BBL13: Squad news, best players without a contract for Big Bash League season named

As Big Bash League clubs scramble to find local replacement players for the early rounds of BBL13, we name the top contenders who should be in their sights. SEE THE FULL LIST.

The combination of Anthony Albanese, overseas tournaments and international selections have left Big Bash League clubs scrambling to fill their squads in time for the tournament this summer.

The announcement of the Prime Minister’s XI, which plays Pakistan from December 6-9, was particularly significant for Brisbane Heat because Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Jimmy Peirson and Nathan McSweeney have been selected in the side.

That has been somewhat offset by the availability of Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne for the first match of BBL13 but they will play only once before joining the Test squad.

England’s ODI series against West Indies does not wrap up until December 10, which rules Zak Crawley out of the early rounds for Perth Scorchers.

Sydney Sixers will be without Rehan Ahmed for even longer because the T20 games in the Caribbean finish on December 22.

Several other BBL players, including Daniel Sams, Chris Lynn, Quinton de Kock, Peter Hatzoglou and Adam Hose, have signed to play in the Abu Dhabi T20 league, which runs until December 9.

When you factor in the mid-season departures of many international signings, BBL13 promises to be a juggling act for most franchises.

The saving grace is there is a host of options in domestic cricket and grade cricket competitions waiting in the wings for an opportunity.

Here are the frontrunners who should be in the mix to be signed as local replacement players.

WHO DID WE MISS? TELL US IN THE COMMENTS BELOW

Lloyd Pope bowling for the Sydney Sixers. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Lloyd Pope – While his first-class average of 63 leaves a bit to be desired, the one-time leg-spinning prodigy has performed well when given a chance at BBL level. He has 19 wickets in 24 T20s with a tidy average of 30. More importantly, he’s in form. He made the KFC T20 Max team of the tournament and took 3-59, including the wickets of Cam Bancroft, Hilton Cartwright and D’Arcy Short, in a recent Marsh Cup game. Rashid Khan’s replacement?

Chris Tremain — Leading wicket-taker in the Sheffield Shield with 34 at a crazy average of 15.2. Has featured before in the BBL with limited success but is bowling as well as he ever has. Seems destined to find a LRP deal somewhere but where he lands will probably come down to injuries.

Daniel Drew – Second leading run-scorer in the Sheffield Shield last year and has played in the BBL before. His most recent game was 2021. Third for Marsh Cup runs with 259. Might suit a team like Perth Scorchers or could be signed as the LRP for Travis Head and Alex Carey, who will miss the BBL due to Test duties.

Will Salzmann celebrates a wicket for NSW.

Will Salzmann – Talented young quick from NSW who has seven wickets in two Marsh Cup games. Brisbane Heat’s pace stocks have taken a hit, so maybe Salzmann is someone they would consider. Both the Sydney franchises have pace depth, so he seems a long shot to land at either.

Fergus O’Neill – Victorian seamer who has eight Marsh Cup wickets and 21 Sheffield Shield wickets. He can bat a bit, too, as evidenced by his 70 not out from 79 balls against NSW in a game in which three of the four innings totals were 196 or fewer. Surely being looked at as an option for a team needing a bowling all-rounder after taking 10 wickets against South Australia.

Charlie Wakim – Not known for his strike-rate but the Tasmanian continues to churn out domestic runs. One of the more experienced options available for a team needing a batter.

Jordan Buckingham – Young quick who has been likened to Jason Gillespie and has impressed for the Redbacks and Australia A. Has been in the mix for a local replacement deal in recent weeks. Maybe the Strikers will pounce if they can’t replace Rashid Khan in time for the early rounds.

Riley Ayre – Previously part of the Sixers’ squad and was influential in Randwick Petersham’s recent success in the Kingsgrove T20 competition in NSW. Spin-bowling all-rounder.

Gabe Bell – A prolific red-ball wicket-taker but has not played in the BBL. Ranks fourth in the Sheffield Shield with 22 wickets.

Lawrence Neil-Smith – Another Tasmanian quick who has done his best work with the red ball but has experience working with BBL squads. Snared 7-58 against New South Wales at a bowler-friendly SCG.

Liam Scott – All-rounder who was formerly an Adelaide Striker and was a standout in the highly-regarded KFC Max T20 competition in Queensland. Made 50 and 32 in the Shield against Victoria in a match where most batters struggled.

Jack Nisbet charges in. Picture: Steve Bell/Getty Images

Jack Nisbet – Emerging quick who has burst on to the Sheffield Shield scene with eight wickets in two matches, including a haul of 5-53 against South Australia. Still only 20 and represented Australia at under-19 level. Probably not needed at the Sixers or Thunder but surely the sort of player a team such as Brisbane Heat might consider with Michael Neser unavailable and doubts over Spencer Johnson’s fitness.

Jayden Goodwin – The son of former Zimbabwe Test batter Murray Goodwin is making his way through the ranks in Western Australia. The top-order batter has long been considered a domestic talent in waiting. Has been linked with the Scorchers and could play immediately while Zak Crawley is in the West Indies with England.

Hugo Burdon was previously signed by Brisbane Heat. Picture: Getty Images, Brisbane Heat

Hugo Burdon – Consistently one of the standout performers in the KFC T20 Max competition and was previously listed by Brisbane Heat. Plundered more than 1000 runs in 2021-22, captained Queensland at under-age level and was equal leading runscorer in the recent edition of the T20 Max. Has been involved in the Heat academy’s warm-up games.

Jack Clayton – Left-handed top-order batter who made a Marsh Cup half-century off 48 balls last month and has more than 250 Sheffield Shield runs this season. The Heat would seem a natural fit because he’s already part of the Queensland set-up. Has to be a big chance to feature for Brisbane at some stage, maybe even as early as the second game when Marnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja head off to the Test squad.

Lachlan Hearne – Previously signed by Sydney Thunder as a replacement player but didn’t feature in the BBL. Produced knocks of 63 off 40 balls and 87 off 53 in the KFC T20 Max tournament. Made an unbeaten 202 from 216 balls in a recent Queensland Premier match for Toombul.

Originally published as BBL13: Squad news, best players without a contract for Big Bash League season named