adam Zampa | (1992-03-31) 31 March 1992 (age 32) | Right-handed | Right-arm leg-break | International Cap |
* Player ruled out of season due to injury.

### Personnel Changes
#### Incoming Players

| Entry date | Role | No. | Player | From team | Notes |
| 8 September 2020 | Pace Bowler | 37 | Billy Stanlake | Adelaide Strikers | International Cap, Traded for Daniel Worrall |
| 28 October 2020 | Batsman | 10 | Will Pucovski | Free Agent | |
| 9 November 2020 | Wicket-keeper | 21 | Jonny Bairstow | International Player | Visa Contract and International Cap |
| 12 November 2020 | Wicket-keeper | - | Nicholas Pooran | International Player | Visa Contract and International Cap |
| 18 November 2020 | Spin Bowler | 75 | Zahir Khan | Brisbane Heat | Visa Contract and International Cap |
| 24 November 2020 | Pace Bowler | 19 | Liam Hatcher | Sydney Thunder | |
| 3 December 2020 | Wicket-keeper | 72 | Andre Fletcher | International Player | Visa Contract and International Cap |
| 2 January 2021 | Pace Bowler | 43 | Sam Rainbird | Free Agent | |

#### Outgoing Players

| Exit date | Role | No. | Player | To team | Notes |
| 1 March 2020 | Pace Bowler | 8 | Dale Steyn | Released | Visa Contract and International Cap |
| 1 March 2020 | All-rounder | 12 | Jonathan Merlo | Released | |
| 1 March 2020 | Pace Bowler | 40 | Pat Brown | Released | Visa Contract and International Cap |
| 8 September 2020 | Pace Bowler | 17 | Daniel Worrall | Adelaide Strikers | Traded for Billy Stanlake |
| 9 September 2020 | Wicket-keeper | 54 | Peter Handscomb | Hobart Hurricanes | International Cap |
| 19 November 2020 | Spin Bowler | 25 | Sandeep Lamichhane | Hobart Hurricanes | Visa Contract and International Cap |
| 3 December 2020 | Wicket-keeper | 21 | Jonny Bairstow | Withdrew | Visa Contract and International Cap |

## Statistics
### Attendance
#### Home attendance

| Match | Opponent | Attendance |
| 1 | Brisbane Heat | 2,471 |
| 2 | Sydney Thunder | 3,295 |
| 6 | Hobart Hurricanes | |
| 10 | Adelaide Strikers | |
| 11 | Melbourne Renegades | |
| 13 | Perth Scorchers | |
| 14 | Sydney Sixers | |
| Total Attendance | Total Attendance | |
| Average Attendance | Average Attendance | |
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all matches were played with a reduced capacity.

### Most runs

| No. | Name | Match | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave. | BF | SR | 100s | 50s | 0 | 4s | 6s |
| 1 | Marcus Stoinis | 13 | 13 | 1 | 396 | 97* | 33.00 | 278 | 142.44 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 40 | 17 |
| 2 | Glenn Maxwell | 14 | 13 | 1 | 379 | 71* | 31.58 | 264 | 143.56 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 32 | 17 |
| 3 | Nick Larkin | 11 | 10 | 3 | 276 | 70 | 39.42 | 218 | 126.60 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 32 | 5 |
| 4 | Hilton Cartwright | 14 | 13 | 5 | 239 | 46* | 29.87 | 166 | 143.97 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 15 |
| 5 | Andre Fletcher | 12 | 12 | 2 | 206 | 89* | 20.60 | 158 | 130.37 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 9 |
* Last updated: 30 January 2021
* Source:Cricinfo

### Most wickets

| No. | Name | Match | Inns | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | BBI | Ave. | Econ. | SR | 4W | 5W |
| 1 | Adam Zampa | 12 | 12 | 45.1 | 0 | 332 | 19 | 5/17 | 17.47 | 7.35 | 14.2 | 0 | 1 |
| 2 | Liam Hatcher | 9 | 9 | 34.4 | 0 | 308 | 13 | 3/28 | 23.69 | 8.88 | 16.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Billy Stanlake | 12 | 12 | 38.5 | 0 | 324 | 13 | 3/25 | 24.92 | 8.34 | 17.9 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Nathan Coulter-Nile | 6 | 6 | 21.5 | 0 | 172 | 11 | 4/10 | 15.63 | 7.87 | 11.9 | 1 | 0 |
| 5 | Glenn Maxwell | 14 | 12 | 28.5 | 0 | 221 | 7 | 2/12 | 31.57 | 7.66 | 24.7 | 0 | 0 |
* Last updated: 30 January 2021
* Source:Cricinfo