WHILE the final standings are yet to be determined, the top and bottom four splits are set in stone for another Big Bash League (BBL) season. Only bragging rights remain up for grabs for the non-finalists in BBL|13, so we recap their seasons in numbers with three home-and-away games left to play.

MELBOURNE STARS

CURRENTLY: 5th | 4-5 | -1.138 NRR | 8 points
STILL TO PLAY: Hurricanes @ MCG, tonight
MOST RUNS: Glenn Maxwell – 211 runs @ 35.16 | 172.95 SR | 35* HS
MOST WICKETS: Glenn Maxwell – 7 wickets @ 18.71 | 7.70 economy | 3-29 BBI

THE STAR:
Glenn Maxwell

How could it not be the skipper? Maxwell is on track to finish the season as the Stars’ most prolific run getter, wicket taker, and catcher only further stamping his credentials as the side’s most valuable player. His tactical nous and x-factor with both bat and ball have been constants in a campaign of momentum shifts for the Stars. A high score of 35 unbeaten is arguably below his usual best, but he has one more chance to go big tonight.

THE HIGH:

The Stars enjoyed a four-match winning streak which put them in finals contention after starting the season at 0-3. Their win against the Sixers holds up well and an thumping Melbourne Derby victory at home would have been satisfying, but chasing the Strikers’ 4-205 in Adelaide on New Year’s Eve is the standout. Dan Lawrence (50 off 26), Beau Webster (66 off 48), and Marcus Stoinis (55 off 19) all went big in the mammoth chase.

THE LOW:

With their season on the line and a finals spot in their grasp, the Stars flunked out against their rivals in a disappointing Melbourne Derby defeat last week. The game marked a farewell to Renegades legend Aaron Finch and his side showed up for the occasion, but the Stars shied away from it. Having been restricted to 8-137 with the bat, they had their total eclipsed with 16 balls to spare. What’s worse, the Renegades were able to climb off bottom spot with just their second win of the season.

HOBART HURRICANES

CURRENTLY: 6th | 3-6 | -0.344 NRR | 6 points
STILL TO PLAY: Stars @ MCG, tonight
MOST RUNS: Ben McDermott – 211 runs @ 42.20 | 134.39 SR | 95* HS | 50 x2
MOST WICKETS: Nathan Ellis – 10 wickets @ 27.20 | 8.45 economy | 2-23 BBI

THE STAR:
Chris Jordan

In a pretty even field, Jordan gets the nod for us ahead of the respective leading run scorer (McDermott) and wicket taker (Ellis), as well as emerging allrounder Nikhil Chaudhary. It was Jordan’s all-round influence in all 10 games which got him over the line. He blasted a top score of 59 (20) against the Scorchers, took the team’s best bowling figures (3-19) against the Heat, and continued to do remarkable things in the field. As far as imports go, the England international was top class this season.

THE HIGH:

All of the Hurricanes’ three wins have come against the bottom two, but their last was arguably the most significant. In defeating the Melbourne Renegades by six wickets at Marvel Stadium, the ‘Canes snapped a 10-game losing streak on the mainland and kept their finals hopes alive. Sam Hain found form to blast 51 (36) in the successful chase of 147, earning player of the match honours. Corey Anderson also got amongst it, finishing the job with 41 off 35.

THE LOW:

Not one game, but two make up the low of Hobart’s season. The Hurricanes had everything to play for in back-to-back fixtures against the Strikers, but exited the finals race with a whimper. On the road, Ben McDermott played a lone hand with 95* off 61 as his side failed to defend 165 – excusable given the venue and Adelaide’s bolstered batting order. Things didn’t get any better at home though, with a thumping eight-wicket defeat sealing Hobart’s fate.

MELBOURNE RENEGADES

CURRENTLY: 7th | 2-6, 1 NR | -0.288 NRR | 5 points
STILL TO PLAY: Thunder @ Sydney Showground Stadium, Wednesday
MOST RUNS: Jake Fraser-McGurk – 257 runs @ 32.12 | 158.64 SR | 70 HS | 50 x2
MOST WICKETS: Tom Rogers – 8 wickets @ 33.37 | 8.56 economy | 3-18 BBI

THE STAR:
Jake Fraser-McGurk

Labelled as the next big thing in Victorian cricket – perhaps even Australian cricket – Fraser-McGurk has carried a hefty run-scoring load on his 21-year-old shoulders. The explosive top order batter will likely finish clear atop the Renegades’ run charts with a pair of half-centuries and plenty of fireworks for his highlights package. He sits fifth in the competition’s runs tally with a game to go, having produced a high score of 70 (37) in Melbourne’s win over the finals bound Strikers.

THE HIGH:

While there are only two wins to choose from with a game left to play, both were sweet results for Renegades fans. They successfully chased 177 to knock off Adelaide at home, but for sentimental value, their return Melbourne Derby victory is the standout. In Aaron Finch‘s final game, the ‘Gades not only gave their greatest servant a hero’s send off, but also foiled their rivals’ finals plans and jumped off the bottom of the ladder in one fell swoop.

THE LOW:

Having been embarrassed in the Melbourne Derby just a couple of days earlier, the Renegades were staring down the barrels of a fourth wooden spoon in five seasons after losing at home to the Hurricanes. At that point, they comfortably looked to be the competition’s worst side and simply had no answers at the end of a campaign which had promise in the build-up. Star recruits were departing or injured, captain Nic Maddinson had been dropped, and they were the first side rules out of finals contention.

SYDNEY THUNDER

CURRENTLY: 8th | 1-7, 1 NR | -0.652 NRR | 3 points
STILL TO PLAY: Renegades @ Sydney Showground Stadium, Wednesday
MOST RUNS: Alex Hales – 258 runs @ 28.66 | 140.98 SR | 72 HS | 50 x1
MOST WICKETS: Daniel Sams – 12 wickets @ 20.91 | 9.29 economy | 5-30 BBI

THE STAR:
Alex Hales

While a frustrating player at times, Hales has spearheaded the Thunder’s batting order and is among the competition’s top five run scorers. He tops the Thunder’s list ahead of opening partner Cameron Bancroft, having bashed 258 runs to date. His high score of 72 remains his sole 50-plus score, but proved a crucial lone hand in the Thunder’s loss to Perth earlier in the month. He’s another English import who simply got the job done.

THE HIGH:

With a game still to play, the Thunder only have one win to write home about. It came against follow bottom four side, the Stars, in game three of their tournament. Zaman Khan (3-24) fired with the ball despite Melbourne’s total of 172, before Hales (40 off 26) and Bancroft (30 off 20) set the platform for a successful chase with five wickets and 10 deliveries to spare. Perhaps they can hit a new high by climbing off bottom spot with a home win over the Renegades on Wednesday.

THE LOW:

Having racked up more losses than any other side, there is unfortunately plenty of choice here for the Thunder. But much like the Hurricanes, perhaps both losses to the Strikers would have hurt the most. Back in December, the Thunder failed to defend 200 as Matt and D’Arcy Short went bananas at Adelaide Oval. Then there was the most recent loss in Canberra, a nine-wicket thumping which again saw Matt Short cash in. This time it was a much more gettable total of 140, and pure domination.