The young quick pushing for a debut
Anlezark's job in BBL|16 is to force his way into a pace attack that has experience at the top of it. Peter Siddle and Liam Hatcher are the senior quicks, Todd Murphy and Mitch Swepson handle the spin, and Anlezark is the young fast bowler the club has invested in for the long term.
He is contracted through BBL|16, and the Stars signed him young for a reason: he took seven wickets in three matches for the Stars Academy in the 2024 Top End T20 Series, which is the tournament where the club tests its next generation. He was also the replacement player for Scott Boland during BBL|14, which gave him a taste of a BBL dressing room before he had played a professional game. His List A debut for Victoria came on 9 October 2025 against South Australia at Adelaide Oval, and he has played one-day cricket for the state since.
Squad note: the Stars have announced 14 players so far, as of 31 October 2026. The full squad has not been announced — clubs can carry up to 18 players and are still adding names — so this page will be updated as the club confirms more signings.
Back injuries, then a rookie contract
Anlezark's rise was not straightforward. He recovered from back injuries to finish the club season strongly, and in May 2024 he was awarded a rookie contract with Victoria — the state's reward for a young fast bowler who had fought his way back.
He is a former Australian Under-19 representative who came through Cricket Victoria's pathways, playing for Victoria Country's Under-19 team and earning a call-up to national youth camps. The Stars signed him for the 2024-25 BBL season in December 2024 and re-signed him ahead of BBL|16. He is a left-handed lower-order batter as well as a right-arm medium-fast bowler, which gives the side a little extra depth at the bottom of the order.
Where he fits in the Stars
The Stars' pace attack is built around experience — Siddle has played more than 200 Test wickets' worth of international cricket, Hatcher has just had the best Shield season of his career — and Anlezark is the future of it. His role this season is likely to be as first reserve quick, coming in when a senior bowler is rested or injured, and learning from the bowlers around him.
That is how the Stars have developed young quicks before, and the club's general manager has called Anlezark and Campbell Kellaway long-term prospects. If he gets his chance — and with 10 league games and a long season, chances come — his job is simple: bowl fast, hit the pitch hard, and show the club its patience was justified.
The BBL Points Table will carry the standings once the season starts — the Stars finished fourth last season, their best return in years, and the table is where their title chase will be measured.
What’s next
Austin Anlezark starts BBL|16 at the MCG on 18 December, against Adelaide Strikers — the young quick from Victoria in Stars colours for the first time this season.
The full list of every BBL fixture is on the BBL Schedule, with the MCG opener against the Strikers first.
- Match 5 — vs Adelaide Strikers: Fri 18 Dec, 1:45 PM IST · Melbourne Cricket Ground
- Match 8 — vs Brisbane Heat: Mon 21 Dec, 1:45 PM IST · Junction Oval, Melbourne
- Match 13 — vs Perth Scorchers: Sat 26 Dec, 3:45 PM IST · Perth Stadium
- Melbourne derby — vs Melbourne Renegades: Sat 16 Jan · Melbourne Cricket Ground
Follow every Stars result as it happens on SialTV, with the points table updated after every match day.
Frequently asked questions
Has Austin Anlezark played in the BBL?
Not yet. He spent BBL|14 with the Stars as a replacement player for Scott Boland, but he is still waiting for his BBL debut. He made his professional debut for Victoria in the One-Day Cup on 9 October 2025.
What type of bowler is Austin Anlezark?
A right-arm fast-medium bowler who bats left-handed. He is a former Australian Under-19 representative from Victoria.
When does Austin Anlezark play his first match for Melbourne Stars?
His first match is Match 5 against Adelaide Strikers on Friday 18 December 2026, starting at 1:45 PM IST at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.