After eight rounds of exciting competiton, the BBL is at finals time and it is not just important to win it all and become the kings of Australian T20 cricket.
Just getting to the final gives a team its chance at a massive payday in the lucrative T20 Champions League.
The four teams we are left with have proven to be of top quality and have shown they have what it takes.
The Melbourne Stars finished first on the Big Bash ladder, having gone undefeated through their campaign, winning all their eight games.
The Sydney Sixers won six games to take them to second and have experience on their side, winning BBL01. Furthermore the Sixers will want to make a return to the Champions League, which they also won in 2012.
Perth seem to be close every year but maybe a chance to take it all out, however the game against the Stars on Monday showed there are doubts.
And finally, the dark horse of the final series, Hobart. Led by Ben Dunk, Hobart have been the surprise packet of the comp, making the finals only by a better net run rate than the Heat and Renegades.
So who will make the final and take it all out?
Melbourne Stars
With Cricket Australia putting off the finals until after the T20s, it allows for the international players to return to their side; allowing they are fit to play.
Melbourne have a star-studded roster, including Brad Hodge, Cameron White, Glenn Maxwell, Jackson Bird, James Faulkner, Matt Wade, David Hussey and Rob Quiney.
Faulkner is most likely to be out for the finals and Bird may miss it as well if needed to go to South Africa early.
Quiney is under an injury cloud due to a dislocated shoulder, but should be ready to play.
That being said, a top four of White, Luke Wright, Hussey and Hodge could be one of the most dangerous in T20.
Hodge and Hussey are one and three respectively on the all time T20 run scorers.
Game changer
Hard to choose from this list of players but would have to go with Brad Hodge.
Stand-in skipper last game, ‘Hodgey’ is just rock solid in this format and can play at another level.
Showed his prowess on Monday against the Scorchers.
Can score runs against tough bowling and can build an innings for you.
How will they win it?
By having their regular team on the park they should be able to dismantle the bowling attack of the Hurricanes quite quickly and should be able to dispatch either the Sixers or Scorchers.
Favourites to take it out.
Perth Scorchers
Perth seem to be the bridesmaid and never the bride, being beaten in the final at home by both the Sixers and the Heat.
It’s a tough gig for Perth as this time of year usually hurts them the most, with players going away on international duty.
Shaun Marsh has been selected for the South Africa Tour and seems to be injured so he won’t take part in the finals.
Yasir Arafat has been ruled out of the rest of the BBL season, which is a hard blow for the Scorchers.
However they do receive speedster Pat Cummins and with a team of misfits they might have another shot at a final and winning it.
Simon Katich is on fire with the stick and Jason Berehndorf is killing it with the ball, both are backed up by a never-ageing Brad Hogg who seems to bring renewed enthusiasim to every game.
Game changer
For Perth it’s a dual game changer.
Brad Hogg is Perth’s most dangerous bowler. It may not seem it always but he has the ability to reduce a team to nothing within a few flicks of his wrist.
Hoggy can go for 3-15 off his four overs and spark any crowd and his teammates to life. His hard to pick wrong’uns will be deadly.
The other is Mitch Marsh. Marsh can bomb runs at a rate of knots and can also bowl a handy spell and pick up a few poles.
How will they win it?
Getting over the Sixes will be hard enough, but to get over Melbourne as well will be a real challenge.
The Scorchers can probably do it with the ball but need to do more with the bat.
Will probably back them to make finals over the Sixers, but hearing Greg Norman chants.
Sydney Sixers
The Sixers have a home semi-final against the Scorchers and have a chance to make another BBL final.
The Sixers too have their own large amount away on international duty, however when they are welcomened back they have a very experienced side – Michael Lumb, Ravi Bopara and Brett Lee all superstars of T20 cricket.
The Sixers do have some weaknesses to their outfit, their batting at times can fail them and let’s not forget they may have one of the slowest running between players in Mark Cosgrove and Dan Smith.
All that aside, they have a great team and one of the best spinners in the country in Nathan Lyon.
Game changer
Nic Maddinson – this kid was billed for so much this year and has really yet to deliver, but the finals is a time for players to step up and show their worth.
If Maddinson can go ahead and score some runs in the finals I’d almost expect him to be picked for the T20 World Cup.
How will they win it?
By not letting it come down to a super over against Perth.
And against the Stars, if the bowling can keep the runs down and the batting can fire on all cylinders, the stars may align (sorry for the pun).
Hobart Hurricanes
Although they are the drak horses, I just don’t see the Hurricanes making it past the Stars.
Yes Ben Dunk has had a breakout season and has plundered pleanty of runs, but one cheap innings and the Hurricanes could crumble.
Travis Birt and Aiden Blizzard have been less than impressive but their imports in Owais Shah, Dimitri Mascarenhas and Shoaib Malik have yet to show their full worth, with only Malik shaping like he was a smart purchase.
Hobart’s bowlers however may just have the experience to make a difference with Ben Hilfenhaus, Doug Bollinger and Ben Laughlin all having represented Australia.
Game changer
Dunk, Blizzard, Birt, Paine and Malik all can hit long, hard and big. And all, besides Dunk, need to step up.
Blizzard and Birt especially could do with a big 50 or 100. If their batting gets going they will be a force to be reckoned with.
How will they win it?
If praying to God doesn’t work then a tough match awaits them to just get to the final.
A bowling effort to restric the Stars to under 150 may give the Hurricanes a chance of chasing. The batting needs to fire to get past the Stars.
They are a long chance but cricket is a funny game… just not this funny.
Hobart to lose to Stars.
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