Tight Tuesday Take: Predicted Big Bash teams for opening round of the SuperCoach BBL season

The Big Bash is just over a month away and already teams are taking shape ahead of the ninth edition of the tournament. Here’s the big questions as to how we see each team lining up.

The Hurricanes run through flames onto the field during the Big Bash League last season

The Big Bash is just over a month away and already teams are taking shape ahead of the ninth edition of the tournament.

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Here’s the big questions as to how we see each team lining up.

Want to see the full predicted teams, as well as the ‘big call’ and ‘conditions dependent prediction’ from Tom Sangster and Tim Michell, not to mention their predictions for the finals and overall winner of BBL|09? Subscribe to News+ and read it all here! (News+ subscription required)

Rashid Khan remains a vital player for the Adelaide Strikers ahead of BBL|09

ADELAIDE STRIKERS

Strength: Red-hot top order with Travis Head likely bumped to No. 4 behind Alex Carey, Jake Weatherald and English import Phil Salt. Also have the best spinner in the business in Rashid Khan.

Weakness: Depth could get tested at stages with Head, Carey, Michael Neser, Peter Siddle and Billy Stanlake all in the conversation for national honours.

> Adelaide Strikers SuperCoach BBL|09 preview

BRISBANE HEAT

Strength: Even without the retired Brendon McCullum, the Heat have huge power in the top order with Max Bryant, Tom Banton and Chris Lynn.

Weakness: Fast bowling stocks are very thin, particularly if James Pattinson is called up to the Australian side.

> Brisbane Heat SuperCoach BBL|09 preview

Ben Cutting and Max Bryant of the Heat will be vital to the Brisbane side climbing the Big Bash ladder

HOBART HURRICANES

Strength: D’Arcy Short is an absolute powerhouse at this level. He topped the runs in last season’s Big Bash with 637 at 53.08 and also took 10 wickets.

Weakness: The most unsettled roster in the competition. Matthew Wade (start of tournament) and Jofra Archer (entire tournament) are all but out due to international duties. Officially, the Hurricanes still have five roster spots to fill — the most of any side — although Jake Doran, Simon Milenko, David Moody are tipped to fill three.

Want to see the full predicted teams, as well as the ‘big call’ and ‘conditions dependent prediction’ from Tom Sangster and Tim Michell, not to mention their predictions for the finals and overall winner of BBL|09? Subscribe to News+ and read it all here! (News+ subscription required)

> Hobart Hurricanes BBL|09 preview

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> Shane Warne’s star-studded SuperCoach team

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MELBOURNE RENEGADES

Strength: Shaun Marsh’s arrival creates a red-hot opening partnership with Aaron Finch. Statistically, Marsh is an all-time great of BBL, averaging 49.48 over his career. Hopefully the Marvel Stadium pitch improves to a decent standard and we can see the best of these undoubted T20 guns.

Weakness: The reigning champions have a well-rounded side but potential national call-ups for Harris, Finch and Kane Richardson will Test depth, particularly during the middle of the tournament when Finch leads Australia’s ODI tour to India.

> Melbourne Renegades BBL|09 preview

Want to see the full predicted teams, as well as the ‘big call’ and ‘conditions dependent prediction’ from Tom Sangster and Tim Michell, not to mention their predictions for the finals and overall winner of BBL|09? Subscribe to News+ and read it all here! (News+ subscription required)

MELBOURNE STARS

Strength: Having a gun all-rounder like Marcus Stoinis, who bats in the top five and bowls four overs almost every game, gives the Stars flexibility. Stoinis’s prowess with the willow means the Stars can play an extra batsman if the situation is right, or stack the bowling, which is lead by South African superstar Dale Steyn.

Weakness: Nic Maddinson and Glenn Maxwell are currently sitting out due to mental health issues. Both are guns in this format (Maddinson has the ninth most runs in Big Bash history and Maxwell’s T20 credentials don’t require listing) and any delays to their comebacks would leave huge holes. Nathan Coulter-Nile, Adam Zampa, Peter Handscomb and Stoinis will also come into calculations for higher honours.

Cameron Bancroft looms as an important player for the Scorchers in BBL|09

PERTH SCORCHERS

Strength: Huge middle order hitting power with Mitchell Marsh and Ashton Turner.

Weakness: Pace depth will be tested without Jason Behrendorff (stress fracture in back), Andrew Tye (elbow) and Nathan Coulter-Nile (Stars). Jhye Richardson and less experienced trio Cameron Green, Matthew Kelly and Joel Paris will need to step up.

SYDNEY SIXERS

Strength: Strong and settled bowling attack with Sean Abbott (second), Steve O’Keefe (third), Tom Curran (fifth) and Ben Dwarshuis (11th) finishing high on the wickets list last season. Also have a nicely balanced top order with the finesse of Daniel Hughes, dash of Josh Philippe, international experience of James Vince and power of Moises Henriques.

Weakness: Batting drops off quite quickly with Jordan Silk (No. 5) and Jack Edwards (No. 6) slated for the remaining two slots. Silk’s T20 strike rate is a rather unimpressive 121.79, while 19-year-old Edwards is unproven after averaging 9.42 last season.

Callum Ferguson of the Thunder is one of the few genuine batsman left in the Thunder XI

SYDNEY THUNDER

Strength: Another team packed with all-rounders in Daniel Sams, Chris Morris, Arjun Nair and Chris Green. Green likely bats at No. 9 despite proving a matchwinner with the willow on multiple occasions during his 75-game T20 career.

Weakness: The batting line-up is deep but lacks genuine class following the exits of Jos Buttler (England), Shane Watson (retired), Joe Root (England) and Kurtis Patterson (Scorchers), while Usman Khawaja could be called up for national duty at any stage. Highly-rated young guns Matt Gilkes and Jason Sangha assume huge responsibility.

Want to see the full predicted teams, as well as the ‘big call’ and ‘conditions dependent prediction’ from Tom Sangster and Tim Michell, not to mention their predictions for the finals and overall winner of BBL|09? Subscribe to News+ and read it all here! (News+ subscription required)

Register for SuperCoach BBL now!

Originally published as Tight Tuesday Take: Predicted Big Bash teams for opening round of the SuperCoach BBL season