Adelaide Strikers vs Melbourne Stars, Thursday, 31 December 2026 — 1:45 PM IST, Adelaide Oval
The 18th match of the BBL 2026-27 is Adelaide Strikers against Melbourne Stars on Thursday, 31 December 2026, at Adelaide Oval, starting at 1:45 PM IST. Adelaide Oval hosts five matches this season, and this is the Strikers' first home match of BBL|16.
The first ball goes down at 6:45 PM local time in Adelaide, on the last evening of the year. Adelaide Oval is one of the great grounds in the competition, and a New Year's Eve crowd gives the Strikers a stage their home form has earned: the Oval has been kind to them over the years.
How both sides arrive in BBL|16
BBL|16 begins on Saturday 12 December 2026, so there is no form from this season to read. The squads below are what the Strikers and the Stars have to work with.
| Team | Captain | Coach | BBL titles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide Strikers | Matt Short | Tim Paine | 2017-18 |
| Melbourne Stars | Marcus Stoinis | Cameron White | None yet |
Adelaide's one title came in 2017-18, and this season they have signed Ben Stokes after the BBL scrapped its overseas draft for an open market. Matt Short captains the side and Tim Paine coaches. The Strikers' home ground is Adelaide Oval, and a win on New Year's Eve would give their season a perfect first chapter.
The Stars are still chasing a first title after four final defeats. Finn Allen joins Glenn Maxwell and captain Marcus Stoinis, and Cameron White coaches the side. Melbourne have the batting to win anywhere; the question is whether they can win the tight games that have slipped away from them in past seasons.
New Year's Eve, and two points to end the year
A win banks two points; a no-result banks one. The finals race runs through ten league matches per side.
For the Strikers, a home win on New Year's Eve would be worth more than two points. It would show the Stokes signing is already paying off, it would give the Oval crowd a night to remember, and it would put Adelaide in the top four before the January fixtures arrive thick and fast.
For the Stars, the year ends with a familiar test: can they win a big game away from home? Four final defeats say the talent is there and the nerve has not always been. A win in Adelaide would be the best possible way to start 2027. The Qualifier is on 19 January and the final on Australia Day, 26 January.
The players who can decide it
Watch these four: a profile sits behind every name below.
Ben Stokes is the Strikers all-rounder and the biggest signing of the BBL|16 open market. He signed after the league scrapped its overseas draft, and a New Year's Eve match at Adelaide Oval is exactly the stage he was signed for.
Alex Carey is the Strikers wicketkeeper who keeps wicket and bats in the middle order. He knows Adelaide Oval as well as anyone, and his calm at the crease is what the Strikers need if the game comes down to the final overs.
Glenn Maxwell is the Stars all-rounder who can win a match on his own. Few batters in the league change a scoreboard as quickly as he does, and the Strikers will have a plan for him from the moment he walks to the crease.
Finn Allen is the Stars batter and one of the signings of the season. He joins Glenn Maxwell and captain Marcus Stoinis at the top of the order, and a fast start from him on New Year's Eve would set the tone for the Stars' night.
Match information
| Ground | Adelaide Oval |
| Series | Big Bash League |
| Season | 2026-27, BBL|16 |
| Match Days | Thursday, 31 December 2026 |
| Start | 1:45 PM IST · 1:15 PM PKT · 08:15 UTC · 6:45 PM ACDT local |
| Points | Winner 2, loser 0 |
Match yet to begin — the scorecard will appear on this page after the match. Adelaide Oval hosts five matches in BBL|16.
Frequently asked questions
When does Adelaide Strikers vs Melbourne Stars start?
Match 18 is played on Thursday, 31 December 2026 at Adelaide Oval. It starts at 1:45 PM IST, which is 1:15 PM PKT, 08:15 UTC and 6:45 PM local time in Adelaide. It is a New Year's Eve match, and Adelaide Oval hosts five matches in BBL|16.
Who captains each side in Match 18?
Matt Short captains the Adelaide Strikers, with Tim Paine coaching the side. Marcus Stoinis captains the Melbourne Stars, with Cameron White coaching. Ben Stokes signed for the Strikers after the BBL scrapped its overseas draft for an open market ahead of BBL|16.
Where is Match 18 played, and how many games does the ground host?
The match is played at Adelaide Oval, the Strikers' home ground. Adelaide Oval hosts five matches in BBL|16. The Strikers won their only BBL title in 2017-18, while the Stars are still chasing a first title after four final defeats.
Who are the players to watch in Match 18?
Ben Stokes and Alex Carey for the Adelaide Strikers, and Glenn Maxwell and Finn Allen for the Melbourne Stars. Stokes is the Strikers' big new signing, Carey keeps wicket at his home ground, Maxwell can win a game on his own, and Allen is the Stars' new opener.
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