KFC SuperCoach BBL: Isa Guha rates every English signing for BBL11
The English are planning to make a big impression this summer — on the Ashes, BBL and in KFC SuperCoach. Isa Guha profiles each of the Englishmen signed on for BBL11.
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What would the BBL be without the English?
Whether it be Luke Wright and Kevin Pietersen clearing fences at the MCG for the Stars, James Vince launching the Sixers to back-to-back titles or Jofra Archer emerging as a world-class talent at the Hurricanes, some of the greatest highlights in BBL history have been provided by Englishmen.
This summer promises to be no different.
One of the biggest English contingents will converge on Australia for BBL11 – in line with a huge Ashes summer where Joe Root’s side has arrived hellbent on causing a boilover on Aussie soil.
There are several known commodities – Vince and Curran return for the Sixers, while Alex Hales is back for the Thunder after a career-best BBL campaign which yielded 543 runs and a KFC SuperCoach average of 58.9 points.
He will be joined by Sam Billings, another re-signing for the Thunder.
Joining those four experienced campaigners are a host of young talent ready to take the BBL by storm.
Joe Clarke has crossed to the Stars after three games with the Scorchers after scoring almost 800 Vitality Blast runs in the past two years.
Harry Brook was fourth for total runs in the Vitality Blast this year with 486 with a crazy average of 69.4.
Then there’s Ben Duckett, Tom Abell and George Garton, three exciting talents who have impressed in England’s T20 competition.
But wait, there’s more.
If it’s English pacemen you’re craving, big left-armer Reece Topley, speedster Saqib Mahmood and one of the world’s best T20 bowlers Chris Jordan will satisfy your appetite.
Fox Cricket commentator Isa Guha, part of our official KFC SuperCoach team or BBL11, gives her verdict on the English talents signed on for this summer.
Tom Abell (Brisbane Heat) $125,000 BAT
One of the Heat’s two English signings is a 360-degree middle-order batter who arrives in Australia after a brilliant season with Somerset in the Vitality Blast. He won’t feature until the third round of KFC SuperCoach after being named for the English Lions.
Ben Duckett (Brisbane Heat) $125,000 WKP-BAT
The 27-year-old is a left-handed batter and a really versatile cricketer with captaincy experience. He’s renowned for his ability to go through the gears and great at summing up a situation when batting.
Tom Curran (Sydney Sixers) $201,000 BAT-BWL
Back in the BBL to rejoin the Sixers after a year off. Curran is a brilliant bowler under pressure and scores useful runs, which is why he was one of the best KFC SuperCoach scorers two seasons ago.
George Garton (Adelaide Strikers) $125,000 BAT-BWL
Garton is a pacy left-arm quick who played in a winning Southern Brave team in this year’s The Hundred. He averages better than a wicket a game in 44 career T20s and will bring plenty of excitement to the Strikers.
Harry Brook (Hobart Hurricanes) $125,000 BAT
Brook is a hard-hitting batter who cleared the rope more often than teammate and all-time BBL leading run scorer Chris Lynn in The Hundred. He’s England’s brightest young talent and is going to love playing with the short boundaries at Bellerive in Hobart.
Reece Topley (Melbourne Renegades) $125,000 BWL
Topley is a left-arm quick with plenty of limited overs experience and plenty of tricks. He will be a great signing for the Renegades if he can stay injury-free.
Joe Clarke (Melbourne Stars) $112,500 WKP-BAT
Everyone in English domestic cricket talks about Joe Clarke as the most talented non-capped player on the circuit. He’s ready to show why with the Stars.
James Vince (Sydney Sixers) $153,700 BAT
Classy opener and integral to Sixers campaign last year. He lifted at the back end of the tournament — as the best players do — to help the Sixers clinch back-to-back titles.
Saqib Mahmood (Sydney Thunder) $125,000 BWL
Skiddy Lancashire quick who has shown his versatility in all formats. He’s been talked about as an Ashes smoky and will press his claims as part of the English Lions squad.
Sam Billings (Sydney Thunder) $136,300 WKP
The keeper-bat is a seasoned professional who can access all areas with the bat and is a very good player of spin. Likely to be elevated up the order too with no Khawaja or Ferguson.
Alex Hales (Sydney Thunder) $183,900 BAT
Hales is coming off a great season last year for the Thunder and as he showed, when gets going can cause serious havoc. He averaged 58.9 points last season, ranked No. 1 for batters and No. 4 overall in KFC SuperCoach.
Laurie Evans (Perth Scorchers) $125,000 BAT
Evans is an old hand in English domestic cricket and has featured in several franchise leagues in recent years. He’s a powerful striker and can be very dangerous when he unleashes.
Chris Jordan (Sydney Sixers) $148,400 BWL
England’s leading T20 wicket-taker with 79 wickets in 71 games and coming off a T20 World Cup where he took six wickets in six games. The Sixers will be able to use him at any stage of an innings and watch out for him in the field. Anyone who remembers his acrobatic catch a few seasons ago for the Scorchers will know how brilliant he can be.
Jordan Thompson (Hobart Hurricanes) $125,000 BAT-BWL
Not a player I have seen a great deal of, but his record suggests he’ll slot straight into the role James Faulkner has vacated at the Hurricanes.
Originally published as KFC SuperCoach BBL: Isa Guha rates every English signing for BBL11
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