Big Bash League 2014-15 has just come to an end, with the Perth Scorchers scraping past the Sixers in what was a thrilling finish to Brett Lee’s career.
This last week, Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Damian Fleming and Steve Waugh have all thought up their own All-Star team. Many of you would’ve heard of the ‘Fans XI Best of the Bash’ but the shortlist of players didn’t satisfy me.
So I’m going to do the same as Punter and company with a slight twist. For a player to qualify for my All-Star team, they must have played six or more games over the course of the summer.
Jaques Kallis (Sydney Thunder) – 235 runs, five wickets
Man of the series. The recently retired South African played his first BBL season with skill and precision. The all-rounder was the missing piece of the puzzle for the Thunder, making the team easy beats no more. His tight economy rate of seven and his ability to take wickets when he’s needed makes you wonder what the Thunder will achieve next season if Jaques stays on.
Michael Klinger (Perth Scorchers) – 326 runs
Leading run scorer of the tournament and the only player to score over 300 runs. Aged 34, his experience at the top of the order would be invaluable. Couple that with a strike rate of 136 and you have one powerful hitter. He hit the ball to the fence 33 times this summer, and managed to clear it a further nine. If you paired him with Kallis, you definitely wouldn’t want to miss the start of the match.
Kevin Pietersen (Melbourne Stars) – 293 runs
Arguably the biggest steal of the tournament, as well as one of the most valuable players. The ex-England player’s consistency stood out the most, with an average of just under 42, with four scores over forty from eight games.
Before the season even started this is how Greg Shipperd described Pietersen:
“He’s confident, skilful, ambitious, competitive, a game changer and a vocal contributor to the cricket industry. A champion of all forms of cricket, his experience and expertise will be a major boost to our playing list.”
And what a boost he was, almost propelling the Stars into a maiden grand final appearance.
Peter Forrest (Brisbane Heat) – 237 runs
One of two players chosen from a non-finalist team, Forrest batted very well for a side that struggled. He accumulated 237 runs from just six games at an average of 47, and one can only imagined how many more run scoring opportunities he could have created if he had faced a few more overs.
Jordan Silk (Sydney Sixers) – 272 runs
With the third most runs in the tournament and the highest average this man is the find of the tournament. His ability to close out an innings again and again makes him the team’s James Faulkner. He might not be able to bowl but he cancels that out with his spectacular fielding, being involved in the most classic of catches and run outs this tournament.
Johan Botha (Adelaide Strikers) – 117 runs, seven wickets
Didn’t get a lot of runs in BBL, but was able to have an effect on the game when he did, top scoring with 41*. As captain, he’s had previous experience, captaining the Strikers with talent, skill, precision and the occasional masterstroke. His handy right-arm off spinners only add to his talent, especially when he bowls them for only 6.7 runs an over like he did this summer.
Tom Triffit (Melbourne Stars) – 87 runs
A surprise inclusion. Triffit was picked for his skilled keeping, taking 10 catches behind the stumps as well as a run out. He was also chosen for his quick running between the wickets, his strike rate of 131, yet just 10 boundaries, proof of that. He’s also of late been a cool finisher, ending the tournament with four not-outs from eight times out in the middle.
John Hastings (Melbourne Stars) – 16 wickets
A brilliant death bowler for the Stars, snaring a wicket for every 15 and a half runs that were scored against him. Not only is this man the leading wicket taker of the tournament, he’s also got the best strike rate. He proved it numerous times, none more so than when he smashed the ball three times in a row over the fence.
Brett Lee (Sydney Sixers) – 13 wickets
Recently retired from cricket, Australian great Brett Lee almost bowled the Sixers to victory on Wednesday night. With one run to get from the last three balls, Perth Scorchers looked home. But Brett Lee was bowling and it took them to the last delivery to hit the winning run.
Whenever Lee’s bowling, any target seems hard. With his pace still up at the 150-kilometre per hour mark, his wicket taking yorkers and his dot balls at crucial times make this man is a game changer. If the captain’s smart, and puts him on when he should, then Lee could be the bowler to lead his team to victory.
Jason Behrendorff (Perth Scorchers) – 15 wickets
One of the players of the tournament. A key player for Perth this summer, bowling with skill and speed. Managed to do this at the fantastic economy rate of just 6.44, the third lowest for a player who has bowled more than 20 overs.
Adam Zampa (Adelaide Strikers) – nine wickets
The leg spinner picked up nine wickets over the tournament and was a key player for the Strikers. Has the ability to keep an end tight, with just six and a half runs being scored for every over he bowled. Would be a key player in that regard, allowing the fast stocks at the other end to penetrate.
Twelfth man: Moises Henriques (Sydney Sixers) – 168 runs, five wickets
Unlucky to miss out. Played very well for the Sixers as a middle order batsman, averaging precisely 35 runs a game, including his top score of 77 playing against the Scorchers in the final. Also very handy with the ball, averaging a strike rate a tick over six an over.
So that’s my BBL All-Star Team. What do you think Roarers?
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.
It seems franchise cricket has forgotten about the great battle between bat and ball. In fact, this season in the IPL there is no battle at all.
The mammoth rise of Jake Fraser-McGurk - his enormous potential and the destructive shot-making that he possesses makes him a very tempting option.
Marcus Stoinis produced his first IPL century and it was a beauty. He went 6, 4, 4, 4 to finish off the Lucknow Super…
Xavier Bartlett has been permission to extend his cricketing education with a spell of T20s in England, playing in the Blast competition for Kent…
Three-Test spinner Matthew Kuhnemann has signed with Tasmania in a bid for red-ball game time ahead of Australia's tour of Sri Lanka next summer.…
Last week, you read about the Matt XI, a compilation of the best cricketers ever to represent the name Matt. And to be fair,…
