Over the next week we’re doing brief team previews ready for our Big Bash debut on 5th December. Hopefully our thoughts will help you craft those Big Bash teams that top the leaderboard come the end of January!
Number 7 – Perth Scorchers
2020/21 Performance
2nd place, won 8 and lost 5
Internationationals to avoid
Cameron Green is an inclusion in the Ashes squad.
Australia A has taken Marsh, Inglis and Ashton Agar.
Overseas stars
Laurie Evans is a hugely experienced English T20 batsman, and could offer some serious runs at just 8m. It’s his debut in the competition, so it may be worth seeing how he gets on before picking him up in the latter rounds.
Colin Munro is a globe trotting T20 basher supreme. The first player to score three T20 centuries. He was 5th in runs scored, 6th in sixes hit during last season’s tournament.
Ones to watch
Jason Behrendorff is a highly dependable seamer, 13th in the wickets column last year. Andrew tye is similarly excellent, and took 5th place in last season’s wicket totals.
It’ll be all about the latter games though for the Thunder. The Aussie foursome of Agar, Inglis, Marsh and Jhye Richardson will make them seriously strong come playoffs time – if they make it!
Predicted first game xi
Laurie Evans
Cameron Bancroft
Colin Munro
Kurtis Patterson
Ashton Turner
Aaron Hardie
Matthew Kelly
Andrew Tye
Peter Hatzoglou
Jason Behrendorff
Lance Morris
Number 8 – Sydney Stars
2020/21 Performance
1st place, won 9 and lost 5
Internationationals to avoid
Nathan Lyon is in the Ashes squad, whilst Sean Abbott is representing Australia A.
Overseas stars
Chris Jordan is a late addition following Carlos Brathwaite’s injury related withdrawal. The experienced Englishman has starred with bat and ball around the T20 world. Also capable of some ridiculous fielding.
Similar could be said of the younger, but equally talented, Tom Curran. The Elder of the Curran brothers has a knack for taking big wickets, and is a seriously clean hitter on his day.
James Vince is another English recruit who just loves the long ball. Second highest scorer in BB10 and the star of the playoffs. He also hit more fours than any other player last season. A great option at a great price of just 9m.
Ones to watch
The stars are rightfully favourites for BB11, and just the English talent outlined above justifies it. However, they also have several other cracking options!
The swashbuckling Josh Phillippe was the third highest runscorer in BB10, and is ranked by many pundits as the single most exciting batsman in this year’s contest. A cracking keeper option at 9m.
Ben Dwarshuis was the second highest wicket taker last season. Moises Henriques is a t20 supremo. Daniel Hughes is a super-exciting batsman. Steve O’Keefe and Jordan Silk both made the top 20 wicket takers last season.
Sydney Stars – take your pick!
Predicted first game xi
Josh Philippe
James Vince
Daniel Hughes
Moises Henriques
Jordan Silk
Dan Christian
Tom Curran
Hayden Kerr
Stephen O’Keefe
Ben Manenti
Mickey Edwards
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