Stars big hitter’s faith in bowlers

WHILE much is being made of their swashbuckling batting line-up, Ben Dunk is backing his Melbourne Stars bowlers to get the job done in their opening Big Bash League clash with Brisbane.

The two-time leading BBL run-scorer left Adelaide to add to an already talent-laden roster at the Stars, which includes Glenn Maxwell, Kevin Pietersen, Marcus Stoinis and Luke Wright.

Dunk said the team was ready to get off to a winning start against the Heat in Brisbane, which he described as a “happy hunting ground”.

“I’m hitting the ball really well,” Dunk said.

“I probably haven’t got the runs I would have liked but Twenty20 is a funny game and all you need is something to go right for you ... hopefully I can start the tournament well.”

The Heat features the “Bash Brothers” in Chris Lynn and Brendon McCullum, but Dunk backed his bowlers to contain the duo.

“They’re both exceptionally good batters but we’ll back our bowlers any day,” said Dunk.

“We know how destructive Lynney [Chris Lynn] can be but we’ve got world-class bowlers, both spin and pace, and we back them in to get them out early and that will go a long way to winning the game.”

The Stars have pace in Scott Boland and Jackson Coleman, two strong spinners in Michael Beer and Adam Zampa, while skipper John Hastings and allrounder James Faulkner are experienced campaigners.

Dunk is set to wicketkeep and open the batting with Wright but said he’d happily hand over the gloves to Peter Handscomb, who was in Perth with the Test team as 12th man.

“It would be great for him to get around the boys and play Twenty20 cricket and it might free him up a bit and get him back into that Australian setup,” Dunk said.

“He kept in a one-day international this year so it’s only fair that if he wants to do it then he takes that spot in the Stars.”