All-rounders are well suited to and important in Twenty20 cricket. Spinners have traditionally performed very well in T20 cricket and that could be a big factor again in the Big Bash League.
The nature of T20 cricket means you only need to have a couple of guys to have a day out to win the game. With this in mind, here are the ins and outs for each Big Bash League team:
Melbourne Stars
Shane Warne, Jackson Bird, James Faulkner, Pete Handscomb, John Hastings, Brad Hodge, David Hussey, Glenn Maxwell, Clint McKay, James Pattinson, Rob Quiney, Matthew Wade, Cameron White, Luke Wright, Lasith Malinga.
The Melbourne Stars look to have the strongest batting line up with Glenn Maxwell, David Hussey, Brad Hodge and Luke Wright leading the way. If a couple of these guys fire, the Stars have the very real potential to post some big scores.
What I like about the Stars, though, is their bowling line up. The experience of Shane Warne plus Lasith Malinga, Jackson Bird and James Faulkner as quicks makes for a very competitive unit.
Barring injuries, the Stars are the team to beat.
Predicted finish: 1st.
Brisbane Heat
Joe Burns, Ben Cutting, Daniel Christian, Peter Forrest, Cameron Gannon, Ryan Harris, Chris Hartley, Nathan Hauritz, James Hopes, Chris Lynn, Alister McDermott, Luke Pomersbach, Kemar Roach, Shane Watson, Daniel Vettori.
Plenty of expectation on the Heat as the bulk of the 2011/12 squad remains with a few additions. Big disappointment last season the Brisbane-based franchise will be aiming to go one step further and qualify for the finals.
Having secured fast bowling duo Kemar Roach and Ryan Harris along with powerful left-handed batsman Luke Pomersbach, and young Joe Burns, the Heat have plenty of talent to work with. Two really good all rounders in James Hopes and Dan Christian are a big plus too.
The Heat will make a mark in the 2012/13 Big Bash.
Predicted finish: 2nd.
Perth Scorchers
Ashton Agar, Tim Armstrong, Michael Beer, Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Patrick Cummins, Ben Edmondson, Herschelle Gibbs, Brad Hogg, Michael Hussey, Simon Katich, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Joe Mennie, Albie Morkel, Marcus North, Tom Triffitt, Adam Voges.
Marcus North is to return as captain of the Scorchers and he will be joined again this summer by former Aussie teammates Simon Katich, Mike Hussey and Adam Voges.
Firebrand Patrick Cummins moved west this season and will be looking to do some damage physically if not mentally on a typically fast and bouncy WACA wicket. The evergreen Brad Hogg along with the Mitch Marsh the Scorchers have a well balanced squad that won’t get torn apart by international selections.
South African international Albie Morkel is a useful pickup and with Herschelle Gibbs once again signing on, the Scorchers will be pushing for a finals spot.
On paper, I think this is one of the better squads and I’m quietly confident that they will be there at the business end.
Predicted finish: 3rd.
Adelaide Strikers
Johan Botha, Theo Doropoulos, Callum Ferguson, Jon Holland, Phillip Hughes, Michael Klinger, Nathan Lyon, Andrew McDonald, Michael Neser, Kieron Pollard, Gary Putland, Nathan Reardon, Kane Richardson, James Smith, Shaun Tait.
This year’s campaign will be heavily reliant on solid performances from captain and South African international Johan Botha and big hitting West Indian Kieron Pollard. Last season Botha made 75 runs at 37.50 with a strike rate of 144.23, and with the ball he took five wickets at 19.80 with best figures of 2/18.
Pollard is world-class T20 performer and is near impossible to contain. He will fire at some stage of the tournament.
With three spinners in the squad, you can rest assured there won’t be many green tops at the Adelaide Oval this summer and with conditions to suit, they will be extremely hard to beat.
Will need the likes of Klinger, Cooper and McDonald to really fire.
Predicted finish: 4th.
Sydney Thunder
Sean Abbott, Shahid Afridi, Cameron Borgas, Ryan Carters, Michael Clarke, Mark Cosgrove, Adam Coyte, Scott Coyte, Luke Doran, Jason Floros, Chris Gayle, Rhett Lockyear, Dirk Nannes, Gurinder Sandhu, Chris Tremain, Usman Khawaja, Chris Rogers, Martin Guptill, Matt Prior.
Shahid Afridi, Martin Guptill, Matt Prior and West Indian superstar Chris Gayle are the standout names in this ragtag bunch. Very reliant on these four internationals, if they don’t fire, they are in trouble.
Usman Khawaja is a very good player and Mark Cosgrove a dangerous batsmen too, but they look very thin across all departments.
Dirk Nannes will have to bowl out of skin if they are to compete. Not in my top picks.
Predicted finish: 5th.
Hobart Hurricanes
George Bailey, Travis Birt, Aiden Blizzard, Doug Bollinger, Xavier Doherty, Ben Dunk, Michael Hogan, Jason Krejza, Ben Laughlin, Tim Paine, Ricky Ponting, Owais Shah, Timm van der Gugten, Jonathan Wells.
The Hurricanes confirmed the signings of BBL|01 Player of the Series Travis Birt and former Adelaide Striker Aiden Blizzard. Both players will add much needed starch to what is seemingly a toothless Tiger.
Whilst on the books last season, injury kept Tim Paine on the sidelines. His addition will be a useful one as is former Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting but both hardly the type of players that will set their season alight though.
This truly will be a team performance if the Hurricanes are to replicate their previous season.
Predicted finish: 6th.
Melbourne Renegades
Meyrick Buchanan, Tom Cooper, Brendan Drew, Aaron Finch, Daniel Harris, Jayde Herrick, Michael Hill, James Muirhead, Muttiah Muralitharan, Peter Nevill, Aaron O’Brien, Darren Pattinson, Nathan Rimmington, Ben Rohrer, Will Sheridan.
Renegades have boosted their batting and spin-bowling stocks with the signing of Tom Cooper, Aaron O’Brien and Dan Harris but their biggest signing is the world’s leading Test wicket-taker, Muttiah Muralitharan.
Murali’s signing is sensational news for the Melbourne Renegades, supporters and cricket lovers alike. It’s another opportunity to see one of the game’s greats plying his trade at Etihad Stadium during the Australian summer.
Where the Renegades end up on the ladder will be heavily reliant on how Vice-Captain Aaron Finch performs. His power-hitting saw him lead the Renegades’ run-scoring in the first KFC T20 Big Bash League (BBL|01) with 259 runs from seven digs, including a highest score of 72, an average of 37 and a healthy strike rate of 137.
A steady outfit but really lacking that X-factor. I can’t see them competing with the likes of the Stars and Scorchers this season.
Predicted finish: 7th.
Sydney Sixers
Brad Haddin, Josh Hazlewood, Moises Henriques, Josh Lalor, Brett Lee, Nic Maddinson, Ian Moran, Sunil Narine, Stephen O’Keefe, Kurtis Patterson, Daniel Smith, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Dominic Thornely, David Warner.
It’s all about the re-signings for the Sixers. Brad Haddin, Stephen O’Keefe, Moises Henriques, Josh Hazlewood are back to defend their title while young guns Mitchell Starc and Nic Maddinson join them but perhaps their biggest signings are Brett Lee, Steve Smith and West Indian off-spinner, Sunil Narine.
A mix of youth and experience but I’m happy to risk this mob. I simply can’t see them successfully defending their title this season and expect them to battle in the bottom half of the ladder.
Predicted finish: 8th.
shane
Roar Guru
dr agha ebrahim
Guest
iam surprised sixers value last what they just won the title by chance no i disagree they played very well and i would proudly say they deserve to be on top no doubt stars are good team and others too but i will personally honour sixers
Naddu
Guest
Sydney sixers as the inaugural champion,this time also they will win and win for second time with top players
pavi
Guest
Who do you reckon are the most in form batsmen and all-rounders, at the moment?
pavi
Guest
Who do you reckon are the most in form batsmen and all-rounders, at the moment?
Matthew Skellett
Guest
I would say the Sixers are the team to beat -looking at what a brilliant job at captaincy Mr Haddin has done during the IPL I would say they are very much contenders -also I would like to say that the world will be beating a path to our door for a chance to participate in Australian Domestic Sport -be it Super Rugby ,NRL, AFL , A-League or BBL -the World is coming we had better be prepared for the tidal wave :-)-starting 2013 :--)
Redb
Roar Guru
Renegades are the poor man's T20 team. Stars all the way.
Renegade
Guest
First off it's T20 which means anything can happen so its pretty tough to make a prediction. But i am absolutely baffled by the fact you have picked the Sixers to come last.....and stars to win barring injuries!! What the?? The stars are certainly not the team to beat......i think the team in pink that happen to be the defending champions and possibly could be world champions may lay claim to that statement. Sydney Thunder are the darkhorse for mine....not the strongest all round team on paper but certainly have the most individual match winners - if in each match only one of those individuals is on fire, they can put sides away. Looking forward to another exciting competition!
Brett McKay
Expert
I think last year showed that the squad full of the best players won't necessarily be the best team, and so while I agree the Stars are probably favourites on paper, it wouldn't be surprised if they fell short again. I think the Scorchers and Heat will both be handy for smokey value, but ask me again the week before BBL02 starts! ;-)
shane
Roar Guru
Hey Kristin, I can assure you that this article was written in the clear light of day and no ales were consumed. If the Sizes win the title though, more than happy to buy you a beer! I'll stick solid with my predictions. Stars, Heat or Scorchers for me.
shane
Roar Guru
Haha thanks Brett. The timing of my article going live and Samuels signing on was very unfortunate. He is closer to that missing x-factor I mention but I will stick by what I wrote. Who's your tip to take the title?
Kristin Carville
Roar Rookie
Have to wonder if this article was written late at night and/or after a few amber ales?? Whilst some of the predictions are OK, there are many that for me to miss the mark. The most glaring of these is for the Sixers to finish last. Has this person been watching the Champions league? Clearly not! I cannot fathom how the side that has been the form side of the CLT20 will finish last here. They will definitely make the finals again this year. The Hurricanes a toothless tiger? Much the same squad as last season, but have gained Paine from injury, Ponting from intenrational duties and Bailey who has returned home after a season at the Stars. With Birt and Blizzard they have 2 of the best batsman in our domestic T20, so expedct them to push for the title. Also, to have Brisbane at 2nd and the Thunder at 5th? The author mentions that Brisbane have the same squad as last season, minus Matt Hayden who showed up many of his younger counterparts. Sydney Thunder do have better depth than last year, but still need to stop relying on Chris Gayle, and I cannot see either Brisbane or the Thunder making finals, and will be 6th or 7th. This year will be a 3 way tussle between Stars, Sixers and the Hurricanes.
Brett McKay
Expert
Shane, I wonder if your view of the Renegades changes with the news overnight of Marlon Samuels signing on?? And I did love that immediately after mentioning Mark Cosgrove, you said of the Thunder, "..they look very thin across all departments" Well played!! :lol:
formeropenside
Guest
I dont have a big bash team.
Don Corleone
Guest
Sixers last? Massive call seeing they are looking like the world's premier T20 club side.
Redb
Roar Guru
Good lineup for the Melb Stars wll be catching a few games for sure along with my usual circket diet.
Matt F
Roar Guru
Wow. The team that's unbeaten in the T20 Champions League to finish last in the BBL. Big call..... Keep in mind that teams are only allowed to have 2 imports at a time. While the Thunder have 4 imports, they won't be able to use more than 2 of them in each game. For example both Prior and Guptill will miss fair chunks of the tournament due to international duties.