A handy guide to choosing your Big Bash League team

Hurrah! It’s almost time for the Big Bash League, the five weeks of the cricketing calendar where lots of cool stuff goes down. There are eight teams: which one should you follow?

The fifth edition of the tournament begins on Thursday, and runs all the way through to the Australia Day long weekend.

There are 35 games in 39 predominately nights, and since the tournament moved to Channel Ten it has become must watch television. Do you watch Law and Order: Special Victims Unit re-runs? Or 40 overs of high intensity cricket?

Two years ago, when my daughter was born, I took a heap of time off work. It happened to coincide with the third edition of the BBL, which was the first broadcast on free-to-air TV.

I watched every game and became a short-form cricket devotee, caught up in the competitive tension and the remarkable skills displayed by the players. I gave it a shot with the IPL in the latter part of the 2010s, but there was always something a bit off with that tournament.

Not the Big Bash League. It has rapidly emerged as one of the premier sporting competitions in the land, and has been praised by the English of all people. And I’m really excited that the big chiefs at The Roar have given me license to write about it on Mondays throughout the tournament. So let’s have at it.

One of the chief criticisms of the BBL is the temporary nature of the teams, and that this makes it hard to fall in love with one. The casual fan dilemma is certainly a blessing – you watch a Brisbane Heat versus Hobart Hurricanes game as a casual cricket fan, but not a St Kilda versus Brisbane game as a casual AFL fan – but also creates a challenge to engage people in a deep and meaningful way. It’s a product of the short season, too.

But fear not! Every game of the tournament is live, and so you can be a Victorian Perth Scorchers fan, or a South Australian Sydney Thunder fan. Decisions, decisions.

Sure, it’s natural to default to your closest major city’s team – except if you’re in Victoria, although Docklands apartment dwellers should identify with the Melbourne Renegades rather than the Melbourne Stars.

It’s possible to go based on colour, too. Like magenta? The Sydney Sixers are your squad. Just make sure if you like green, that you are specific as to the shade.

Still can’t decide? Here’s a ready reckoner to help you settle on your Big Bash fandom.

Fan of the New York Yankees, Manchester United, Dallas Cowboys, LA Lakers, Sydney Roosters or Collingwood Magpies?
Then the Melbourne Stars are your team. This is Eddie McGuire’s summer project, and it shows. The Stars are the poster boys, the Murderers’ Row of talent, and the team most keen to wow you with big-name players.

They’re the team that you follow because they’re the team to follow. Shane Warne, Brad Hodge, Kevin Pietersen, Glen Maxwell, Luke Wright, James Faulkner and Lasith Malinga have all plied their short-form trade for the Stars, but that isn’t what tips their reputation over the edge.

Melbourne had signed former Australian captain Michael Clarke to play for the side in this edition of the BBL, which was reported as a major coup for the Stars. Except it meant current captain and well-liked figure Cameron White – who had a remarkable 2014-15 summer – was squeezed out of not just the leadership group, but from the team all together.

And then Clarke pulled out of the BBL, leaving everyone feeling a little bit… odd. White has joined the crosstown Melbourne Renegades, just to make things more awkward.

Off-field politics aside, the Stars are a team that earn their comparison to the likes of Manchester United and the Yankees: they’re really good. The Stars’ biggest strength is their flexibility, with everyone bar wicketkeeper Tom Triffitt capable of hurling the rock in anger. Faulkner and John Hastings are as good a one-two pace bowling punch in the league, while Michael Beer is one of the most effective stoppers in the game.

The Melbourne Stars have made it to the semi-finals in each season of the BBL, but are yet to break through to the big dance. It’s a remarkably strong side on paper, capable of scoring 200-plus but also containing sides to less than 120.

With no certain international call-ups outside of mercurial Glen Maxwell – unless James Faulkner’s mid-year antics are forgiven – Melbourne will have their best team available every week. This could be the season the Stars make it to the top.

Prefer a champion team to a team of champions?
The Perth Scorchers would welcome your presence. Perth haven’t missed a Big Final (code for the grand final or equivalent) since the competition started in 2011, despite the near-total absence of big-name domestic or international players.

Herschelle Gibbs played in the first couple of BBLs, but otherwise the Scorchers have had household names like Paul Collingwood, Michael Carberry, Yasir Arrafat and Alfonso Thomas suit up as internationals. Domestic big names have been few and far between, too: Pat Cummins signed on in the early days, but never played a game due to injury.

So it’s been left to what is essentially the Western Australian Warriors team, and it’s proven remarkably effective. Perth are back-to-back champions and are going for the threepeat in BBL05. The team is, once again, made up of mostly state cricketers – doubly so that the likes of Nathan Coulter-Nile, Adam Voges, Shaun Marsh and Mitch Marsh are on international duty.

Perth’s playing style is all about defence, with a largely unheralded pace attack defending some remarkably low totals in the past.

Jason Behrendorff was talked about seriously as a World Cup bolter off of the back of his form in BBL04, while Andrew Tye and his Wolverine beard emerged as an excellent option at the bookends of the innings. And, of course, there’s George Bradley Hogg, who is approximately 73 years old and still one of the best tweakers in the country.

The Scorchers’ depth will be almightily tested in BBL05, but as a champion team Perth will be thereabouts come finals time.

Like an underdog?
Well, there’s a classic case: the Sydney Thunder. The first three seasons of the BBL saw the Thunder win just three of 23 games, including an 0-8 run in BBL02. The Western Sydney-based side had an awful run of injury and bad luck, while their international and Australian player signings barely managed to get on the park or, if they did, play decent cricket.

Enter Michael ‘Mr Cricket’ Hussey, who took over the captaincy of the team in BBL03. While the team still didn’t crack the 0.500 mark in BBL04, their performances were much improved, in no small measure because of Huss and international signing Jacques Kallis. Sydney were in parts of every game, but when matches were up for grabs they had a tendency to lose the big moments; be it an untimely wicket when batting, a 16-run over or a dropped catch while defending.

On paper at least, those days are gone. The Thunder have loaded up on talent for BBL05, with short-form specialists Shane Watson (yes, there are DRS-style reviews in the Big Bash) and Clint McKay, who compliment somewhat lesser lights in Andre Russell, Fahwad Ahmed and Alister McDermott. The Thunder’s pace attack, in particular, looks very strong with McKay, McDermott, Pat Cummins and Gurinder Sandhu all A-class or A-class-in-waiting quicks.

Regardless, they’ll be seen as the underdogs throughout the tournament. And who doesn’t like an underdog?

Chip on your shoulder?
Melbourne’s working class Renegades have one, too. First off, there’s Cam White, who was tossed aside from his captaincy of the Stars when there was a sniff that Clarke would be available.

Add to that Matthew Wade, who has been relegated to keeper-in-waiting (at least in the Test scene), and who has rapidly overcome an injury that was thought to have kept him out of action for much of the summer.

Add to that West Indian duo Chris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo, who will doubtlessly cop flack for choosing the BBL over international duty (despite having some very sound and appropriate reasons).

In fact, there are half a dozen other players who have something more than the thrill of victory to play for. Guess they’re drawn to the vibrant red for a reason.

The team itself looks well balanced on paper, but it gets a little complicated in the fast bowling department. The Renegades have both Peter Siddle and James Pattinson on their books, who’ll likely be out of action for the middle portion of the tournament as the second and third Tests of the West Indies series meander along. That leaves newcomer Nathan Rimmington and promising Chris Tremain to take the load, with Melbourne set to rely on medium pace and slow bowlers for a chunk of their defence.

But it may not matter a great deal. This batting line-up is absolutely stacked.

Chris Gayle
Aaron Finch
Cameron White
Tom Cooper
Callum Ferguson
Dwayne Bravo
Matthew Wade

That’s Melbourne’s prospective top seven for at least the first half of the tournament, until Aaron Finch, and perhaps Matthew Wade, head off on international duties.

Other than topping the standings in BBL02, the Renegades have been a consistent disappointment so far as wins and losses go. Their batting line-up is as good as any in the competition, but the lack of pace bowling could be too great a challenge to overcome.

Prefer your cricket played with an added sense of uncertainty?
Then the Adelaide Strikers suit your sick need for speed.

Like the Perth Scorchers, the Strikers have largely eschewed the pursuit of big names, preferring instead to pick from the domestic ranks to bolster what is largely their own state squad. They were undoubtedly the surprise packet of BBL04, finishing the regular season as minor premiers after a 6-1-1 (no result) record, before an almighty flameout in their semi-final.

Their lack of star power doesn’t translate to an outright lack of power, however, with the Strikers line-up laden with big hitters. BBL03 grade cricketing sensation Craig Simmons, rising star Travis Head, next in line to be the next in line’s understudy Tim Ludeman, and an unfading Brad Hodge stand up to any top four in the competition.

The Strikers were a remarkably efficient chasing team last season, reeling in scores of 149 (12.3 overs), 147 (19.4 overs), 141 (14.3 overs) and 158 (18.5 overs) for four victories from five opportunities.

But it can all fall apart, by virtue of the hit-and-miss style of batting and a somewhat unpredictable bowling line-up.

Shaun Tait lived up to his eponymous nickname in his time with the Strikers, and has now moved on to the Hobart Hurricanes. A spin duo of Johan Botha and Adam Zampa didn’t give much by way of penetration, and they have also both moved to new teams. Kane Richardson was up and down last season, after bursting into the international arena the year before, and his partner Ben Laughlin shows flashes of brilliance, but these two now stand as the lone stalwarts from BBL04.

The three bowlers, plus all-rounder Ryan ten Doeschate and mostly untried Trent Lawford, have made way for largely attacking (batting) additions, including now ex-international Mahela Jayawardene, who is a late call-up for injured West Indian Kieron Pollard. It makes for an interesting squad, heavily tilted towards attack but with no players with a great deal of BBL experience outside of the four names above.

It makes for what could be an explosive top six, capable of sustaining run rates of eight an over plus for fun. But like the Melbourne Renegades, a relatively thin bowling line-up does leave the Strikers exposed. Like your short-form cricket with an extra shot of adrenaline? This is your team.

Part of the cool set?
Then it has to be the Sydney Sixers.

Like the Stars of Melbourne, the Sixers of Sydney have a more rarefied air about them than their crosstown rivals. That could be a result of stadium arrangements alone: the Sixers call the SCG estate their home, while the Thunder have been couch surfing around western Sydney since their inception.

But unlike the Stars, Sydney carry their swagger in a much more hipster cool kind of way. It could be the ‘magenta’ (pink to you and I) jerseys, or the trotting out of what is essentially a full-strength international-quality line-up, or just the fact they’re from New South Wales. The atmosphere at Sixers games, at least on the television, looks to be one of quiet reverence – like it’s a privilege to be watching this group of players go about their business.

Their squad has gone from strength to strength in the off-season, following a runner-up finish in BBLB04. In come Jackson Bird, Johan Botha and Trent Lawford, while the outs are roughly equal to a half-eaten sandwich. Seriously, check out this team:

Sean Abbott, Jackson Bird, Doug Bollinger, Johan Botha, Ryan Carters, Ben Dwarshuis, Michael Edwards, Brad Haddin, Josh Hazlewood, Moises Henriques, Trent Lawford, Michael Lumb, Nathan Lyon, Nic Maddinson, Stephen O’Keefe, Jordan Silk, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc

The first choice XI of this group, for all intents and purposes, is a shadow Australian team. In reality, though, a number of these players will be on international duty for a big chunk of the tournament. Smith is an outside chance to play any part, Starc is out injured, Hazlewood will no doubt be asked to have a rest… you get the idea.

Even with half a dozen players missing, this projects as among the best teams in the league. They won it all in BBL01, flamed out in BBL02 (when the whole squad was in the Australian team), made the semis in BBL03 and were runner-up last season. Perennialism has a name and it’s written in magenta.

Want to see if it really is a north of the border thing?
It’s a shame, but the Brisbane Heat look like a team set to match the feats of their AFL cousins in BBL05.

Since winning it all in BBL02, the Heat haven’t set the world on fire, recording three and two wins in BBL03 and BBL04 respectively. Injury, form and international duty lowered the Heat’s bar in the past two seasons, while international signings Andrew Flintoff and Dan Vettori didn’t offer the Brisbane side much by way of on-field production.

It’s seen the franchise take a remarkable turn, with nine new players on the senior squad, including two new internationals in Lendl Simmons and Samuel Badree. The team looks sounder as a result, with a strong balance between bat and ball coupled with plenty of international experience.

One key out, at least for the time being, is Chris Lynn, known for his incredible striking power and baseball-esque batting style. ‘Lynnsanity’, one of the better Australian cricket colloquialisms to emerge in the BBL era (even though it’s a 100 per cent rip-off from Jeremy Lin’s ‘Linsanity’), will be sorely missed for at least the first half of the tournament, as its purveyor recuperates from a shoulder injury.

But, like their animal brethren, the makings of a competitive side exist at the Heat. That sounds patronising, and it is, but after the past two seasons it’s hard to give the franchise much more credit than that. Maybe a new direction under Vettori, who begins his three-year coaching stint with the Heat in this BBL, will bring some success?

Like a sneaky title contender, and want to get in before it becomes a thing?
You know, the Hobart Hurricanes are looking like an under-the-radar championship contender.

The Hurricanes had a strong squad in BBL04, but have strengthened it in so many ways ahead of this year’s tournament. There are no super duper stars on the team, although George Bailey is an excellent short-form player, and Kumar Sangakkara is a living cricketing legend.

Sangakkara and Darren Sammy are the strongest, most consistent international pairing in the tournament, and will add to a core group of mostly domestic players that will be available for the whole dance.

A young, somewhat unheralded pace attack has been boosted by the addition of Shaun Tait who will add an dose of variety to the defence, while Dan Christian (who has joined from the Brisbane Heat) will bring middle-order firepower with both bat and ball. Ben Dunk has been one of the most improved domestic players of recent years, and there’s just something about Joe Mennie.

As a result, the first choice Hobart XI will be more than competitive in each outing, and are capable of mixing it with the more prestigious types like the Melbourne Stars and Sydney Sixers. Bailey is the only starter likely to be called up to international duties, and so all it should take is some injury luck and a decent run of form to get the Hurricanes the five wins required for a semi-final berth.

Run into some serious form, and Hobart are a sneaky chance to go one better on their BBL03 finish and take home the title.

Note: Chris Lynn will be available for the Heat, after overcoming his shoulder injury ahead of schedule. The Heat will be a much more entertaining team as a result, but their stocks remain thinner than most of the rest of the League.