Sam Landsberger and Ricky Ponting take a look at every Big Bash League outfit

MELBOURNE is still waiting for either the Stars or the Renegades to lift some BBL silverware. Will this be the year? SAM LANDSBERGER and RICKY PONTING look at every team.

IT’S been six years of the Big Bash League and Melbourne is still waiting for either the Stars or the Renegades to lift the silverware.

Will this be the year?

Sam Landsberger and Ricky Ponting run their eyes over every big in and out and give their thoughts on all eight teams heading into another massive season.

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MELBOURNE RENEGADES

Captain: Aaron Finch

Coach: Andrew McDonald

Ground: Etihad Stadium

BBL05: 5th (4-4)

KEY INS: Brad Hodge, Tim Ludeman, Kane Richardson (Strikers).

KEY OUTS: Sunil Narine (personal reasons), Matthew Wade (Hurricanes), Callum Ferguson (Thunder), Peter Siddle (Strikers).

WORLD IMPORTS: Dwayne Bravo (West Indies), Mohammad Nabi (Afghanistan) and Kieron Pollard (West Indies).

AUSSIES: Aaron Finch, Tom Cooper, Marcus Harris, Brad Hodge, Brad Hogg, Jon Holland, Tim Ludeman, Jon Mennie, James Pattinson, Kane Richardson, Matthew Short, Chris Tremain, Guy Walker, Beau Webster, Cameron White, Jack Wildermuth, Will Sutherland (rookie).

AVAILABILITY: Finch is likely to blast his way into the ODI squad after six BBL games, leaving White or Hodge to captain. Strike bowler James Pattinson (back) and Guy Walker (shoulder) will miss the season while Pollard will replace Nabi after six or seven games.

Dwayne Bravo with Kevin Pietersen during last season’s BBL. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

CROWD PULLER: Dwayne Bravo returns as the singing, dancing all-rounder who plays to entertain. When he is joined by six-hitting compatriot Kieron Pollard the Gades will boast a deadly — and deep — batting card.

WATCH FOR: Kane Richardson crossed on a five-year contract as an aggressive right-arm fast bowler who gives the attack versatility. The vegan brings a safe set of hands in the field and should share the new ball with Tremain.

SNAPSHOT: Balanced line-up after adding Ludeman and Hodge from the Strikers’ bin. How valuable would ice man Hodge have been in recent nailbiting losses? Must play finals for just the second time in club history, and first in five summers.

RICKY PONTING SAYS: I really like the look of their squad. They’ve added depth with Richardson and Hodge and they’ve got lots of experience with White and Finch to go with an overseas signing like Bravo. They are my tip to win it.

MELBOURNE STARS

Captain: John Hastings (new)

Coach: Stephen Fleming (NZ)

Ground: MCG

BBL05: 4th (4-5)

KEY INS: Ben Dunk (Strikers), John Hastings (injury).

KEY OUTS: David Hussey (retired).

WORLD IMPORTS: Kevin Pietersen, Luke Wright (England).

AUSSIES: John Hastings, Michael Beer, Scott Boland, Jackson Coleman, Ben Dunk, James Faulkner, Seb Gotch, Evan Gulbis, Pete Handscomb, Sam Harper, Ben Hilfenhaus, Glenn Maxwell, Bob Quiney, Marcus Stoinis, Dan Worrall, Adam Zampa.

AVAILABILITY: Bespectacled spinner Liam “Wizard” Bowe is likely to fill Peter Handscomb’s place for the first half of the summer if he completes the Ashes circuit. Maxwell, Zampa, Stoinis and Faulkner could yet again all be called up for the ODI series. Groundhog Day. KP will miss Boxing Day game in Perth.

Luke Wright knows that how to smash a ball. Picture: AAP Images

CROWD PULLER: Sorry, KP, but we want Maxi. Greats including Justin Langer are marvelling at Maxwell’s new-found temperament and his lead-in form suggests he might leave the Test selectors blushing, baby.

WATCH FOR: Marcus Stoinis has long teased but is poised to tear it up as a powerful all-rounder who the national selectors believe can one day play all three formats.

SNAPSHOT: What did we write last year? Can the Stars lift the trophy with their big guns watching on TV from the Australian camp? Same story yet again for this virtually unchanged set up run by “Mr Cool” Stephen Fleming.

PONTING SAYS: Their squad hasn’t changed too much for four or five years now. One big signing is Dunk. He will probably open the batting and wicketkeep, so he is a huge inclusion.

The Stars have been one of the most successful and consistent teams in BBL history without winning the tournament. I expect them to be very competitive again and finish in the top four.

ADELAIDE STRIKERS

Captain: Travis Head (new)

Coach: Jason Gillespie

Ground: Adelaide Oval

BBL05: 6th (3-5)

KEY INS: Peter Siddle (Renegades), Jono Wells (Hurricanes).

KEY OUTS: Brad Hodge, Tim Ludeman, Kane Richardson (Renegades); Ben Dunk (Stars).

WORLD IMPORTS: Colin Ingram (South Africa), Rashid Khan (Afghanistan).

AUSSIES: Travis Head, Wes Agar, Alex Carey, Michael Cormack, Jonathon Dean, Daniel Drew, David Grant, Ben Laughlin, Jake Lehmann, Michael Neser, Liam O’Connor, Peter Siddle, Billy Stanlake, Jake Weatherald, Jon Wells, Nick Winter.

AVAILABILITY: Travis Head is likely to depart halfway through the Big Bash to join Australia’s ODI line-up. Jake Weatherald and wicketkeeper Alex Carey are also on the ODI selectors’ radar.

CROWD PULLER: Colin Ingram tonked the most sixes in the 2016 and 2017 versions of England’s Big Bash. Nicknamed “Bulldozer”, once Adelaide Oval crowds get a look at this top-order slugger he will be a smash hit.

Peter Siddle is a key in for the Strikers. Picture: Calum Robertson

WATCH FOR: Jake Weatherald, 23, bats with raw power and a textbook technique. The T20 opener struck twin centuries in last month’s Sheffield Shield match at the WACA Ground to show he’s a star on the rise.

SNAPSHOT: Fresh start after sacking captain Hodge and Ludeman and then losing Dunk and Richardson. Overseas imports are low on profile but high on excitement — Khan bowls with control and recently claimed the Caribbean Premier League’s first ever hat-trick with three googlies hitting the stumps. Can he become Adelaide’s new Adil Rashid and spin the Strikers into the BBL final for the first time?

PONTING SAYS: The Strikers are going to miss experienced players who have left like Dunk, Hodge, Richardson and Pollard. They are sticking with local talent — Carey, captain Head and Weatherald are all very talented, young South Australian batsmen.

BRISBANE HEAT

Captain: Brendon McCullum (NZ)

Coach: Daniel Vettori (NZ)

Ground: Gabba

BBL06: 3rd (5-4)

KEY INS: Brendan Doggett, Max Bryant, Cameron Valente.

KEY OUTS: Samuel Badree, Nathan Reardon (Hurricanes); Jack Wildermuth (Renegades).

WORLD IMPORTS: Brendon McCullum (NZ), Shadab Khan (Pakistan).

AUSSIES: Max Bryant, Joe Burns, Ben Cutting, Brendan Doggett, Jason Floros, Cameron Gannon, Sam Heazlett, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Lalor, Chris Lynn, James Peirson, Matt Renshaw, Alex Ross, Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson, Cameron Valente.

AVAILABILITY: Chris Lynn has taken his left shoulder recovery to Brisbane Bandits baseball club, who are working on sliding and throwing techniques with his right arm. Lynn is racing to be fit to play the Stars on Wednesday and is likely to join the ODI squad in January. Sam Heazlett also an ODI chance.

CROWD PULLER: The Bash Brothers — Lynn and McCullum — will keep bowlers awake at night in cold sweats. When the clean six-hitters combine at the crease Brisbane is capable of pulverising any attack.

Chris Lynn is one of the BBL’s best hitters. Picture: AAP Images

WATCH FOR: Mitchell Swepson will enjoy bowling in tandem with teenage sensation Shadab Khan. Swepson is crafting a flipper and the leggie is hoping to spin his way past Boyce and Zampa and into the ODI squad.

SNAPSHOT: A stable set up with Kiwi coaches Dan Vettori and Shane Bond invested and Lynn locked on a five-year contract exceeding $1 million. This summer might hinge on Lynn’s shoulder. Dumped Test opener Matt Renshaw is on his T20 “L Plates” and is unlikely to feature but recruit Bryant can belt them.

PONTING SAYS: A very exciting outfit with McCullum and Lynn in the same team. They’ve also added a few spinners to their line-up in Shadab Khan and local-born Swepson. They are probably a bit thin in fast bowling, but I’ve got them finishing in the top four.

HOBART HURRICANES

Captain: George Bailey (new)

Coach: Gary Kirsten (RSA, new)

Ground: Blundstone Arena

BBL06: 7th (3-5)

KEY INS: Matthew Wade (Renegades), Nathan Reardon (Heat).

KEY OUTS: Stuart Broad, Beau Webster (Renegades).

WORLD IMPORTS: Tymal Mills (England), Jofra Archer (West Indies).

AUSSIES: George Bailey, Cameron Boyce, Dan Christian, Alex Doolan, Hamish Kingston, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Simon Milenko, Tim Paine, Sam Rainbird, Nathan Reardon, Jake Reed, Tom Rogers, Clive Rose, D’Arcy Short, Matthew Wade.

AVAILABILITY: Will Tim Paine’s Test rebirth carry into the ODI team? If it does Matthew Wade will wear the gloves for Hobart all season. Bowler David Moody (stress fractures), nephew of Tom Moody, replaced in squad by Alex Doolan. George Bailey always in the ODI frame while Cameron Boyce below Zampa in pecking order.

Matthew Wade has joined Hobart. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

CROWD PULLER: Speed guns will clock Tymal Mills as one of the summer’s fastest bowlers and the left-arm quick also boasts a deft slower ball mainly reserved for the death overs. Can he stay fit? Sussex teammate Jofra Archer adds further bowling depth.

WATCH FOR: D’Arcy Short, 27, is a hot chance to open the batting in Paine’s absence and is in explosive touch.

SNAPSHOT: Hobart has beefed up its bowling depth and will back its attack to defend any total. Archer impressed the Stars in a warm-up game while Wade was brought in as cover for Paine. There’s a new feel with Gary Kirsten bringing fellow South African Ryan Cook along as fielding coach.

PONTING SAYS: They’ve probably made more changes than any other team. Fast bowling stocks was their biggest issue last year, so they’ve added to that with two overseas signings in Mills and Archer — who both played county cricket for Sussex in England.

PERTH SCORCHERS

Captain: Adam Voges

Coach: Justin Langer

Ground: WACA Ground (The Furnace)

BBL06: Champion (7-3)

KEY INS: Josh Inglis

KEY OUTS: Ian Bell

WORLD IMPORT: David Willey (England), five games.

AUSSIES: Adam Voges, Ashton Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Jason Behrendorff, Hilton Cartwright, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Mitch Johnson, Michael Klinger, Shaun Marsh, Mitch Marsh, Joel Paris, Jhye Richardson, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, Sam Whiteman

AVAILABILITY: Should get Bancroft and Shaun Marsh back after the Ashes, but Mitch Marsh could spend all summer with the Aussies. David Willey set to link up with England’s ODI squad after five BBL games. Coulter-Nile (back) and Behrendorff (back) will miss the first few matches and Whiteman (finger) is two months away, leaving Josh Inglis to start with the gloves.

Shaun Marsh will be back for the BBL. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

CROWD PULLER: Mitchell Johnson will steam in at the WACA a T20 hero after bagging 3-3 to end the Stars’ season last summer and then 3-26 to help Mumbai Indians claim the Indian Premier League trophy. Last year he considered pulling out after a sketchy preparation, whereas this year he is roaring.

WATCH FOR: Jhye Richardson kept Jason Behrendorff out of last summer’s BBL final and was then man-of-the-match with 3-30. Gunning it in Sheffield Shield as a young fast bowler blessed with good health.

SNAPSHOT: Will struggle to field a side for first few games but could explode when players return. Shooting for its fourth trophy in five summers. Rivals find it near impossible to prise talent away as coach ‘JL’ urges local stars to stay together in all formats. Backyard is so strong — and salary cap is so tight — they will not have an overseas player when Willey departs.

PONTING SAYS: They’ve maintained a similar squad and why not, because they’ve been ultra-successful. They’ve got some of the best local talent in Australia in Ashton Agar, Bancroft, Cartwright and Jhye Richardson. Prominent again.

SYDNEY SIXERS

Captain: Moises Henriques

Coach: Greg Shipperd

Ground: SCG

BBL06: Runner-up (6-4)

KEY INS: Peter Nevill (Renegades)

KEY OUTS: Brad Haddin, Ryan Carters (retired); Joe Mennie (Renegades).

WORLD IMPORTS: Sam Billings, Jason Roy (England).

AUSSIES: Moises Henriques, Sean Abbott, Jackson Bird, Doug Bollinger, Johan Botha, Ben Dwarshuis, Mickey Edwards, Daniel Hughes, Nick Larkin, Nathan Lyon, Nic Maddinson, Peter Nevill, Stephen O’Keefe, Jordan Silk, Mitch Starc, Henry Thornton.

AVAILABILITY: Sam Billings and Jason Roy will depart halfway through the summer to join England’s ODI line-up. Won’t see Mitch Starc all season but will add Nathan Lyon after the Ashes. Jackson Bird is on Test standby if a quick goes down.

CROWD PULLER: Steve Smith’s mate Nic Maddinson will look to scrub off his Sheffield Shield rust with some trademark blazing knocks at the SCG. He’ll again be a prized wicket.

Brad Haddin won’t play for the Sydney Sixers this year. Picture: AAP Images

WATCH FOR: Peter Nevill suffered two ugly blows to the head last year — from Brad Hodge’s bat handle and a ball that skidded off the SCG turf. With Haddin retired can the former Test and T20 World Cup gloveman rediscover his mojo?

SNAPSHOT: Sydney’s glamour boys again look dangerous with Sean Abbott leading the attack and the athletic Jordan Silk fun to watch in the field. When Lyon joins Stephen O’Keefe it’ll be one big spin to reach the finals for the fifth time.

PONTING SAYS: The Sixers have a similar squad to last year and they’ve retained their two English signings — Billings and Roy. Daniel Hughes is a player to highlight. He was terrific in BBL06. I can’t see this squad being as successful as last year when they made the final.

SYDNEY THUNDER

Captain: Shane Watson (new)

Coach: Paddy Upton (RSA)

Ground: Spotless Stadium

BBL06: Last (3-5)

KEY INS: Callum Ferguson (Renegades), Andrew Fekete (Heat).

KEY OUTS: Chris Hartley (retired), Andre Russell.

WORLD IMPORTS: Jos Buttler six games (England), Mitchell McLenaghan (New Zealand).

AUSSIES: Shane Watson, Fawad Ahmed, Aiden Blizzard, Pat Cummins, Andrew Fekete, Callum Ferguson, Ryan Gibson, Chris Green, Liam Hatcher, Usman Khawaja, Jay Lenton, Clint McKay, Arjun Nair, Kurtis Patterson, Ben Rohrer, Gurinder Sandhu.

AVAILABILITY: Jos Buttler will play six games and then join England’s ODI team, but a secret overseas replacement is already lined up. Pat Cummins set to miss the whole summer on international duty although Thunder expects to gain Khawaja after the Ashes.

Callum Ferguson has joined the Sydney Thunder. Picture: Gregg Porteous

CROWD PULLER: Shane Watson thumped an unbeaten 114 (16 sixes) from just 53 balls in Sydney grade cricket last week. Better preparation than 12 months ago when he tore a calf.

WATCH FOR: Arjun Nair will get more opportunities. The teenage offie spins it both ways and hits the ball hard. Fearless off-spinner Chris Green is a Thunder leader who is happy to open the bowling with quick, tidy overs.

SNAPSHOT: Went from reigning champs to chumps last summer, collecting their fourth wooden spoon from six seasons. Kiwi quick McLenaghan helps replace Cummins and Ferguson gives the middle-order a calm head. Still appear well short of the dream team assembled in BBL06.

PONTING SAYS: I think they’ll struggle again, but I don’t mind the look of their squad. A big positive is having Shane Watson back and as captain. Their overseas signings are pretty good as well, in Buttler and McClenaghan. But the depth of their middle-order batting and fast bowling is a worry.

CRYSTAL BALL — WHO WILL PLAY FINALS?

SAM LANDSBERGER

1. Renegades. Secret ingredient to T20 success is cohesion and coach Andrew McDonald has delivered that in two short summers. Explosive batting card will gather extra firepower for finals when Pollard joins. Keeper Ludeman has the safest hands, Richardson is a wicket-taker while a fit Jon Holland will surprise plenty. Finally, the balance is right. Get on red.

2. Stars

3. Scorchers.

4. Heat.

MARK WAUGH (Network Ten)

1. Renegades — Great blend of youth and experience. Finch, White and Harris give early firepower and then the all-round skills of Bravo and kids Short and Wildermuth. Hogg can still be a matchwinner.

2. Stars

3. Hurricanes

4. Thunder

BBL HONOUR ROLL

Season // Champion // Runner-up

BBL01 Sydney Sixers // Perth Scorchers

BBL02 Brisbane Heat // Perth Scorchers

BBL03 Perth Scorchers // Hobart Hurricanes

BBL04 Perth Scorchers // Sydney Sixers

BBL05 Sydney Thunder // Melbourne Stars

BBL06 Perth Scorchers // Sydney Sixers

Mitchell Johnson helped the Perth Scorchers to the title last BBL. Picture: Getty Images

INDIVIDUAL GLORY

Season // Most runs // Most wickets // Player of series

BBL01 Travis Birt 309 (Hurricanes) // Rana Naved-ul-Hasan 15 (Hurricanes) // David Hussey (Stars)

BBL02 Shaun Marsh 412 (Scorchers) // Ben Laughlin 14 (Hurricanes) // Aaron Finch (Renegades)

BBL03 Ben Dunk 395 (Hurricanes) // Cameron Gannon 18 (Heat) // Ben Dunk (Hurricanes)

BBL04 Michael Klinger 326 (Scorchers) // John Hastings 16 (Stars) // Jacques Kallis (Thunder)

BBL05 Chris Lynn 378 (Heat) // Clint McKay 18 (Thunder) // Chris Lynn (Heat)

BBL06 Ben Dunk 364 (Strikers) // Sean Abbott 20 (Sixers) // Chris Lynn (Heat)

THE CASH

BBL06 SALARY CAP

* $1,600,000 per team (excluding superannuation and increased by $200,000 on last year)

* 18 contracts per club (including two overseas signings)

BBL06 PRIZEMONEY

* Champion $255,000 (club $100,000, players $155,000)

* Runner-up $140,000 (club $50,000, players $90,000)

* Semi-finalists $27,000 (players)

THE FORMAT

* 40 group games across 10 rounds from December 19-January 27.

* Top four progress to knockout semi-finals (1st v 4th and 2nd v 3rd).

* Final held on February 4.

TAB ODDS

$4 Scorchers

$4.50 Stars

$5.50 Renegades

$7 Heat

$9 Sixers, Strikers

$11 Thunder

$15 Hurricanes