The Big Bash League is Australian cricket’s fast and furious domestic Twenty20 cricket competition, now in its fourth season after the competition commenced in 2011. The 2014/15 Big Bash League season will be contested among eight teams over eight rounds, beginning in late December and running through until the Big Final on January 28.
The eight teams that contest the Big Bash League competition are: Adelaide Strikers, Brisbane Heat, Hobart Hurricanes, Melbourne Renegades, Melbourne Stars, Perth Scorchers, Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder.
Adelaide Strikers
Adelaide Strikers have been one of the Big Bash League’s underperforming teams in the first three editions of the competition, finishing sixth and fifth and seventh to miss out on the finals in all three seasons.
Adelaide Strikers have been one of the Big Bash League’s underperforming teams in the first three editions of the competition, finishing sixth and fifth and seventh to miss out on the finals in all three seasons.
The Strikers will look to the likes of Aussie prodigy Phil Hughes and quick bowler Shaun Tait to climb into the top four this season.
Adelaide Strikers squad
Michael Neser, Craig Simmons, Tim Ludeman, Trent Lawford, Jono Dean, Adam Zampa, Phillip Hughes, Brad Hodge, Ben Laughlin, Travis Head, Gary Putland, Shaun Tait, Kane Richardson, Kieron Pollard, Chadd Sayers.
Michael Neser, Craig Simmons, Tim Ludeman, Trent Lawford, Jono Dean, Adam Zampa, Phillip Hughes, Brad Hodge, Ben Laughlin, Travis Head, Gary Putland, Shaun Tait, Kane Richardson, Kieron Pollard, Chadd Sayers.
Brisbane Heat
Brisbane Heat enter this 2014/15 Big Bash League with a chip on their shoulder after failing to make the finals last season.
Brisbane Heat enter this 2014/15 Big Bash League with a chip on their shoulder after failing to make the finals last season.
Brisbane Heat will again boast in impressive roster with the likes of Dan Christian, Mitchell Johnson, Shane Watson, Daniel Vettori.
Brisbane Heat squad
James Hopes (c), Nathan Reardon, Mark Steketee, Ryan Duffield, James Peirson, Cameron Gannon, Chris Lynn, Ben Cutting, Dan Christian, Alister McDermott, Nick Buchanan, Joe Burns, Shane Watson, Daniel Vettori, Peter Forrest, Mitchell Johnson
James Hopes (c), Nathan Reardon, Mark Steketee, Ryan Duffield, James Peirson, Cameron Gannon, Chris Lynn, Ben Cutting, Dan Christian, Alister McDermott, Nick Buchanan, Joe Burns, Shane Watson, Daniel Vettori, Peter Forrest, Mitchell Johnson
Hobart Hurricanes
Hobart will look to back up a strong 2013/14 season that saw them lose an exciting final to the Perth Scorchers.
Hobart will look to back up a strong 2013/14 season that saw them lose an exciting final to the Perth Scorchers.
The Hurricanes will rely on the likes of captain George Bailey, Travis Birt, Tim Paine and Ben Hilfenhaus to get them back into the finals contention in season three.
Hobart Hurricanes squad
George Bailey (c), Darren Sammy, Jake Reed, Alex Hales, Sam Rainbird, Travis Birt, Cameron Boyce, Dominic Michael, Jonathan Wells, Xavier Doherty, Timm Van Der Gugten, Ben Dunk, Joe Mennie, Ben Hilfenhaus, Tim Paine, Evan Gulbis.
George Bailey (c), Darren Sammy, Jake Reed, Alex Hales, Sam Rainbird, Travis Birt, Cameron Boyce, Dominic Michael, Jonathan Wells, Xavier Doherty, Timm Van Der Gugten, Ben Dunk, Joe Mennie, Ben Hilfenhaus, Tim Paine, Evan Gulbis.
Melbourne Renegades
The Melbourne Renegades will rue missed opportunities last season and look to improve on a sixth place finish – however, that task will not be made any easier this year following the loss of superstar spinner Muttiah Muralitharan.
The Melbourne Renegades will rue missed opportunities last season and look to improve on a sixth place finish – however, that task will not be made any easier this year following the loss of superstar spinner Muttiah Muralitharan.
In Muralitharan absence the charge for the Renegades will be lead by the likes of captain Aaron Finch, Peter Siddle, Alex Doolan and Jesse Ryder. UPDATE: Ryder has been ruled out, replaced by English all-rounder Ben Stokes.
Melbourne Renegades squad
Aaron Finch (c), Ben Stokes, Matthew Wade, Callum Ferguson, Aaron O’Brien, Ben Rohrer, Nathan Rimmington, James Pattinson, Jayde Herrick, Fawad Ahmed, Alex Doolan, Peter Nevill, Peter Siddle, Tom Cooper.
Aaron Finch (c), Ben Stokes, Matthew Wade, Callum Ferguson, Aaron O’Brien, Ben Rohrer, Nathan Rimmington, James Pattinson, Jayde Herrick, Fawad Ahmed, Alex Doolan, Peter Nevill, Peter Siddle, Tom Cooper.
Melbourne Stars
Last year’s regular season premiers, the Melbourne Stars, will go into this edition of the Big Bash League with one of the best line-ups, and as such will be the favourites to go the distance.
Last year’s regular season premiers, the Melbourne Stars, will go into this edition of the Big Bash League with one of the best line-ups, and as such will be the favourites to go the distance.
The 2014/5 also looks promising with the Stars still boasting the likes of Cameron White, Kevin Pietersen, Clint McKay, Michael Hussey and Jackson Bird they are in contentious for another title.
Melbourne Stars squad
Cameron White (c), Kevin Pietersen, Luke Feldman, James Muirhead, Alexander Keath, Marcus Stoinis, Rob Quiney, Luke Wright, Clive Rose, Scott Boland, Glenn Maxwell, James Faulkner, David Hussey, John Hastings, Jackson Bird, Peter Handscomb, Daniel Worrall, Clint McKay.
Cameron White (c), Kevin Pietersen, Luke Feldman, James Muirhead, Alexander Keath, Marcus Stoinis, Rob Quiney, Luke Wright, Clive Rose, Scott Boland, Glenn Maxwell, James Faulkner, David Hussey, John Hastings, Jackson Bird, Peter Handscomb, Daniel Worrall, Clint McKay.
Perth Scorchers
The Scorchers finished last season in third position, but capitalised on their talent and eventually stormed the Grand Final and took the premiership away from a strong Hobart side.
The Scorchers finished last season in third position, but capitalised on their talent and eventually stormed the Grand Final and took the premiership away from a strong Hobart side.
With a side featuring Ashton Agar, ageing hero Brad Hogg and Shaun Marsh, the Scorchers will be expecting another finals berth.
Perth Scorchers squad
Andrew Tye, Michael Klinger, Yasir Arafat, Shaun Marsh, Brad Hogg, Hilton Cartwright, Mitch Marsh, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Michael Beer, Ashton Turner, Joel Paris, Sam Whiteman, Adam Voges, Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Michael Carberry
Andrew Tye, Michael Klinger, Yasir Arafat, Shaun Marsh, Brad Hogg, Hilton Cartwright, Mitch Marsh, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Michael Beer, Ashton Turner, Joel Paris, Sam Whiteman, Adam Voges, Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Michael Carberry
Sydney Sixers
Up and down is probably the best way to describe the Sydney Sixers after three seasons.
Up and down is probably the best way to describe the Sydney Sixers after three seasons.
In the first edition of the Big Bash League they upset the Scorchers in the final at the WACA Ground, and went onto to claim the double with the Champions League T20 trophy, before slumping to seventh in the second season of the BBL. In the third season they returned to the finals, only to be beaten by eventual champions the Perth Scorchers in a rain-affected game.
Test wicketkeeper-batsman Brad Haddin will captain the side, with the likes of Steven Smith, Steve O’Keefe, Marcus Lyon, Mitchell Starc and Moises Henriques adding support.
Sydney Sixers squad
Brad Haddin (c), Riki Wessels, Marcus North, Moises Henriques, Ben Dwarshuis, Nic Maddinson, Sean Abbott, Brett Lee, Josh Hazlewood, Stephen O’Keefe, Mitchell Starc, Michael Lumb, Jordan Silk, Trent Copeland, Steven Smith, Nathan Lyon, Doug Bollinger.
Brad Haddin (c), Riki Wessels, Marcus North, Moises Henriques, Ben Dwarshuis, Nic Maddinson, Sean Abbott, Brett Lee, Josh Hazlewood, Stephen O’Keefe, Mitchell Starc, Michael Lumb, Jordan Silk, Trent Copeland, Steven Smith, Nathan Lyon, Doug Bollinger.
Sydney Thunder
Sydney Thunder earn the moniker of the Big Bash League’s underperformers, having finished dead last in the first three seasons of the Big Bash League.
Sydney Thunder earn the moniker of the Big Bash League’s underperformers, having finished dead last in the first three seasons of the Big Bash League.
In order to stabilise the ship, so to say, the Thunder management have signed South African Jacques Kallis to instigate some winning ways – and rightly so, if there is one man who knows how to win, and bring in a winning culture, it would be arguably the best all-rounder of all time.
With Kallis, the Thunder also boast high calibre players Mike Hussey, Usman Khawaja and Nathan Hauritz.
Will this be the year that the Thunder finally make an impression on the competition?
Sydney Thunder squad
Jacques Kallis, Patrick Cummings, Dirk Nannes, Mike Hussey, Usman Khawaja, Daniel Hughes, Cameron Borgas, Chris Tremain, Gurinder Sandhu, Kurtis Patterson, Aiden Blizzard, Jake Doran, Nathan Hauritz.
Jacques Kallis, Patrick Cummings, Dirk Nannes, Mike Hussey, Usman Khawaja, Daniel Hughes, Cameron Borgas, Chris Tremain, Gurinder Sandhu, Kurtis Patterson, Aiden Blizzard, Jake Doran, Nathan Hauritz.
