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Big Bash 2014-15: Pietersen, Flintoff and Kallis in action over first few days

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Image: Kallis has signed for Sydney Thunder

The Big Bash begins on Thursday – and Kevin Pietersen should be in action!

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The ex-England batsman is likely to line-up for Melbourne Stars against Adelaide Strikers in the opening match of the 2014-15 tournament.

You can see how Pietersen fares from 8am on Sky Sports 1 but there will be plenty of other huge names in action over the maiden weekend of the latest – and potentially greatest – Big Bash League.

Here’s an insight into what’s on offer…

Adelaide Strikers v Melbourne Stars (8am, Thu, Sky Sports 1)

The Stars have reached the semi-finals in each of the three Big Bash seasons to date, but been unable to take that extra jump, losing to Perth (2011-12 and 2012-13) and Hobart (2013-14) in the last-four stage. An on-song Pietersen could help them shrug off their ‘nearly men’ tag and the Stars will be hopeful of getting their campaign off to a cracking start against the Strikers, who won just two of their eight encounters last term. However, Adelaide’s Kieron Pollard – brutal with the bat and capable with the ball – and renowned Twenty20 batsmen Brad Hodge will have other ideas…

Sydney Sixers v Melbourne Renegades (8.30am, Fri, Sky Sports 1)

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Melbourne’s other side, the red-shirted Renegades, have been in the Stars’ shadow in the Big Bash but expectations are high this time around and with a strong batting line-up including boundary-machine Aaron Finch and the always entertaining Jesse Ryder, not to mention the potent seam bowling of Australia pace pair James Pattinson and Peter Siddle, it’s easy to see why. The Renegades do not have a simple start, however, with a trip to last year’s semi-finalists, the Sixers. The Sydney side won’t be able to call upon Steven Smith just yet – he is captaining Australia in the second Test with India – but England’s Michael Lumb and fast-bowling legend Brett Lee are around.

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Ben Way of Fox Australia looks ahead to the fourth Big Bash T20 League that gets underway in Australia on Thursday, at 8am on Sky Sports 1.

Melbourne Stars v Hobart Hurricanes (8am, Sat, Sky Sports 4)

The Stars are back in action on Saturday against the 2013-14 runners-up, who were edged out by the Scorchers in last year’s showpiece game. Ben Dunk was the Hurricanes’ star man in their run to the final, scoring 395 runs at an average of 43.88 with a best of 96 against Sydney Thunder. So it will be up to the likes of Clint McKay, Jackson Bird and James Faulkner to negate the left-handed slogger. See if the Stars are successful – and for a potential second sighting of KP in three days – on Saturday morning, one day before eyes will be on a lad nicknamed Freddie…

Sydney Thunder v Brisbane Heat (8am, Sunday, Sky Sports 4)

That’s right. Mr Flintoff is back on a cricket field, with his batting and bowling antics in the 2014 T20 Blast for Lancashire convincing Brisbane to give him a gig in the Big Bash. How often Flintoff figures is up for debate but if he does get a go on Sunday he will be hoping to pile more misery on Thunder, who have finished bottom of the standings in each of the three Big Bashes. Still, there is ample experience in Sydney’s line-up, with Mike Hussey and the newly-acquired Jacques Kallis. Make sure you watch these two legends of the game do their thing.

Sky Sports will show every Big Bash match live, from Thursday’s opener to the final on January 28. Click here for coverage details.

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