KFC Big Bash League Preview
20 December 2016 - 28 January 2017
The KFC Big Bash League enters its sixth and possibly most exciting season of Twenty20 cricket. After capturing the public’s attention with record crowds last season, the Big Bash will again showcase the modern cricketers’ skillset. There will be big hits, inventive bowling, energetic fielding and action aplenty from the best of Australia’s domestic cricketers and some of the biggest international stars. It all starts on 20 December and here is your complete guide to the upcoming season.
Adelaide Strikers ($8 to win Tournament)
Adelaide had their most successful season last year and made the finals for the second consecutive season. They finished top of the ladder and only lost one game during the preliminary rounds. Unfortunately their competitive total of 7-159 was easily attained by the Sydney Thunder in the semi-final.
The Striker’s key players are Travis Head and the evergreen Brad Hodge. Their squad has been strengthened by the recruitment of Ben Dunk and the return of West Indian Kieron Pollard, but they lose Adil Rashid who took 16 wickets last season. It will be difficult for them to repeat last season’s performance.
Squad Breakdown
Batsman: Alex Carey, Jono Dean, Travis Head, Brad Hodge, Jake Lehmann, Craig Simmons, Kelvin Smith, Jake Weatherald
Bowlers: Wes Agar, Jon Holland, Chris Jordan, Ben Laughlin, Kane Richardson, Billy Stanlake
All-rounders: Kieron Pollard, Michael Neser
Wicketkeepers: Ben Dunk, Tim Ludeman
Brisbane Heat ($9 to win Tournament)
Not even 378 runs at a strike-rate of 173 from Chris Lynn could get the Heat back into finals last season. Three consecutive losses to start the season put them behind the pack and a strong finish was not enough to see semi-final action. Brisbane has only played finals once in its history, but they made it count by winning the BBL02 Final.
Ex-New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum is the main inclusion and will captain the Heat. Along with Lynn they form a destructive batting pair. West Indian Samuel Badree conceded just over a run a ball last season and will be looking to keep it tight again. The entire squad looks a little light on depth.
Squad Breakdown
Batsman: Joe Burns, Alex Doolan, Sam Heazlett, Marnus Labuschagne, Chris Lynn, Brendon McCullum, Nathan Reardon, Alex Ross
Bowlers: Samuel Badree, Andrew Fekete, Luke Feldman, Josh Lalor, Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson
All-rounders: Ben Cutting, Jason Floros, Jack Wildermuth
Wicketkeepers: Jimmy Peirson
Hobart Hurricanes ($8 to win Tournament)
Hobart’s season started poorly last season after opening with a 95 run defeat to the Sydney Sixers. The big loss put them on the back foot and they never recovered. In the end they won 3 games and finished second last. The Hurricanes last played finals in BBL03, when they were runners-up.
The Hurricanes have some weapons in their line-up; George Bailey, Kumar Sangakkarra, Tim Paine, Shaun Tait and now add Stuart Broad. They have lost Dunk and Darren Sammy who both underperformed last season. Finals is definitely within reach.
Squad Breakdown
Batsman: George Bailey, Dom Michael, Kumar Sangakkara, Jono Wells
Bowlers: Cameron Boyce, Stuart Broad, Hamish Kingston, Sam Rainbird, Jake Reed, Clive Rose, Shaun Tait
All-rounders: James Bazley, Dan Christian, Simon Milenko, D’Arcy Short, Beau Webster
Wicketkeepers: Ben McDermott, Tim Paine
Melbourne Renegades ($6 to win Tournament)
In BBL02 the Melbourne Renegades surprised the competition by finishing top after some crafty recruiting of unassuming talent. They lost the semi-final that season and have not played finals since. Last season they finished fifth with 3 wins. Interestingly, all their wins were interstate.
As usual there is West Indian flavour in the Renegades’ squad. Chris Gayle has gone, but Dwayne Bravo remains and he is joined by Sunil Narine. Brad Hogg, aka Benjamin Button, has come across from Perth to form a formidable spinning partnership with Narine. Their other key players are Aaron Finch, James Pattinson, Matthew Wade and Cameron White.
Squad Breakdown
Batsman: Tom Beaton, Tom Cooper, Callum Ferguson, Aaron Finch, Marcus Harris, Cameron White
Bowlers: Xavier Doherty, Brag Hogg, Sunil Narine, James Pattinson, Nathan Rimmington, Peter Siddle, Chris Tremain, Nick Winter
All-rounders: Dwayne Bravo, Matthew Short
Wicketkeepers: Peter Nevill, Matthew Wade
Melbourne Stars ($5.50 to win Tournament)
Stars by name, stars by nature? The Melbourne Stars are an interesting franchise. They have a strong squad and have played finals every season, but have only made the final once. That was last season and they lost defending 176 to the Sydney Thunder. Is this season their season?
The Stars attack BBL06 with the same squad. English imports Luke Wright and Kevin Pietersen will bat in the top three. Peter Handscomb, Glenn Maxwell, David Hussey and James Faulkner form an ominous middle order. The bowling is not as strong as the batting with John Hastings leading the attack.
Squad Breakdown
Batsman: Seb Gotch, David Hussey, Kevin Pietersen, Rob Quiney
Bowlers: John Hastings, Ben Hilenhaus, Dan Worrall, Adam Zampa
All-rounders: James Faulkner, Evan Gulbis, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Luke Wright
Wicketkeepers: Peter Handscomb, Sam Harper, Tom Triffitt
Perth Scorchers ($6.50 to win Tournament)
The Scorchers have historically filled their squad with Western Australians and it has worked. The cohesion and comradery has seen them make the finals every season. They have won two titles, finished second twice and last season they bowed out in the semi-finals.
Perth will be aiming high once again and so they should. The Marsh brothers, England’s Ian Bell and veterans Adam Voges and Michael Klinger form a solid batting unit, while their bowling stocks are vast and experienced with Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Coutler-Nile and Andrew Tye. They have added Mitchell Johnson, but lost Brad Hogg.
Squad Breakdown
Batsman: Cameron Bancroft, Ian Bell, Michael Klinger, Shaun Marsh, Adam Voges
Bowlers: Jason Behrendorff, Mitchell Johnson, James Muirhead, Joel Paris, Andrew Tye, David Willey
All-rounders: Ashton Agar, Hilton Cartwright, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Mitchell Marsh, Jhye Richardson, Ashton Turner
Wicketkeepers: Sam Whiteman
Sydney Sixers ($7.50 to win Tournament)
The Sixers could not take a trick last season. Injuries, indifferent form and some bad luck saw them finish last. Don’t expect that to happen again as the Sixers have played finals more often than not. In five seasons they made the finals three times for one title.
The Sixers have weapons in all areas. Nic Maddinson and Brad Haddin with the bat. Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazelwood, Nathan Lyon and Stephen O’Keefe with the ball, and Moises Henriques with both. Their batting depth could be an issue and the availability of their bowling stars might come into consideration.
Squad Breakdown
Batsman: Daniel Hughes, Nic Maddinson, Jason Roy, Jordan Silk
Bowlers: Jackson Bird, Doug Bollinger, Josh Hazelwood, Nathan Lyon, Joe Mennie, Stephen O’Keefe, Mitchell Starc
All-rounders: Sean Abbott, Johan Botha, Ben Dwarshuis, Moises Henriques
Wicketkeepers: Sam Billings, Ryan Carters, Brad Haddin
Sydney Thunder ($7 to win Tournament)
After finishing last the first three seasons and second last in BBL04, it all turned around last season. On the back of Shane Watson, Jacques Kallis, Michael Hussey, Andre Russell and Usman Khawaja, they completed their meteoric rise by winning the tournament. Khawaja’s finals series was breathtaking.
Back to back is possible, but challenging without Hussey and Kallis. England’s Eoin Morgan is a big inclusion and Pat Cummins showed he is fit and firing in the recent ODI series against New Zealand. Khawaja is in superb form for Australia and Queensland and watch out if he repeats last season’s performance.
Squad Breakdown
Batsman: Aiden Blizzard, Jake Doran, Ryan Gibson, Usman Khawaja, Eoin Morgan, Kurtis Patterson, Ben Rohrer
Bowlers: Fawad Ahmed, Pat Cummins, Chris Green, Alister McDermott, Clint McKay, Arjun Nair, Gurinder Sandhu
All-rounders: Nathan McAndrew, Andre Russell, Shane Watson
Wicketkeepers: Chris Hartley
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