A meaty clash awaits as defending champions Hobart Hurricanes take on Melbourne Stars in the BBL 2025-26 Knockout match at the Ninja Stadium. The winner of this game will take on Sydney Sixers (who just lost the Qualifier) in the Challenger match on Friday.
The Stars, who missed out on a top-two spot courtesy of their loss against Perth Scorchers in their last group-stage game, are currently the only BBL team to have never won the tournament. They’ll be eager to end their trophy drought, and they’ll need the “Big Show” Maxwell to come good. He has so far scored just 67 runs across seven innings this tournament.
While batting has been a bit iffy, the Stars have a firing bowling lineup. Both Haris Rauf and Peter Siddle are in the top three wicket-takers of this year’s campaign, with a total of 34 wickets between them. Even captain Stoinis has chipped in with 14 handy wickets, not to mention his contributions with the bat.
The Hurricanes arrive at this do-or-die game with a stripped-down squad. They’ll be without their captain and leading wicket-taker Nathan Ellis, who sustained a niggle in the last match. They’ll also miss the services of all-rounder Rehan Ahmed, who’s en route to the subcontinent for international duties. Ben McDermott will step in as captain in Ellis’ absence.
None of the Hurricanes batters has had a runaway tournament, and they’ll be hoping that the combination of Mitchell Owen, Beau Webster, Ben McDermott, and Nikhil Chaudhary are enough to take on the Stars’ bowling heat. The head-to-head between these teams points in favor of the Stars, who have won 15 games compared to the Hurricanes’ 8.
Read on below for a complete guide on where to watch the Knockout between the Hurricanes and Stars from anywhere in the world.
Can I watch Hobart Hurricanes vs Melbourne Stars free of charge?
Yes. 7Plus are broadcasting the match for free to Australian residents.
New to 7Plus? Register for a free account to watch 7Plus online. You’ll need an Australian postcode (e.g. 2029).
Traveling abroad right now? You can use a VPN to watch all the action free of charge as if you were right at home. NordVPN is our top pick of the options.
Use a VPN to watch any Hobart Hurricanes vs Melbourne Stars stream
How to watch Hobart Hurricanes vs Melbourne Stars live streams in the US
In the US, dedicated cricket streaming service Willow TV is the place to watch Hobart Hurricanes vs Melbourne Stars.
If you don’t have it as part of your cable package, you can watch Willow coverage through your choice of Sling TV’s Desi Binge Plus or Dakshin Flex plans – starting from $10 per month.
Australian residents visiting the States? Use NordVPN to watch 7Plus’ free coverage of the Knockout.
How to watch Hobart Hurricanes vs Melbourne Stars live streams in the UK
Sky Sports will broadcast Hobart Hurricanes vs Melbourne Stars in the UK on the Main Event channel and the Cricket channel.
Sky Sports plans start from £35/month or £20 if you’re an existing Sky subscriber. Alternatively, grab a Now Sports subscription from £14.99/day or £34.99/month.
Outside the UK right now? Use NordVPN to access your preferred coverage.
How to watch Hobart Hurricanes vs Melbourne Stars live streams in Australia
In Australia, 7Plus are broadcasting Hobart Hurricanes vs Melbourne Stars for free as alluded to earlier.
Fox Cricket via Foxtel will also broadcast the game, with live streaming available via Kayo Sports. Kayo Sports starts at AU$30 per month after a 7-day free trial. Or you can get your first month for AU$1.
Those currently outside of Australia will need to get a VPN, as per the instructions above.
What are the squads for the Hurricanes vs Stars Knockout match?
Hobart Hurricanes: Jackson Bird, Nikhil Chaudhary, Rishad Hossain, Chris Jordan, Ben McDermott (c), Riley Meredith, Mitch Owen, Will Prestwidge, Billy Stanlake, Matthew Wade, Charlie Wakim, Tim Ward, Beau Webster, Mac Wright
Ins: Jackson Bird, Charlie Wakim. Outs: Rehan Ahmed (national duties), Nathan Ellis (injured)
Melbourne Stars: Marcus Stoinis (c), Hilton Cartwright, Joe Clarke, Tom Curran, Sam Harper, Liam Hatcher, Campbell Kellaway, Blake Macdonald, Glenn Maxwell, Hamish McKenzie, Haris Rauf, Tom Rogers, Peter Siddle, Mitch Swepson
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