The Melbourne Derby hits the MCG on January 4, 2026 for Match 22 of BBL|15. These two teams couldn’t be in more different spots right now. Stars are cruising at 4-1, up in the top three. They’d won five on the trot before losing their last one. Renegades are having a shocker. One win from five games, stuck near the bottom. They’ve had to make changes just to stay competitive. Harry Dixon’s back to try and get some runs on the board. Callum Stow’s been added because the bowling’s been getting smashed. On paper, Stars win this easy.
Home ground, better form, better team. But derbies are weird. Doesn’t matter where you sit on the ladder when it’s these two going at it. MCG will be packed; atmosphere will be electric. Renegades need something to go their way this season. Beating their rivals would do nicely. Let’s Break down with expert insights, betting tips, team performance, pitch report, and our MLS vs MLR BBL 22nd match prediction. Who will win today’s match?
MLS vs MLR | 22nd Match | Big Bash League 2025-26
Match: MLS vs MLR | 22nd Match | Big Bash League 2025-26
Series: Big Bash League 2025-26
Date: 04/01/2026
Time: 6:05 PM LOCAL, 7:05 AM GMT, 12:35 PM IST
Venue: Sydney Showground Stadium, Sydney
Streaming: Jio Hotstar and Star Sports Network
Team Performance
Melbourne Stars: The Stars are still a top team despite that loss snapping their winning run. They’re 4-1 at the halfway point, which is solid. No need to hit the panic button yet.
That last game was annoying though. They had it in their hands for ages, then things just fell apart late. Too many wides, no-balls, silly extras. Let the other mob back in when they should’ve closed it out. Classic case of losing your cool at the wrong moment.
Look, they’ve been good all season. Batting’s clicked, bowling’s been tight. It’s just one hiccup. They’re back at the MCG now for the Derby with their own fans making noise. Perfect setup to bounce back. You’d back them to get it right this time.
Melbourne Renegades: The Renegades have been all over the shop lately. Can’t seem to string wins together. They’ve made some changes to the squad trying to fix things. Harry Dixon’s back in to add some punch up top, and they’ve brought in spinner Callum Stow to help the bowling attack.
Last game was pretty ordinary. They didn’t put enough runs on the board, then the bowlers couldn’t defend it. No real pressure, no breakthroughs when they needed them. The opposition just cruised through the chase without breaking a sweat.
They’re stuck down near the bottom of the table now. Something’s got to give. The talent’s there but they’re not executing when it counts. Bowl too many loose deliveries, miss chances, let games drift away.
Big MCG crowd for the Derby might be exactly what they need. Nothing like a packed house to lift the energy. If they can tighten up their bowling and actually build some pressure, they’ve got a shot. But they need to start playing smarter cricket.
MLS vs MLR Today’s Match Weather Condition:
- Temperature: 13.1°C
- Humidity: 62%
- Rain: 85% Rain of chance
- Wind direction: SSE
- Wind speed: 13KPH
Also, check live cricket betting odds on trusted cricket betting sites.
MLS vs MLR Today’s Match Pitch Report & Toss Factor
The MCG isn’t typical run-fest. First innings scores hover around 145-160 because the boundaries are massive and you can’t just slog everything for six. The pitch has good bounce and pace, which helps batters once they’re in, but the new ball does a bit early on. Fast bowlers who bang it in and mix things up can cause problems in the power play. Spinners struggle here with all that bounce and pace working against them.
Teams chasing have had more success historically, especially with dew coming into play under lights. Win the toss, you’d probably bowl first. The curator rotates strips during the BBL so each one plays slightly different, but overall it’s a fair wicket where both bat and ball get something out of it.
MLS vs MLR — BBL Head-to-Head Records
Total matches played: 28
Melbourne Stars won: 18
Melbourne Renegades won: 10
Tie/No Result: 0
First-Ever BBL Match Between MLS vs MLR
Date: January 7, 2012
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Melbourne
Result: Melbourne Stars won by 11 runs
Most Recent BBL Match MLS vs MLR
Date: January 12, 2025
Venue: Docklands Stadium, Melbourne
Result: Melbourne Stars won by 42 runs
Player of the Match: Glenn Maxwell
MLS vs MLR – Probable Playing XI (BBL 22nd Match 2025-26)
| Melbourne Stars Playing XI | Melbourne Renegades Playing XI |
|---|---|
| Marcus Stoinis (c) | Will Sutherland (c) |
| Glenn Maxwell | Jake Fraser-McGurk |
| Sam Hain | Muhammad Rizwan (wk) |
| Hilton Cartwright | Tim Seifert |
| Tom Curran | Josh Brown |
| Sam Harper (wk) | Harry Dixon |
| Haris Rauf | Jason Behrendorff |
| Peter Siddle | Andrew Tye |
| Mitch Swepson | Gurinder Sandhu |
| Tom Rogers | Callum Stow |
| Liam Hatcher | Hassan Khan |
Today match Prediction: Team Chasing are favourites to win today’s BBL 22nd Match 2025-26.
Melbourne Stars vs Melbourne Renegades — BBL 22nd Match Prediction
Scenario 1
Who will win today’s toss: MLR wins the toss and opt to Bowl first.
MLS scores: 145-155
Who will today’s match: MLR win today’s BBL 22nd match 2025.
Scenario 2
Who will win today’s toss: MLS wins the toss and opt to bowl first
MLR scores: 150-155
Who will today’s match: MLS win today’s BBL 22nd Match 2025.
Today Match Winning Percentage
Today’s cricket betting tips for MLS vs MLR BBL 22nd Match 2025-26
- Who will win the toss Today: MLR won the toss and elect to Bowl first.
- Top Batter Performance: Glenn Maxwell
- Top Bowler Performance: Peter Siddle
- Today Cricket betting tips: Team Chasing are safe bet to play today’s BBL 22nd match 2025.