From Muttiah Muralitharan to Ben Stokes, the stars you forgot played in the Big Bash League

From Test cricket’s greatest wicket-taker to a current AFL footballer, several prominent names have joined BBL clubs in the past nine years. Here’s 10 BBL signings you might have forgotten about.

Stuart MacGill celebrates a wicket for the Sixers.

The Big Bash League has been home to some of cricket’s biggest names in its first decade.

Launched with much fanfare with Shane Warne leading Melbourne Stars nine years ago, the BBL has welcomed current stars including Ben Stokes, Faf Du Plessius and Kumar Sangakarra in its first decade.

This list celebrates those who have helped put the competition on the map worldwide, from those who have dominated on field to those who have enjoyed cult status off it.

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One of the BBL’s first cult heroes, Rana Naved was the leading wicket-taker in BBL01 for Hobart Hurricanes when he took 15 wickets from eight matches including a haul of 4-22. The Pakistan international was perhaps best known for his long hair which earned him nicknames including The People’s Mullet and The Flying Doormat. Rana Naved had been playing T20 cricket for Tasmania before his starring role in BBL01.

Du Plessis was fresh off a match-salvaging 110 not out on Test debut in Adelaide when he signed to play one match for Melbourne Renegades to start BBL02. The current Proteas skipper featured in a season-opening derby against Melbourne Stars, taking a catch to remove Cameron White before making 14 from 17 balls in a game where Aaron Finch stole the show with 111 not out. He was then replaced in the Renegades squad by Marlon Samuels.

The legendary Aussie opener played seven games for Brisbane Heat in BBL01, hammering a tournament-high 76 from 51 balls in a victory against Hobart Hurricanes. Hayden turned 40 two months before the start of BBL01 but more than proved his worth as a drawcard for the Heat in their inaugural campaign.

Shane Warne’s Test understudy was never renowned as a short-form bowler, only featuring in three one-day internationals for Australia during his career. But MacGill boasted one of the best economy rates of any bowler in BBL01 — 6.64 — while turning out for Sydney Sixers. MacGill, who played 44 Tests, was almost 41 when he played in BBL01.

Another player who was part of the inaugural season in the BBL, featuring for Perth Scorchers. The South African opener was arguably the best overseas signing of the tournament, blazing 302 runs with a strike rate of 151.8 as the Scorchers progressed to the final, which they lost to Sydney Sixers.

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Remember the name! West Indian T20 World Cup hero Carlos Brathwaite has featured for both Sydney franchises in the BBL. The West Indian all-rounder played three games for the Thunder in 2016-17 and returned for four matches with Sydney Sixres the following summer. Brathwaite had more impact with ball than bat for the Thunder and Sixers.

The greatest wicket-taker of all time played his first season with the Renegades in BBL03, snaring 11 wickets from eight games to be one of the tournament’s top wicket-takers. He backed up with eight wickets in as many games the next year and a remarkable economy rate of only 5.41 runs an over.

The West Indian captain was a smash hit in Tasmania with Hurricanes fans in two seasons in the Apple Isle. While Sammy didn’t have a huge influence on the field, he was a popular figure off it at Bellerive Oval.

Stokes joined the Renegades in January, 2015 as a replacement player for injured Kiwi Jesse Ryder. Australia’s Ashes nemesis featured four times for the Renegades in the latter half of the tournament, with the highlight a brutal knock of 77 from 37 balls against Hobart Hurricanes. The Englishman also bowled five overs for three wickets.

Keath’s cricket career didn’t hit the peaks he hoped but he’s made a name for himself in the AFL with Adelaide as a key defender. He was on the rosters of Melbourne Stars and Adelaide Strikers in 2012-2016 before opting to return to footy. Keath’s first and only over for the Stars went for 27 runs.

OTHER INTERNATIONAL STARS

Paul Collingwood (Perth Scorchers)

Luke Ronchi (Perth Scorchers)

Matt Prior (Sydney Thunder)

Martin Guptill (Sydney Thunder)

Shakib Al Hasan (Adelaide Strikers/Melbourne Renegades)

Kemar Roach (Brisbane Heat)

Scott Styris (Hobart Hurricanes)

Mohammad Hafeez (Melbourne Stars)

Chris Tremlett (Sydney Sixers)

Kumar Sangakarra (Hobart Hurricanes)

Mahela Jayawardene (Adelaide Strikers)

Adil Rashid (Adelaide Strikers)

Jacques Kallis (Sydney Thunder)

Originally published as From Muttiah Muralitharan to Ben Stokes, the stars you forgot played in the Big Bash League