Sam Landsberger‘s eight BBL stars to watch, plus top stats from BBL08

Move over James Faulkner, there’s a new finisher in town. We’ve broken down the stats from last summer’s Big Bash League to determine the most-lethal batsmen in the last five overs of an innings.

Has the Big Bash League ever seen such star power?

From AB de Villiers signing for Brisbane Heat to Dale Steyn joining Melbourne Stars, it’s been an off-season of significant signings from Australia’s eight BBL franchises.

The big names aren’t limited to South Africans either, with English rising star Tom Banton and his compatriots Liam Livingstone and Phil Salt sure to provide plenty of fireworks.

Then there’s local signings including Steve Smith to get excited about.

Here’s the eight stars BBL expert Sam Landsberger thinks will have the greatest say on BBL09.

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SAM LANDSBERGER’S EIGHT BBL09 STARS TO WATCH

Rashid Khan celebrates a wicket with Alex Carey last summer for Adelaide Strikers.

RASHID KHAN (Adelaide Strikers)

Mystery spinner who bowls fast through the air and is harder to pick than Melbourne’s weather.

AB de VILLIERS (Brisbane Heat)

Chris Lynn’s newest “Bash Brother” will put bums on seats as he delivers catching practice to crowds all around the country.

D’ARCY SHORT (Hobart Hurricanes)

Could one more monster BBL campaign break open the door to Australia’s T20 World Cup campaign? Clean ball striker who also knows how to jag a wicket.

Australia’s white-ball captain Aaron Finch is as dymanic as they come in the BBL.

AARON FINCH (Melbourne Renegades)

Looking lean and mean, Australia’s white-ball captain has always been the face of the red machine.

DALE STEYN (Melbourne Stars)

Batsmen beware – this South African speed machine once broke Kane Williamson’s box in half with one of his right-arm rockets.

JHYE RICHARDSON (Perth Scorchers)

This giant slayer has dismissed Virat Kohli four times from six games. At just 23, meet Australia’s next three-format superstar.

Usman Khawaja has a formidable record in the Big Bash League for Sydney Thunder.

STEVE SMITH (Sydney Sixers)

Almost feel sorry for domestic attacks bowling at the “Best since Bradman”. When Smith arrives will it be he or Moises Henriques calling the shots?

USMAN KHAWAJA (Sydney Thunder)

Harder to remove than a red-wine stain. Low-risk opener whose arms might get tired from raising the bat.

MORE SUPERCOACH BBL NEWS:

Shane Warne explains why he’s starting Marcus Stoinis and D’Arcy Short in his SuperCoach BBL team

SuperCoach BBL: Predicted Big Bash teams for opening round

SuperCoach BBL: How will each club share its 20 overs between bowlers?

Tim Michell reveals the big changes to his SuperCoach BBL team ahead of BBL09

How would a SuperCoach BBL team chosen by nine experts including Shane Warne and Isa Guha look?

Every 42k player in SuperCoach BBL rated, from Jake Fraser-McGurk to Cameron Green

THE COOLEST STATS FROM BBL08

Best strike-rate in the powerplay (Overs 1-6)

Josh Phillippe (Sixers) 165.2

Sam Harper (Renegades) 153.1

Max Bryant (Heat) 151.3

Callum Ferguson (Thunder) 139

Matthew Wade (Hurricanes) 136.1

Best strike-rate at the death (Overs 16-20)

Ashton Turner (Scorchers) 195.9

George Bailey (Hurricanes) 195.1

Chris Lynn (Heat) 194.1

Alex Ross (Strikers) 193.5

Josh Phillippe (Sixers) 188.9

Best economy rate in the powerplay

Usman Shinwari* (Renegades) 4.9

Rashid Khan (Strikers) 5

Chris Green (Thunder) 5.4

Steve O’Keefe (Sixers) 5.4

Jason Behrendorff (Scorchers) 5.6

Best economy rate in the death

Steve O’Keefe (Sixers) 5.7

Chris Green (Thunder) 5.8

Cameron Boyce (Renegades) 7

Adam Zampa (Stars) 7

Jofra Archer* (Hurricanes) 7

Highest percentage of false shots induced

Riley Meredith (Hurricanes) 34.2%

Chris Jordan (Scorchers) 32.1%

Ben Dwarshuis (Sixers) 30.8%

Nathan Coulter-Nile (Stars) 30.4%

David Moody (Hurricanes) 30.3%

* Withdrawn for international duty