Latest squad news and off-season movements ahead of BBL10
Missed any of the big signing news during the BBL off-season? Don’t fret, we’ve got you covered. Catch up with the latest news from every club ahead of BBL10 before choosing your KFC SuperCoach BBL team.
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This summer’s BBL — like almost every other sporting competition this year — will present unique challenges for every team.
Quarantine issues need to be factored into every international signing, while fixture bosses have been working feverishly to confirm how the schedule for BBL10 will look.
The uncertainty about the fixture hasn’t stopped BBL clubs locking in key signings for the new season, with big moves made both domestically and in the overseas market.
Jason Roy (Scorchers), Rashid Khan (Strikers) and Alex Hales (Thunder) are among the internationals locked in, while Ben Cutting (Thunder), James Pattinson (Renegades) and Dan Christian (Sixers) will turn out for new clubs.
Many teams still have a host of roster spots to be filled and it’s going to be a busy period between the start of November and the BBL kicking off.
This is the off-season news from every club you should know before picking your KFC SuperCoach BBL team.
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Adelaide Strikers
The Strikers have added to their batting stocks with the addition of former Test opener Matthew Renshaw from Brisbane Heat. They were also involved in a rare BBL trade when Billy Stanlake was dealt to Melbourne Stars in exchange for Dan Worrall. The re-signing of star spinner Rashid Khan, a fan favourite at Adelaide Oval, was a huge boost. The Strikers still have two international spots available and will be active in recruiting in the lead-up to BBL10. Of the recruits, Renshaw could get the opportunity to fill Travis Head’s role at No. 3 while the Strikers skipper is on Test duties during the Indian series.
Brisbane Heat
The Heat have been one of the most active clubs in the off-season, losing three important players from last season — James Pattinson, Matthew Renshaw and Ben Cutting. Jack Wildermuth returns from Melbourne Renegades, while his BBL09 teammate Tom Cooper has also made the move north. Cooper looms as a replacement for Renshaw, capable of bowling in the powerplay and filling a middle-order role. Englishman Tom Banton and Afghan mystery spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman are locked in as two of the club’s imports. However, South African superstar AB de Villiers won’t be returning as he prepares for the birth of his third child. Brisbane still has a host of roster spots to fill before the start of the BBL.
â¤ï¸ @ABdeVilliers17 pic.twitter.com/RnOU6vWAVM
— Brisbane Heat (@HeatBBL) October 27, 2020
Hobart Hurricanes
The addition of the world’s No. 1 T20 batsman Dawid Malan is a huge coup for the Hurricanes, who will arguably have the best top-five in the BBL when Matthew Wade is available. Wade will miss the opening eight rounds due to Test duties, but Hobart will likely have recruit Peter Handscomb, Ben McDermott, D’Arcy Short, Malan and Wade in a power-packed batting line-up for the run home. The Hurricanes have also been linked with English seamer Chris Jordan. Their other confirmed signings are two young guns, Tasmanian Mitchell Owen and Victorian spinner Wil Parker.
Melbourne Renegades
The Renegades will be boosted by the arrival of South African Imran Tahir after Christmas. Before then, left-arm wrist spinner Noor Ahmad will partner Cameron Boyce. A 15-year-old from Afghanistan, Noor is expected to be available from Round 1. Test quick James Pattinson is unlikely to feature heavily upon his return to the Renegades due to international commitments and quarantine. Tom Cooper, Jack Wildermuth (Brisbane Heat) and Dan Christian (Sydney Sixers) have moved on, although none of that trio featured prominently in BBL09. The possibility of Aaron Finch being available for most of the tournament due to an open international schedule will have the Renegades buoyed, although Michael Klinger’s squad still looks threadbare compared to many of their rivals.
Melbourne Stars
An unusually quiet off-season to date for the Stars, who are yet to announce an international signing. They have been linked with breakout quick Haris Rauf, who was the story of last summer after he was plucked from Tasmanian grade cricket and took 20 wickets in 10 matches. Only Daniel Sams, Chris Morris and Tom Curran managed more. Billy Stanlake arrives with a point to prove after being involved in Dan Worrall’s trade to Adelaide, while Peter Handscomb has joined Hobart Hurricanes. Despite his talents, Handscomb hasn’t been a huge contributor in recent seasons for the Stars, largely due to missing games for Australian duties. His spot in the middle-order will likely be taken by young gun Will Pucovski. The biggest name they’ve been linked with is Jonny Bairstow. The Englishman is one of the best T20 batsmen in the world.
Perth Scorchers
The Scorchers have put together the major pieces of their squad for BBL10, confirming two of their three imports. English duo Liam Livingstone and Jason Roy will bring plenty of power to the Scorchers’ top order, which also boasts aggressive wicketkeeper-batsman Josh Inglis. The biggest concern for the Scorchers will be how some of their key players recover from injuries. Jhye Richardson is back bowling after shoulder surgery, while skipper Mitch Marsh is still recovering from syndesmosis. The Scorchers were hit hard by injury in BBL09 with Andrew Tye and Jason Behrendorff missing the entire tournament. The other addition of note is paceman Cameron Gannon from Brisbane Heat.
Sydney Sixers
When you’re on a good thing, why mess with it? The reigning BBL champions appear to have focused on retention for BBL10, with English seamer Tom Curran and top-order batsman James Vince among the big names slated to pull on the magenta again. The key addition is experienced all-rounder Dan Christian, who was surprisingly a bit-part player for the Renegades in BBL09. He’ll offer another option with the ball for Moises Henriques and likely bat at No. 5 or No. 6. The Sixers have enviable depth in their bowling stocks with Sean Abbott firing in the Sheffield Shield.
That’s why you play ðŸ†ðŸ†ðŸ†ðŸ†ðŸ†ðŸ†ðŸ†ðŸ† pic.twitter.com/7mQ4xopgJZ
— Dan Christian (@danchristian54) October 4, 2020
💪 Looking forward to seeing more of this from @vincey14 during @BBL|10!#smashemsixers #BBL10 pic.twitter.com/1zIhsHS5c9
— Sydney Sixers (@SixersBBL) October 30, 2020
Sydney Thunder
Big-hitting all-rounder Ben Cutting shapes as one of the recruits of the season after switching from Brisbane Heat. He’s a perfect addition for the Thunder who lacked the finishing power of other teams at No. 6 and No. 7 last season. He’ll also complement Daniel Sams nicely and his importance with the ball will only increase if South African Chris Morris doesn’t return. Only Marcus Stoinis scored more runs than Alex Hales last season and the English opener’s re-signing was a huge coup for the Thunder. With Chris Green back bowling after his suspension, the Thunder are shaping as a serious title contender.
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Originally published as Latest squad news and off-season movements ahead of BBL10
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