Big Bash League rankings (after Round 2)

There have been eight games played in the Big Bash League and it has been a really interesting set of matches.

Favourites Melbourne Stars have yet to win a game while the unfancied Sydney Sixers – who have a majority of their players unavailable due to international duty – have won their first two games.

Here is a Power Ranking to help you understand how all the eight Big Bash League teams have been performing.

8. Melbourne Stars (Played 2 Lost 2)
Melbourne Stars entered the Big Bash League with the favourites tag and with Kevin Pietersen, Luke Wright, Cameron White, Faulkner and Maxwell in their ranks it is easy to understand why.

However, the Stars have been struggling in their first two games. The first game they were blown away by Tim Ludeman after scoring just 148 in their 20 overs. In the next game, their poor bowling saw them give Hobart Hurricanes 190 runs and they struggled during their chase, ending up on 138 in their allotted 20 overs.

7. Melbourne Renegades (Played 2 Lost 2)
The other team from Melbourne have been as bad as the Melbourne Stars. They lost their opening game to the Sydney Sixers after getting a good start. In their next game against defending champions Perth Scorchers, which they lost by 35 runs, the Renegades lost wickets regularly which affected their chase.

6. Brisbane Heat (Played 1 Lost 1)
Brisbane Heat played against a Sydney Thunder side that on its day would be one of the hardest sides to beat in short-form cricket. The bowlers were smashed all around the park, with Mike Hussey and Jacques Kallis making merry.

5. Hobart Hurricanes (Played 2 Won 1 Lost 1)
Hobart Hurricanes started off their BBL campaign with a bang by scoring 190 runs and thrashing the Melbourne Stars by 52 runs. However, in their next match against Sydney Sixers – which was reduced to 19 overs – George Bailey’s captain’s knock of 71 from 44 balls wasn’t enough to overcome their bowling shortfalls.

4. Sydney Thunder (Played 2 Won 1 Lost 1)
Sydney Thunder started off their BBL campaign with a bang. Michael Hussey and Jacques Kallis scored 96 and 97 respectively to ensure Thunder scored 208 in their 20 overs and out-batted the Brisbane Heat. The bowling was also good overall.

Thunder believed they had a chance in the Sydney Derby but then their bowling let them down as Sixers piled up 120 on the board. With the good bowling line up Sixers posses, the chase was going to be a tough one.

3. Perth Scorchers (Played 2 Won 1 Lost 1)
The defending champions kicked off their BBL campaign against the Adelaide Strikers. It was a close game which they lost in the last over while defending 147. They managed to take nine Strikers wickets though but the Strikers managed to hold on for the win. The second game saw the Scorchers put in a more dominant performance, Klinger scored the first BBL century and their overall performance with both the bat and ball saw Scorchers claim their first win of the campaign.

2. Adelaide Strikers (Played 2 Won 2)
Adelaide Strikers kicked off the BBL with a win over the Melbourne Stars and it was a dominating win. Ludeman smashed the Stars bowlers all around the park, the side bowled well and they batted extremely professionally and got a deserved victory. Their second game against Perth Scorchers was a close game which they managed to scrape through for a win.

1. Sydney Sixers (Played 3 Won 3)
The Sydney Sixers have been the most convincing team in the opening rounds of the BBL season, having played three games and won all three of them.

Their opening game against the Renegades was won thanks to some aggressive batting by Nic Maddison. Their second game against Hobart Hurricanes saw Sixers chase down 158 in 18.1 overs. In their third match, Riki Wessels scored a 50, leading them to victory over the Thunder.