The BBL season is just under two months away from starting, and with the approaching season comes refreshed and updated squads.
While 18-man squads must be confirmed by the December 8 deadline, some of the teams are getting closer to completion. With that being said, it’s time to update all eight sides for the tournament, which has been increased to a full home-and-away season this year.
Teams are allowed to have two overseas imports, with some of the best T20 players in the world turning out for one of the premier competitions in world cricket.
» Stay up to date with every BBL signing here
Adelaide Strikers
Status: One player to be confirmed.
Squad
Travis Head, Wes Agar, Alex Carey, Michael Cormack, David Grant, Colin Ingram, Rashid Khan, Ben Laughlin, Jake Lehmann, Michael Neser, Liam O’Connor, Matt Short, Peter Siddle, Billy Stanlake, Jake Weatherald, Jonathan Wells, Nick Winter
Coach: Jason Gillespie
Captain: Travis Head
Imports: Colin Ingram (South Africa), Rashid Khan (Afghanistan)
Travis Head leads the Strikers side into the new season. They have talent across the board, with Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan again likely to play a key role with the ball after his breakout run last season.
Alex Carey, Jake Lehmann, Billy Stanlake, Jake Weatherald and Jonathan Wells are the other key names to look out for.
In positive news, the Adelaide-based club shouldn’t lose a heap to international cricket, with only Head, Carey, Neser and Siddle likely to be in consideration for selection across the three formats.
Brisbane Heat
Status: Two players, one import to be confirmed.
Squad
Brendon McCullum, Max Bryant, Joe Burns, Ben Cutting, Brendan Doggett, Sam Heazlett, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Lalor, Chris Lynn, James Pattinson, Jimmy Peirson, Jack Prestwidge, Matt Renshaw, Alex Ross, Mitchell Swepson, Mark Steketee
Coach: Daniel Vettori
Captain: Brendon McCullum
Imports: Brendon McCullum (New Zealand), TBC
The Heat are again led by one of the greatest T20 players in history, Brendon McCullum.
Exciting youngster Max Bryant, along with Chris Lynn, will also be in the squad, while firey, yet injury-pone quick James Pattinson joins the side this season. If he can stay on the field, he will bring plenty to Brisbane, particularly if the Gabba pitch is lively.
(AAP Image/Darren England)
Hobart Hurricanes
Status: Squad confirmed.
Squad
George Bailey (c), Jofra Archer, Johan Botha, James Faulkner, Caleb Jewell, Hamish Kingston, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Simon Milenko, Tymal Mills, David Moody, Tim Paine, Sam Rainbird, Tom Rogers, Clive Rose, D’arcy Short, Aaron Summers, Matthew Wade
Coach: Adam Griffith, Ben Rohrer
Captain: George Bailey
Imports: Jofra Archer (West Indies), Tymal Mills (England)
The Hurricanes have Jofra Archer and Tymal Mills back on board as their import players after Hobart managed to make the final last season.
While the West Indian and Englishman will lead the bowling attack, James Faulkner, Ben McDermott, Tom Rogers and prolific, explosive opener D’Arcy Short are the names to watch throughout the season.
It’s likely they will play without Tim Paine for a chunk of the season as he captains Australia.
Melbourne Renegades
Status: One player, one import to be confirmed.
Squad
Aaron Finch (c), Cameron Boyce, Dan Christian, Tom Cooper, Zak Evans, Marcus Harris, Mackenzie Harvey, Jon Holland, Tim Ludeman, Joe Mennie, Mohammad Nabi, Kane Richardson, Will Sutherland, Chris Tremain, Beau Webster, Cameron White, Jack Wildermuth
Coach: Andrew McDonald
Captain: Aaron Finch
Imports: Mohammad Nabi (Afghanistan), TBC
The Renegades are just about locked in for the season ahead, with Aaron Finch to captain the side once again. He is unlikely to feature heavily though, given he is playing all three formats for Australia at the moment.
In his absence, Cameron White would be the anticipated captain, while Mohammad Nabi is the sides only confirmed import at this stage.
Melbourne Stars
Status: Three players to be confirmed.
Squad
Michael Beer, Scott Boland, Jackson Coleman, Travis Dean, Ben Dunk, Seb Gotch, Evan Gulbis, Peter Handscomb, Sandeep Lamichhane, Nic Maddinson, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Parkinson, Marcus Stoinis, Daniel Worrall, Adam Zampa
Coach: Stephen Fleming
Captain: TBC
Imports: Sandeep Lamichane (Nepal), Matt Parkinson (England)
The Stars have gone down a different path with their imports this year. For the first time in history, Luke Wright will be missing from the side, while Kevin Pietersen has also retired.
Instead, they have little-known Englishman Matt Parkinson and the even lesser known Sandeep Lamichane from Nepal.
Outside of their import players, Michael Beer has become a T20 revelation with the ball, Ben Dunk will be looking to get back to his best at the top of the order, and the middle order could have a dynamic duo with both Glenn Maxwell and Nic Maddinson featuring.
Perth Scorchers
Status: One player to be confirmed.
Squad
Ashton Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Jason Behrendorff, Hilton Cartwright, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Michael Klinger, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Joel Paris, Usman Qadir, Jhye Richardson, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, Sam Whiteman, David Willey
Coach: Adam Voges
Captain: Mitchell Marsh
Imports: Usman Qadir (Pakistan), David Willey (England)
The Scorchers are the most successful team in Big Bash League history. The Marsh brothers lead the show, although may miss some games if they can keep their sports for Australia.
Exciting spinner Usman Qadir has been picked up alongside David Willey, giving them an excellent bowling attack alongside T20 specialist Andrew Tye, Joel Paris, Nathan Coulter-Nile and explosive young quick Jhye Richardson. The competition for spots promises to be high.
They look a little short in the batting at this stage, however, Ashton Turner, Sam Whiteman, Josh Inglis and the experienced Michael Klinger will give a good base to launch from.
(AAP Image/Richard Wainwright)
Sydney Sixers
Status: Seven players, one import to be confirmed.
Squad
Moises Henriques (c), Sean Abbott, Joe Denly, Mickey Edwards, Ben Dwarshuis, Daniel Hughes, Nathan Lyon, Peter Nevill, Stephen O’Keefe, Jordan Silk, Henry Thornton
Coach: Greg Shipperd
Captain: Moises Henriques
Imports: Joe Denly (England), TBC
It’s hard to get too much of a read on the Sixers at the moment with seven players still to be confirmed in the remaining six weeks before deadline. Only one import has been announced so far, with Joe Denly set to lead things at the top of the order.
They have a typically strong squad from what is there, but will lose Nathan Lyon for most of the season through Australian commitments.
Jordan Silk, Moises Henriques, Sean Abbott and Peter Nevill are all names to watch, while young guns Henry Thornton and Mickey Edwards are worth keeping an eye on if they get on the field.
Sydney Thunder
Status: Three players to be confirmed.
Squad
Shane Watson, Fawad Ahmed, Jos Buttler, Pat Cummins, Callum Ferguson, Ryan Gibson, Chris Green, Usman Khawaja, Jay Lenton, Arjun Nair, Kurtis Patterson, Joe Root, Daniel Sams, Gurinder Sandhu, Shane Watson
Coach: Shane Bond
Captain: Shane Watson
Imports: Jos Buttler (England), Joe Root (England)
The Thunder have three players yet to be confirmed, but it’s pretty easy to work out what their best XI is looking like. A pair of English imports will headline the batting, with Jos Buttler and Joe Root taking shape, while Shane Watson will again captain the side from the top of the order.
International availability may hurt though with all of Callum Ferguson, Usman Khawaja and Pat Cummins expected to be in the reckoning at some point this summer.
Fawad Ahmed, Gurinder Sandhu and Daniel Sams, coming off a breakout season, are likely to lead the bowling attack.
Paul D
Roar Guru
What are you even trying to say - if we up the quota from 2 to 4 players we'll suddenly attract players who aren't even coming here to begin with? Your attitude is very shallow and poor if you can't care who wins an Australian domestic competition because there isn't enough indians in it
Bilbo
Guest
Eww.. those imports, apart from the Thunder and Heat look very lame BBL rosters looking like NBL teams of 2011.. very light on
Timmuh
Roar Guru
By all reports Sandeep Lamichhane was masterful in the World Cup qualifiers, and a key to Nepal squeaking into ODI status. Since then his returns haven't been as good. An interesting one, in a hopefully emergent cricketing nation. And Brisbane's other import appears to be from Afghanistan, https://www.cricket.com.au/news/mujeeb-ur-rahman-brisbane-heat-bbl-big-bash-league-afghanistan-rashid-khan/2018-10-12
Brian
Guest
Nah if the BBL is ever going to grow to the point where we care who wins it needs quality. Guys like De Villiers, Bravo etc. would really add to the quality. Indian players I believe are not allowde to play in T20 leagues other then the IPL. Not much point Aussie players smashing it in the BBL only to find Australia poor internationally because the BBL lacks quality. The IPL has 4 foreign players, the BBL can't compete with the IPL for cash but it can allow 4 foreigners which would help lift the quality.
buttery
Roar Rookie
I'm pretty sure the Emerites are starting a T20 comp over there around the same time, I heard they might recruit Smith & Warner to play, that makes things interesting.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Ha. By Roar I meant Heat.
Paul D
Roar Guru
I wonder if the Roar is saving that spot for Samuel Badree again. He and Pattinson would be a handy pairing. Really looking forward to BBL this year. I don't mind that the prestige of the imports has gone down, just leaves more room for homegrown Australian players to excel.
Matt H
Roar Guru
It might be just me, but the star power of the imports has declined over the years. We must be in an awkward spot in the international calendar, meaning few South Africans or New Zealanders and India still don't release players. But I'm surprised there are no West Indians or Pakistan players - Andre Russell, Bishoo, Hope, Hetmyer would all be handy and that's discounting the usual mercenaries, Pollard and Bravo. And if I was looking for an import I would be throwing the kitchen sink and Mohammed Abbas. After that test series he has a name in Australia now.
Will Cuckson
Roar Rookie
Callum Ferguson expected to be in Australian colours this summer? ... Yeah, not a fan
Brian
Guest
More imports would be good to raise the standard, especially from smaller countries like Nepal and Afghanistan.
jamesb
Roar Guru
Australia has collapsed again. With Australia doing poorly, you would have to question the standard of the Big Bash.
AREH
Roar Guru
It feels like the Scorcher's squad has hardly changed since BBL 01 - they certainly know how to keep a group together, and it's been a factor in being the most successful team so far. They surely start close to favourites here although it's hard to overlook the batting lineup in light green. With their two English imports, the Thunder could have a scary top six including Watson, Khawaja, Root, Ferguson, Buttler, Patterson.