Jump to content

2020–21 Melbourne Stars WBBL season

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Melbourne Stars
2020–21 season
Melbourne Stars 2020–21 cap logo
Melbourne Stars 2020–21 cap logo
CoachTrent Woodhill
Captain(s)Meg Lanning
LeagueWBBL
Record8–3 (1st)
FinalsRunners-up
Leading Run ScorerMeg Lanning – 493
Leading Wicket TakerNat Sciver – 19
Player of the SeasonNat Sciver

The 2020–21 Melbourne Stars Women's season was the sixth in the team's history. Coached by Trent Woodhill and captained by Meg Lanning, the Stars were runners-up of WBBL|06. Playing the entirety of the tournament in a bio-secure Sydney hub due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[1] they finished the regular season on top of the points table. It was therefore the first time the Stars managed to qualify for the finals—a breakthrough especially notable after ending WBBL|05 in last place.[2][3]

Despite a dramatic improvement to the team's overall performance from previous seasons, the Stars' campaign nevertheless ended on a sour note: In the championship decider, held at North Sydney Oval, they were dealt a "thumping"[4][5] upset defeat at the hands of the Sydney Thunder, losing by seven wickets with 38 balls remaining.

Squad

[edit]

Each 2020–21 squad is to be made up of 15 active players. Teams can sign up to five 'marquee players', with a maximum of three of those from overseas. Marquees are classed as any overseas player, or a local player who holds a Cricket Australia national contract at the start of the WBBL|06 signing period.[6]

Personnel changes made ahead of the season included:

Changes made during the season included:

The table below lists the Stars players and their key stats (including runs scored, batting strike rate, wickets taken, economy rate, catches and stumpings) for the season.[27][28]

No. Name Nat. Birth date Batting style Bowling style G R SR W E C S Notes
Batters
00 Mignon du Preez South Africa 13 June 1989 Right-handed 15 380 122.58 1 Overseas marquee
12 Anna Lanning Australia 25 March 1994 Right-handed Right-arm medium 3 8 88.88 1 Local replacement player
7 Meg Lanning Australia 25 March 1992 Right-handed Right-arm medium 15 493 127.72 7 Captain, Australian marquee
2 Elyse Villani Australia 6 October 1989 Right-handed Right-arm medium 15 360 120.80 3
All-rounders
24 Lucy Cripps Australia 6 December 2001 Right-handed Right-arm medium 1 0
16 Georgia Gall Australia 30 July 2004 Left-handed Left-arm medium fast
76 Erin Osborne Australia 27 June 1989 Right-handed Right-arm off spin 10 32 88.88 2 5.72 2
39 Nat Sciver England 20 August 1992 Right-handed Right-arm medium 14 252 122.92 19 6.71 8 Overseas marquee
3 Annabel Sutherland Australia 12 October 2001 Right-handed Right-arm medium fast 15 190 113.77 3 7.97 6 Australian marquee
Wicket-keeper
4 Nicole Faltum Australia 17 January 2000 Right-handed 15 27 100.00 6 2
Bowlers
26 Katherine Brunt England 2 July 1985 Right-handed Right-arm medium fast 11 49 108.88 8 6.36 3 Overseas marquee
6 Sophie Day Australia 2 September 1998 Left-handed Left-arm orthodox 15 5 166.66 11 6.66 0
37 Bhavisha Devchand Australia 24 December 1992 Right-handed Right-arm leg spin
9 Holly Ferling Australia 22 December 1995 Right-handed Right-arm medium fast 8 0 6 7.42 2
25 Tess Flintoff Australia 31 March 2003 Right-handed Right-arm medium 14 9 45.00 11 8.03 1
13 Alana King Australia 22 November 1995 Right-handed Right-arm leg spin 12 62 187.87 16 6.00 3
98 Rosemary Mair New Zealand 7 November 1998 Right-handed Right-arm medium fast 2 3 7.50 0 Overseas marquee (replacement)

Ladder

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W L NR Pts NRR
1 Melbourne Stars (RU) 14 8 3 3 19 0.965
2 Brisbane Heat 14 8 4 2 18 0.543
3 Sydney Thunder (C) 14 7 5 2 16 0.344
4 Perth Scorchers 14 6 6 2 14 0.355
5 Sydney Sixers 14 6 6 2 14 −0.084
6 Adelaide Strikers 14 6 7 1 13 0.135
7 Melbourne Renegades 14 4 8 2 10 −1.008
8 Hobart Hurricanes 14 3 9 2 8 −1.143
Source: [29]
  •   The top 4 teams advance to the knockout phase

Fixtures

[edit]

All times are local time

Regular season

[edit]

Match 4
25 October 2020
14:30
Scorecard
Melbourne Stars
4/127 (17 overs)
v
Meg Lanning 51* (50)
Carly Leeson 2/28 (3 overs)
No result
Hurstville Oval
Umpires: Roberto Howard and Jerry Matibiri
  • Melbourne Renegades won the toss and elected to field
  • No further play was possible due to rain
  • Broadcast by Cricket Network

Match 5
26 October 2020
09:30
Scorecard
Sydney Thunder
2/13 (4 overs)
v
Heather Knight 4* (6)
Nat Sciver 1/3 (1 over)
No result
North Sydney Oval
Umpires: Nathan Robert Johnstone and Muhammad Qureshi
  • Melbourne Stars won the toss and elected to field
  • No further play was possible due to rain
  • Broadcast by Cricket Network

Match 12
31 October 2020
19:05 (D/N)
Scorecard
v
Match abandoned
Sydney Showground Stadium
Umpires: Muhammad Qureshi and Simon Lightbody

Match 16
1 November 2020
14:30
Scorecard
Hobart Hurricanes
9/89 (19 overs)
v
Melbourne Stars
2/93 (11.2 overs)
Nicola Carey 26* (37)
Katherine Brunt 3/17 (4 overs)
Elyse Villani 51* (32)
Brooke Hepburn 1/6 (1 over)
Melbourne Stars won by 8 wickets (with 46 balls remaining)
Drummoyne Oval
Umpires: Nathan Johnstone and Stephen Dionysius
Player of the match: Katherine Brunt (Melbourne Stars)
  • Melbourne Stars won the toss and elected to field
  • Match reduced to 19 overs per side due to rain delay
  • Broadcast by Cricket Network

Match 18
3 November 2020
19:05 (D/N)
Scorecard
Adelaide Strikers
6/154 (20 overs)
v
Melbourne Stars
3/159 (19.4 overs)
Laura Wolvaardt 68 (50)
Alana King 2/23 (4 overs)
Meg Lanning 69 (58)
Madeline Penna 2/11 (2 overs)
Melbourne Stars won by 7 wickets (with 2 balls remaining)
Blacktown International Sportspark
Umpires: David Taylor and Simon Lightbody
Player of the match: Meg Lanning (Melbourne Stars)

Match 24
7 November 2020
19:05 (D/N)
Scorecard
Perth Scorchers
118 (20 overs)
v
Melbourne Stars
2/120 (15.2 overs)
Heather Graham 29 (30)
Alana King 2/16 (4 overs)
Meg Lanning 51* (38)
Piepa Cleary 1/13 (2 overs)
Melbourne Stars won by 8 wickets (with 28 balls remaining)
North Sydney Oval
Umpires: Simon Lightbody and Stephen Dionysius
Player of the match: Nat Sciver (Melbourne Stars)

Match 27
8 November 2020
13:45
Scorecard
Melbourne Stars
9/177 (20 overs)
v
Brisbane Heat
8/154 (20 overs)
Meg Lanning 54 (25)
Amelia Kerr 3/35 (4 overs)
Grace Harris 81* (52)
Alana King 2/22 (4 overs)
Melbourne Stars won by 23 runs
North Sydney Oval
Umpires: Tony Wilds and Bede Sajowitz
Player of the match: Meg Lanning (Melbourne Stars)

Match 29
10 November 2020
14:30
Scorecard
Adelaide Strikers
7/140 (20 overs)
v
Melbourne Stars
5/144 (19.3 overs)
Laura Wolvaardt 46 (40)
Nat Sciver 4/29 (4 overs)
Mignon du Preez 61 (51)
Sarah Coyte 2/16 (4 overs)
Melbourne Stars won by 5 wickets (with 3 balls remaining)
Blacktown International Sportspark
Umpires: Greg Davidson and Andrew Crozier
Player of the match: Nat Sciver (Melbourne Stars)

Match 36
14 November 2020
19:05 (D/N)
Scorecard
Sydney Thunder
5/131 (20 overs)
v
Melbourne Stars
2/135 (16.5 overs)
Rachael Haynes 51 (49)
Katherine Brunt 2/19 (3 overs)
Mignon du Preez 57* (37)
Hannah Darlington 1/25 (3 overs)
Melbourne Stars won by 8 wickets (with 19 balls remaining)
Sydney Showground Stadium
Umpires: Andrew Crozier and Tony Wilds
Player of the match: Nat Sciver (Melbourne Stars)

Match 40
15 November 2020
13:45
Scorecard
Melbourne Stars
8/165 (20 overs)
v
Melbourne Renegades
7/165 (20 overs)
Meg Lanning 41 (29)
Ella Hayward 4/16 (4 overs)
Courtney Webb 54* (33)
Holly Ferling 2/21 (3 overs)
Match tied
Melbourne Renegades won the Super Over

Sydney Showground Stadium
Umpires: Greg Davidson and Sharad Patel
Player of the match: Courtney Webb (Melbourne Renegades)
  • Melbourne Renegades won the toss and elected to field
  • Broadcast by Seven Network and Fox Cricket
  • Venue changed from Drummoyne Oval[30]
  • Super Over: Melbourne Renegades 0/16 (1 over), Melbourne Stars 0/12 (1 over)
  • Molly Strano became the first player to take 100 career wickets in the WBBL[31]

Match 42
17 November 2020
14:30
Scorecard
Melbourne Stars
8/149 (20 overs)
v
Perth Scorchers
8/143 (20 overs)
Meg Lanning 57 (39)
Nicole Bolton 3/25 (4 overs)
Beth Mooney 45 (30)
Sophie Day 3/16 (4 overs)
Melbourne Stars won by 6 runs
Hurstville Oval
Umpires: Claire Polosak and Andrew Crozier
Player of the match: Meg Lanning (Melbourne Stars)
  • Perth Scorchers won the toss and elected to field
  • Broadcast by Cricket Network
  • Melbourne Stars qualified for finals

Match 46
18 November 2020
14:30
Scorecard
Melbourne Stars
3/159 (20 overs)
v
Hobart Hurricanes
8/120 (20 overs)
Annabel Sutherland 72 (51)
Belinda Vakarewa 2/28 (4 overs)
Rachel Priest 24 (18)
Katherine Brunt 2/12 (4 overs)
Melbourne Stars won by 39 runs
Hurstville Oval
Umpires: Tony Wilds and Sharad Patel
Player of the match: Annabel Sutherland (Melbourne Stars)
  • Hobart Hurricanes won the toss and elected to field
  • Broadcast by Cricket Network

Match 49
21 November 2020
09:30
Scorecard
Melbourne Stars
5/151 (20 overs)
v
Brisbane Heat
7/152 (19.2 overs)
Mignon du Preez 51 (38)
Grace Harris 2/8 (2 overs)
Georgia Redmayne 37 (32)
Tess Flintoff 3/13 (3 overs)
Brisbane Heat won by 3 wickets (with 4 balls remaining)
Drummoyne Oval
Umpires: Steven Farrell and Greg Davidson
Player of the match: Laura Kimmince (Brisbane Heat)
  • Brisbane Heat won the toss and elected to field
  • Broadcast by Cricket Network

Match 55
22 November 2020
13:45
Scorecard
Melbourne Stars
4/178 (19 overs)
v
Sydney Sixers
5/184 (18.4 overs)
Meg Lanning 77 (59)
Marizanne Kapp 3/34 (4 overs)
Alyssa Healy 111 (52)
Tess Flintoff 3/32 (3 overs)
Sydney Sixers won by 5 wickets (DLS method) (with 2 balls remaining)
North Sydney Oval
Umpires: Eloise Sheridan and Tony Wilds
Player of the match: Alyssa Healy (Sydney Sixers)
  • Sydney Sixers won the toss and elected to field
  • Match reduced to 19 overs per side due to rain delay
  • Sydney Sixers were set a revised target of 184 from 19 overs due to rain delay
  • Sydney Sixers equalled the record for the highest successful run chase in WBBL history[32]
  • Sydney Sixers were eliminated from finals contention
  • Perth Scorchers qualified for finals
  • Broadcast by Seven Network and Fox Cricket
  • Former Australian player Sarah Aley made her last WBBL appearance[33]

Knockout phase

[edit]

Semi-final 1
25 November 2020
19:10 (D/N)
Scorecard
Perth Scorchers
8/125 (20 overs)
v
Melbourne Stars
3/127 (16.2 overs)
Nicole Bolton 32 (25)
Alana King 3/16 (4 overs)
Nat Sciver 47* (45)
Sophie Devine 1/17 (2.2 overs)
Melbourne Stars won by 7 wickets (with 22 balls remaining)
North Sydney Oval
Umpires: Troy Penman and Claire Polosak
Player of the match: Alana King (Melbourne Stars)

Final
28 November 2020
19:10 (D/N)
Scorecard
Melbourne Stars
9/86 (20 overs)
v
Sydney Thunder
3/87 (13.4 overs)
Katherine Brunt 22* (27)
Sammy-Jo Johnson 2/11 (4 overs)
Heather Knight 26* (19)
Tess Flintoff 1/6 (1 over)
Sydney Thunder won by 7 wickets (with 38 balls remaining)
North Sydney Oval
Umpires: Claire Polosak and Eloise Sheridan
Player of the match: Shabnim Ismail (Sydney Thunder)
  • Melbourne Stars won the toss and elected to bat
  • Broadcast by Seven Network and Fox Cricket
  • Sydney Thunder won their second WBBL title

From the first over of the match, the Melbourne Stars top-order was dominated by a "fiery"[34] spell from Sydney Thunder pace bowler Shabnim Ismail, who regularly beat the bat of Elyse Villani and created two catching opportunities against Meg Lanning before dismissing both players for scores of one and 13 respectively. After being dropped on zero by Tammy Beaumont at point, as well as surviving a half-chance which Sammy-Jo Johnson put down at third man, Lanning's seven-ball battle with Ismail came to an end when she edged a seaming delivery through to wicket-keeper Tahlia Wilson at the start of the seventh over. Thunder captain Rachael Haynes was praised for "sensing the moment"[35] by taking the tactical risk of persisting with Ismail, leading to Lanning's wicket which several media outlets described as the defining moment of the match: writing for The Sydney Morning Herald, Tom Decent said "this was the Thunder's night about a quarter of an hour into the contest,"[4] while the Australian Associated Press suggested the "Stars' shot at a maiden title was realistically gone inside 37 balls."[36]

Melbourne could not recover from their poor start to post a significant total, slumping further to 5/37 by the halfway mark of the first innings. Annabel Sutherland scored 20 from as many balls but, like Lanning, did not capitalise on two reprieves afforded to her by the Thunder's underwhelming performance in the field. Wickets continued to flow as every Sydney bowler picked up at least one each. Johnson, having opened the bowling with Ismail and proving similarly difficult to score against, finished with match-best figures of 2/11 off four overs which included claiming the wicket of Mignon du Preez via LBW during the powerplay. Katherine Brunt, ending the innings on 22 not out from 27 deliveries, ensured the Stars lasted the allotted 20 overs but their overall score of 9/86 was nevertheless the lowest-ever in a WBBL final.[37]

In reply, Tammy Beaumont (16 off 15) and Rachel Trenaman (23 off 26) steadily opened the Thunder's innings, while experienced campaigners Heather Knight (26 not out) and Rachael Haynes (21 not out) completed the comfortable run chase through a flurry of boundaries. With a lofted drive over long-off that sailed for six, Knight hit the winning runs off the bowling of Alana King in the 14th over, clinching a seven-wicket victory with 38 balls remaining. The Sydney Thunder consequently claimed their second WBBL championship, having also won the inaugural title—only Haynes and Samantha Bates were members of both successful squads, the latter missing the WBBL|01 final due to a broken wrist injury sustained earlier in the tournament.[38][39] The triumph also marked an individual three-peat for Sammy-Jo Johnson, who won the WBBL|04 and WBBL|05 titles with the Brisbane Heat before moving to the Thunder.[40] Lauren Smith—making her fifth appearance in a WBBL final—earned a third Women's Big Bash League championship as well, having won the WBBL|02 and WBBL|03 titles with the Sydney Sixers.[41]

A major talking point of the match surrounded the decision made by the Melbourne Stars at the bat flip.[42][43][44] Stars captain Meg Lanning sent her own team in to bat first, a noticeable departure from the tactics she employed throughout the season. In fact, it was the first time a Lanning-led WBBL team would opt against chasing since the 2016–17 season. Explaining the shock choice, Lanning said: "We just thought our batting line-up was in really good form, and we thought we'd back ourselves in to get a decent score."[43] Stars coach Trent Woodhill implied the decision was swayed by the Brisbane Heat's collapse under pressure two days earlier: "We also saw what happened with the Heat and the Thunder (semi-final) the other night."[43] The following day, Woodhill added: "It was a sliding door moment. There's no regrets. It was a team decision."[44]

Statistics and awards

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Host city, new start date locked in for WBBL|06". cricket.com.au. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  2. ^ "WBBL|06: The run home for each club". cricket.com.au. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  3. ^ "New approach has Stars firming as WBBL|06 favourites". cricket.com.au. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  4. ^ a b Decent, Tom (28 November 2020). "Thunder thump Stars to claim second WBBL title". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  5. ^ "Thunder-struck! Stars crash in face of new-ball assault". cricket.com.au. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  6. ^ "COVID forces marquee shake-up as WBBL contracting begins". cricket.com.au. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  7. ^ "Stars congratulate Beams on WBBL career". Melbourne Stars. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  8. ^ "Stars name new WBBL coach". Melbourne Stars. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  9. ^ "Poulton named Melbourne Stars coach". cricket.com.au. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  10. ^ "Melbourne Stars Statement – WBBL Head Coach Update". Melbourne Stars. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  11. ^ "Trent Woodhill appointed WBBL Head Coach". Melbourne Stars. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  12. ^ "Meg Lanning returns to the Melbourne Stars". Melbourne Stars. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  13. ^ a b "Lanning to lead Stars, Devchand signing completes list". Melbourne Stars. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  14. ^ "Protea swaps Stars for Renegades for WBBL|06". cricket.com.au. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  15. ^ a b "Stars sign Katherine Brunt and Nat Sciver". Melbourne Stars. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  16. ^ "Recruits round out Heat's squad for three-peat bid". cricket.com.au. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  17. ^ "Reakes returns 'home' for WBBL with Sydney Sixers". Sydney Sixers. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  18. ^ "Penna joins the Strikers, Mack returns for WBBL|06". Adelaide Strikers. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  19. ^ "WBBL|06 latest: Strikers lose imports, Perry returns". cricket.com.au. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  20. ^ "Full Scorecard of Melbourne Stars Women vs Melbourne Renegades Women 4th Match 2020 - Score Report | ESPNcricinfo.com". www.espncricinfo.com. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  21. ^ a b "Stars make one change to extended squad for Scorchers clash". Melbourne Stars. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  22. ^ a b "Full Scorecard of Melbourne Stars Women vs Perth Scorchers Women 43rd Match 2020 - Score Report | ESPNcricinfo.com". www.espncricinfo.com. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  23. ^ "High Five: Stars Strike Club Record Fifth Consecutive Win". Melbourne Stars. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  24. ^ "Stars name unchanged squad for Strikers clash". Melbourne Stars. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  25. ^ "Full Scorecard of Melbourne Stars Women vs Sydney Sixers Women 55th Match 2020 - Score Report | ESPNcricinfo.com". www.espncricinfo.com. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  26. ^ "Stars name squad for Rebel WBBL semi final". Melbourne Stars. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  27. ^ "Players | Melbourne Stars – BBL". www.melbournestars.com.au. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  28. ^ "Women's Big Bash League, 2020/21 - Melbourne Stars Women Cricket Team Records & Stats | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  29. ^ "Rebel WBBL|06 | cricket.com.au". www.cricket.com.au. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  30. ^ "WBBL Tickets Now On Sale". Sydney Sixers. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  31. ^ "WBBL wrap: Renegades topple Stars in Super Over". cricket.com.au. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  32. ^ "Women's Big Bash League Cricket Team Records & Stats | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  33. ^ "Sarah Aley announces her retirement". Sydney Sixers. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  34. ^ "Shabnim Ismail realises dream with Meg Lanning dismissal in fiery spell". www.espncricinfo.com. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  35. ^ "Ismail, Johnson hand Haynes-led Sydney Thunder second WBBL title". www.espncricinfo.com. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  36. ^ "Sydney Thunder cruise to WBBL title against Melbourne Stars". the Guardian. Australian Associated Press. 28 November 2020. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  37. ^ "Sydney Thunder claim WBBL title as Melbourne Stars curse strikes again". NewsComAu. 28 November 2020. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  38. ^ Keoghan, Sarah (27 November 2020). "Bates ready to put broken dream behind her and lead Thunder to glory". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  39. ^ "WBBL Final preview: Aussie champions go head to head". cricket.com.au. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  40. ^ "'Lucky charm' makes history to become queen of the women's Big Bash". 7NEWS.com.au. 29 November 2020. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  41. ^ Lemon, Geoff (28 November 2020). "WBBL 2020 final: Sydney Thunder stun Melbourne Stars – as it happened". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  42. ^ "Lanning explains surprise WBBL call". NewsComAu. 29 November 2020. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  43. ^ a b c "Gutted Lanning explains shock call to bat first". cricket.com.au. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  44. ^ a b Cherny, Daniel (29 November 2020). "'No regrets' for Stars after risky call backfires in WBBL final". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  45. ^ "Women's Big Bash League, 2020/21 Cricket Team Records & Stats | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  46. ^ "Women's Big Bash League, 2020/21 Cricket Team Records & Stats | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  47. ^ "Women's Big Bash League, 2020/21 Cricket Team Records & Stats | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  48. ^ "Women's Big Bash League, 2020/21 Cricket Team Records & Stats | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  49. ^ "Women's Big Bash League, 2020/21 Cricket Team Records & Stats | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  50. ^ "rebel WBBL|06 Award Winners Announced". www.cricketaustralia.com.au. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  51. ^ "Devine takes top individual gong in WBBL awards". cricket.com.au. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  52. ^ "Zampa, Sciver take out Melbourne Stars Players of the Season awards". Melbourne Stars. Retrieved 13 May 2021.