BBL|16 Fixture: Six Melbourne matches and blockbuster clashes

Melbourne Stars fans will have plenty of opportunities to see their team play live this summer, with six matches scheduled in Melbourne during the KFC BBL|16 season.

The Stars will open their campaign on the last day of the school year – Friday, December 18 – with a prime-time match against the Adelaide Strikers at the MCG.

They will then face the Brisbane Heat under the new Junction Oval lights on December 21, after bringing their home game – previously played in Canberra – back to Melbourne.

For the first time in BBL history, the Melbourne Derby will be played at the MCG twice in one season, with matches on January 4 and January 16. The first of those battles for the Melbourne Mace will take place at the family friendly timeslot of 6:05pm AEDT, straight after the conclusion of Day One of the Sydney Test.

Among the five MCG matches are clashes with the Sydney Sixers (January 7) and Hobart Hurricanes (January 14).

The Stars won’t be hosting a match in Canberra this season, but they will be returning to the familiar surrounds of Corroboree Group Manuka Oval for an away game against the Sydney Thunder on January 11.

While Test Cricket hits the MCG after Christmas, the Stars will embark on a three-game road-trip which includes blockbuster matches in Perth on Boxing Day and Adelaide on New Year’s Eve.

The Stars will face three teams on two occasions this season: the Hurricanes, Renegades and Strikers.

Melbourne Stars BBL|16 Fixture:

Stars v Strikers - 7:15pm AEDT, Fri 18 Dec @ MCG

Stars v Heat - 7:15pm AEDT, Mon 21 Dec @ Junction Oval

Scorchers v Stars - 9:15pm AEDT, Sat 26 Dec @ Optus Stadium

Hurricanes v Stars - 7:15pm AEDT, Tue 29 Dec @ Ninja Stadium

Strikers v Stars - 7:15 AEDT, Thu 31 Dec @ Adelaide Oval

Stars v Renegades - 6:05pm AEDT, Mon 4 Jan @ MCG

Stars v Sixers - 7:15pm AEDT, Thu 7 Jan @ MCG

Thunder v Stars - 7:15pm AEDT, Mon 11 Jan @ Corroboree Group Oval Manuka

Stars v Hurricanes - 7:15pm AEDT, Thu 14 Jan @ MCG

Renegades v Stars - 7:15pm AEDT, Sat 16 Jan @ MCG