SuperCoach BBL: Predicted Big Bash teams for opening round

The Big Bash starts on December 17 and teams have started finalising their sides for the ninth edition of the tournament. Here’s how we expect each team to line up in Round 1.

The Big Bash stars on December 17 and most teams have finalised their squads for this summer as the Renegades seek to defend their title.

Here’s how we see each team lining up.

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ADELAIDE STRIKERS

Tim Michell’s team: Alex Carey, Jake Weatherald, Phil Salt, Travis Head, Cameron White, Matt Short, Rashid Khan, Michael Neser, Billy Stanlake, Peter Siddle, Wes Agar

Tom Sangster’s team: Alex Carey, Jake Weatherald, Phil Salt, Travis Head, Cameron White, Matt Short, Michael Neser, Rashid Khan, Peter Siddle, Wes Agar, Billy Stanlake

Strength: Red-hot top order with Travis Head likely bumped to No. 4 behind Alex Carey, Jake Weatherald and English import Phil Salt — although that’s if Head plays at all in the opening rounds after retaining a spot in the Test squad despite tough tour of England. Also have the best spinner in the business in Rashid Khan.

Weakness: Depth will get tested at stages with Head, Michael Neser (in Test squad), Alex Carey (ODI incumbent), Peter Siddle (Test incumbent) and Billy Stanlake (T20I incumbent) all in the conversation for national honours.

Big call: Wes Agar is one of the form bowlers in domestic cricket this year and could be the beneficiary of Ben Laughlin’s move to Brisbane Heat.

Depends on conditions: The Strikers only have two specialist spinners, Khan and Liam O’Connor, in their entire 18-man squad. Travis Head and Matt Short could be called upon to do plenty of bowling.

Travis Head’s recent Test axing could make him available for the Stikers.

BRISBANE HEAT

Tim Michell team: Max Bryant, Tom Banton, Chris Lynn, Matt Renshaw, Jimmy Peirson, Ben Cutting, James Pattinson, Josh Lalor, Ben Laughlin, Mark Steketee, Zahir Khan

Tom Sangster’s team: Max Bryant, Tom Banton, Chris Lynn, Joe Burns, Matt Renshaw, James Peirson, Ben Cutting, James Pattinson, Ben Laughlin, Zahir Khan, Josh Lalor

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 after James Pattinson was called into the Pakistan Test squad (although he’s unlikely to play).

Big call: Does English import Banton keep wickets or does James Peirson get a run?

Depends on conditions: Heat have the option of playing two spinners at the start of the tournament in Zahir Khan and Mitchell Swepson (Mujeeb replaces Zahir Khan later in the tournament). Or if conditions suit the quicks, Swepson could sit out with Matt Renshaw a back-up spin option.

Tom Banton comes to Australia from England with huge hype.

HOBART HURRICANES

Tim Michell’s team: D’Arcy Short, Ben McDermott, David Miller, George Bailey, Caleb Jewell, James Faulkner, Simon Milenko, Nathan Ellis, Riley Meredith, Qais Ahmad, Scott Boland

Tom Sangster’s team: D’Arcy Short, Caleb Jewell, Ben McDermott, David Miller, George Bailey, James Faulkner, Simon Milenko, Nathan Ellis, Riley Meredith, Qais Ahmad, Scott Boland

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 with Matthew Wade (start of tournament) and Jofra Archer (entire tournament) 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.

Big call: Wade is on Test duty for the start of the tournament, meaning selectors must pick between Jake Doran, Ben McDermott or Caleb Jewell for their wicket keeping role.

Depends on conditions: Qais Ahmad is the only recognised spinner in both XIs above, meaning plenty of bowling will fall to Short, who bowls wicket taking balls but also goes for runs.

D'Arcy Short’s wrist spin could be very handy.

MELBOURNE RENEGADES

Tim Michell’s team: Aaron Finch, Shaun Marsh, Marcus Harris, Sam Harper, Tom Cooper, Dan Christian, Jack Wildermuth, Cameron Boyce, Kane Richardson, Richard Gleeson, Harry Gurney.

Tom Sangster’s team: Aaron Finch, Shaun Marsh, Marcus Harris, Sam Harper, Tom Cooper, Dan Christian, Jack Wildermuth, Cameron Boyce, Kane Richardson, Richard Gleeson, Harry Gurney.

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 (although he’s been left out of the Test squad for Pakistan series), Finch and Kane Richardson will Test depth, particularly during the middle of the tournament when Finch leads Australia’s ODI tour to India.

Big call: A plethora of all-rounders (Dan Christian, Mohammad Nabi and Jack Wildermuth) could see highly-rated young gun Will Sutherland miss out.

Depends on conditions: The notoriously inconsistent Marvel Stadium pitch combined with the overload of all-rounders could see the Renegades stack another batsman into their XI. Look for 17-year-old Jake Fraser-McGurk to make an impression after becoming Victoria’s third youngest Sheffield Shield debutant, scoring a half century.

Shaun Marsh is a key buy for the Renegades.

MELBOURNE STARS

Tim Michell’s team: Ben Dunk, Marcus Stoinis, Peter Handscomb, Glenn Maxwell, Nic Maddinson, Hilton Cartwright, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Dale Steyn, Adam Zampa, Dan Worrall Sandeep Lamichhane

Tom Sangster’s team: Ben Dunk, Nic Maddinson, Peter Handscomb, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Hilton Cartwright, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Adam Zampa, Sandeep Lamichhane, Dale Steyn, Daniel Worrall

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.

Big call: The Stars face a huge decision on who opens the batting. Stoinis dominated in the role last season but Maddinson, Maxwell and Ben Dunk also covet the role.

Depends on conditions: With two gun spinners in the side — Sandeep Lamichhane and Adam Zampa — don’t expect Maxwell to do much bowling unless the conditions are very favourable.

Marcus Stoinis could bat anywhere in the top five.

PERTH SCORCHERS

Tim Michell’s team: Liam Livingstone, Cameron Bancroft, Mitchell Marsh, Ashton Turner, Kurtis Patterson, Ashton Agar, Josh Inglis, Joel Paris, Jhye Richardson, Matthew Kelly, Fawad Ahmed

Tom Sangster’s team: Liam Livingstone, Cameron Bancroft, Kurtis Patterson, Mitchell Marsh, Ashton Turner, Sam Whiteman, Ashton Agar, Cameron Green, Jhye Richardson, Matthew Kelly, Fawad Ahmed

Fawad Ahmed has joined the Scorchers from the Thunder. Picture: Phil Hillyard

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.

Big call: The Scorchers have three potential wicket keepers in the squad. Who gets the nod out of Cameron Bancroft (assuming he misses Test selection), Sam Whiteman and Josh Inglis?

Depends on conditions: The squad possesses two gun spinners in Ashton Agar and Fawad Ahmed but don’t expect both to play every game if there’s juice in the Optus Stadium pitch.

Cameron Bancroft is capable of taking the gloves.

SYDNEY SIXERS

Tim Michell’s team: Daniel Hughes, Josh Philippe, James Vince, Moises Henriques, Jordan Silk, Jack Edwards, Tom Curran, Sean Abbott, Stephen O’Keefe, Jackson Bird, Ben Dwarshuis

Tom Sangster’s team: Daniel Hughes, Josh Philippe, James Vince, Moises Henriques, Jordan Silk, Jack Edwards, Tom Curran, Stephen O’Keefe, Sean Abbott, Jackson Bird, Ben Dwarshuis

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.

Big call: Jackson Bird is a noted performer at first class level (363 wickets at 24) but struggles in the shorter formats. He averages 42.00 in List A and 31.27 in T20s. May only play if there’s juice in the deck.

Depends on conditions: The Sixers possess two hyped young spinners in Lloyd Pope and Dan Fallins. Both will be hoping for call-ups in the opening weeks alongside Stephen O’Keefe, with Nathan Lyon is on Test duty.

Moises Henriques is set to captain the Sixers. Picture: Phil Hillyard

SYDNEY THUNDER

Tim Michell’s team: Usman Khawaja, Alex Hales, Callum Ferguson, Matt Gilkes, Jason Sangha or Alex Ross, Daniel Sams, Chris Morris, Arjun Nair, Chris Green, Jono Cook, Gurinder Sandhu

Tom Sangster’s team: Usman Khawaja, Alex Hales, Callum Ferguson, Matt Gilkes, Jason Sangha, Daniel Sams, Chris Morris, Arjun Nair, Chris Green, Brendan Doggett, Chris Tremain

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), although the Thunder could be boosted by Usman Khawaja following his Test snub for the Pakistan series. Highly-rated young guns Matt Gilkes and Jason Sangha assume huge responsibility.

Big call: Ollie Davies and Tanveer Sangha are two of the most hyped youngsters in the Big Bash but likely warm the bench for the start of the tournament.

Depends on conditions: Chris Tremain is a noted new-ball bowler but could be left out if conditions suit Thunder’s spinners Nair, Green and Jono Cook — as is often the case at Spotless Stadium.

BBL PREDICTIONS

Tim Michell

Final: Adelaide Strikers v Melbourne Renegades

Champion: Adelaide Strikers

Tom Sangster

Final: Sydney Sixers v Hobart Hurricanes

Champion: Sydney Sixers

Originally published as SuperCoach BBL: Predicted Big Bash teams for opening round