The inaugural Big Bash draft went off with a bang, with big names signings completing lists and massive names being looked over.
Ricky Ponting’s Hobart Hurricanes surprised everyone by turning to Pakistan, as they selected all three overseas players from the proud cricket nation.
While the Perth Scorchers – the kings of Big Bash cricket and last season’s champions – shocked most by opting to pass on their ‘platinum pick’ and instead opt for proven performers and in the gold and silver categories. The tactics were described as “extraordinary” by Fox Cricket’s Kath Loughnan while World Cup-winner Mike Hussey said it was a “massive call”.
Some of the world’s biggest T20 names were also snubbed too, with the West Indian trio of Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard and Andre Russel not selected.
Despite opting for Pakistan’s Shadab Khan, Ponting said he was surprised the leg-spinner and Russell particularly weren’t selected in the first-up premium picks by the eight franchises.
Other big names that weren’t picked up were South Africa’s Faf du Plessis, England’s Jason Roy and New Zealand’s Ross Taylor.
All eight franchises left the draft happy with their selections.
But who came out on top from the draft ahead of BBL12?
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World Cup-winning coach Darren Lehmann believed the Renegades edged their rivals given the luxury of having the opening pick from the first two rounds but he also said the Sydney Thunder were “one of the bigger winners” after selecting David Willey Alex Hales and Rilee Rossouw.
“Obviously the first two picks they’re very happy with but (David) Willey’s outstanding,” Lehmann said.
“I would think the Renegades, who had the first pick, they were happy with Livingstone, and then they got Mujeeb Ur-Rahman.”
He added: “He’s (Willey) a good pick. He swings it but he can change the game with his hitting as well. And Roussouw, he’s a quality player at four and he’s in the form of his life. They’re probably one of the bigger winners.”
MELBOURNE RENEGADES
PICKS: Liam Livingstone, Mujeeb Ur-Rahman, Akeal Hosein
After struggling since taking out BBL|08, the Renegades have turned to spin.
Why? On the slower decks of Marvel Stadium, David Saker believes the spinning ball will prove more successful than front line quicks.
By picking Livingstone, the Renegades have got the best of both worlds because the hard-hitting batter, who is likely to bat in the middle order, can bowl accurate off-spinners and legging, too.
Throw in Mujeeb ur-Rahman and the Renegades have more than made up for losing Cameron Boyce.
Akeal Hosein has also been picked up and the West Indian has proved economical and provides another slow option.
A lot will rest on the shoulders of Livingstone, and if Aaron Finch can regain his touch the Renegades could well and truly emerge as a contender once again.
WHAT THEY SAID: “They’ve gone spin heavy. As David Saker said, they’ve used the pace the previous three years and haven’t probably got the results they’re after so they’ve gone a spin to win theory,” Lehmann said.
Mike Hussey agreed: “I think that’s not a bad way to go. It’s a slightly different tactic to elsewhere around the country. It’s going to be a hard place to come and play and win, especially when you’re facing a lot of spin. And Liam Livingstone can come and bowl a few handy legging, but wow he hits massive square of the wicket.
Livingstone’s selection and return to the Big Bash is one of the great coups for the competition.
The destructive right-hander has grown from strength to strength as a player and Hussey said his “fearless” attitude was a real benefit for the Renegades.
“What I love about him is he’s just completely fearless with the bat. He just gets on with it from the word go,” Fox Cricket’s Hussey said.
“He’s a great signing, and he’s going to light up the Big Bash again I think.”
GRADING: A+
MELBOURNE STARS
PICKS: Trent Boult, Joe Clarke, Luke Wood
Seven wins from 14 matches last season showed the Stars were in the hunt but struggled with consistency.
The signings of Boult and Clarke particularly will help the Stars return to the finals.
Boult has been a premier fast bowler for the past decade and he continues the fine legacy of quality quicks arriving at the Stars as big name recruits.
More than what he delivers on the cricket field, Boult’s leadership and “team first” attitude will be highly valued at the Stars.
Clarke returns after a strong season where he hit 428 runs and struck at 148. It’s small wonder that the Stars snapped up the Englishman again.
Luke Wood, meanwhile, provides a left-arm option with the ball and some useful lower order runs.
WHAT THEY SAID: “I think he (Boult) suits their team perfectly,” Hussey said. “He’s a great signing.
“Dangerous at the top of the order and we all know how important wickets are going to be. We were wondering whether they were going to retain Andre Russell or they needed a bowler to shore up that new-ball bowling.
“We thought they’d get Joe Clarke back as their wicket-keeper batter and they seem impressed by Luke Wood.
Lehmann agreed, but astutely pointed out that by having both left-armers in the team the Stars were essentially showing their hand.
“They’re very good all-round selections. The only thing I would say is that two left-arm opening bowlers, you know they’re going to open with Luke Wood who swings (the ball) and so does Trent Boult,” Lehmann said.
“Joe Clarke was fantastic for them last year and they needed a keeper.”
GRADE: A
BRISBANE HEAT
PICKS: Sam Billings, Colin Munro, Ross Whiteley
Englishman Billings was prolific for the Thunder but the Sydney-based team opted not to stop him moving to the Heat.
Billings is versatile and will add plenty with the bat. But his energy is another factor that will help from a team perspective.
Colin Munro can be world class on his day with the bat, while Ross Whiteley has scored runs over years.
The Heat will be heavily reliant on Billings and Munro.
WHAT THEY SAID: “That shores up our six and you think of the blokes coming back from Test duty, hopefully Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne,” Lehmann said.
“Sam Billings is a back-up keeper if you need and he’s hurt us a few times and plays all-round the wicket and brings experience in the middle order and plays spin extremely well. Colin Munro is the same.
Hussey added: “Billings and Munro have both really improved their T20 cricket a lot over the last few years.
“I think the Heat would have been nervous with both those selections because there was a right to match both those selections because there was a chance to match Munro with the Scorchers and Sydney Thunder with Billings, so I think the Heat would be delighted.”
GRADE: B+
SYDNEY SIXERS
PICKS: Chris Jordan, James Vince, Izharulhaq Naveed
Last year’s beaten finalists look like they will heavily feature at the pointy end of the season again.
The selections of Jordan and Vince provide the Sixers with experience and match-winning quality.
Vince was selected second, but he will hold the key at the top of the order for the Sixers.
Izharulhaq Naveed might be an unknown quantity Down Under, but the 18-year-old has been plucked from Afghanistan and is a leg-spinner with a bright future.
He adds to the strong depth stocks the Sixers have, with Steve O’Keefe returning to the squad.
WHAT THEY SAID: “He’s a good player Chris Jordan, he can bowl at the death and he’s a good lad. They stuck to their guns, which most franchises did,” Lehmann said.
Hussey said: “I think they like getting good overseas death bowlers. They’ve had Tom Curran in the past, Chris Jordan’s been there, someone to help out Sean Abbott who bowls well at the death as well. Their squad looks outstanding once again the Sydney Sixers.”
GRADE: B+
ADELAIDE STRIKERS
PICKS: Rashid Khan, Colin de Grandhomme, Adam Hose
Khan’s selection was the most obvious in the BBL draft – and it’s for good reason. The leg-spinner has turned heads ever since he arrived in the competition and is world class.
Khan can turn a game on its head and has done so regularly.
The selection of New Zealand veteran Colin de Grandhomme was one of the surprise picks.
But it could prove to be a beauty.
He might have a calm, relaxed demeanour but the all-rounder whacks them and he bowls more than useful seamers that can be hard to get away.
WHAT THEY SAID: “Everyone wants him to stay as a Striker. That’s good for the game. And their other two picks, de Grandhomme and Hose who’s a good player. They’ve sprung a couple of surprises,” Lehmann said.
“For me Rashid was no surprise, but the other two certainly surprised me,” Hussey said.
“But as we said, these teams do so much homework.”
GRADE: B+
PERTH SCORCHERS
PICKS: Laurie Evans, Phil Salt, Tymal Mills
Evans led the Scorchers to BBL glory last season, so it came as no surprise that he was blocked by the Scorchers when a rival came knocking.
The other two selections come with risk and reward.
Salt goes hard from the outset, but it doesn’t always come off. So too his English teammate Tymal Mills, who bowls gas but can go the journey.
There’s real risk and reward from the Scorchers, who have often proved the competition wrong.
WHAT THEY SAID: “I thought they would have tossed up whether to keep Munro or Evans, they obviously decided they wanted a right to match to Laurie Evans,” Hussey said.
“I think Phil Salt’s a good signing. They needed a top order player after losing Kurtis Patterson, and I think Tymal Mills is arguably the best pick in round four.
“He’s a very good death signing, a lot of experience, if he can stay fit and healthy, he’s a proven wicket-taker at the end.”
GRADE: B+
SYDNEY THUNDER
PICKS: David Willey, Alex Hales, Rilee Roussouw
Rivalling the Renegades, the Thunder have got three of the most balanced selections in the draft.
There’s the all-round ability of Willey, but he also will be there for the majority of the competition. A proven performer with the ball, he can also score useful runs.
Hales is dynamic and is a Big Bash regular. A hard-hitting opener, Hales has a bone to pick and he’s a world class player on his day.
As for Rilee Roussouw, the South African is getting better and better and his experience will be great in the middle order.
WHAT THEY SAID: “Three absolute quality players there,” Hussey said.
“I think they’ll be absolutely delighted and there’s some strong batting now through that Sydney Thunder line-up.
“Their bowling maybe not as strong, but Willey up front, he can swing that ball and pick up wickets early, he’s a great competitor as well and the availability piece. I think he’s a great signing. A versatile player, he can bat up the order, he can bat in the middle, he’s a good pick.
Lehmann agreed: “Yeah he’s a good pick. He swings it but he can change the game with his hitting as well. And Roussouw, he’s a quality player at four and he’s in the form of his life. They’re probably one of the bigger winners.”
GRADE: A+
HOBART HURRICANES
PICKS: Shadab Khan, Asif Ali, Faheem Ashrad
What’s better than one Pakistan player? Three Pakistan players.
The Hurricanes sprung a number of surprises, but with Ricky Ponting calling the shots, who would dare question them?
Shadab is a quality, world class spinner and can hit a big ball.
Asif Ali, meanwhile, recently appeared against Australia and will help strengthen the Hurricanes’ middle-order.
Both men caught the eye of Matthew Hayden, who has spent time working with them both.
While Faheem Ashrad is a more than useful bowling all-rounder, who has caught the eye in the Pakistan Super League.
WHAT THEY SAID: “I think that Shadab and our first couple of picks were exactly the ones that we were after,” Ponting said.
“We were surprised that Shadab got to where he did. It was a hole in or squad that we needed to fill; a quality spinner that’s a three dimensional player. We wanted to add some power to our middle order.
“I’m sure other teams would have spoken about Azhar Ali. I think Brisbane has spoken about him, we heard ‘Boof’ talk about that, that’s exactly the role we needed.
“With the guys that we retained with Short, Wade and McDermott, we’ve got really good top order batting, we wanted to strengthen our power in the middle around Tim David and I think we’ve done a pretty good job of that today.
Lehmann described the selections as “different” but backed Ponting’s selection nous.
”It’s a bit different because we haven’t seen it,” he said.
“We’ve seen Shadab Khan before obviously who’s world class but the other two, Asif Ali’s been around for a bit. But as we’ve seen with Shadab, he can bat and bowl.
“They’ve done their homework. They’ve done their homework really on the back of the PSL and Darren Berry and James Hopes probably. We looked at Shadab Khan as well. He’s got all the tricks you need for a spinner.
Hussey, however, said the selections were a “gamble”.
“It’s a gamble from the Hobart Hurricanes but it’s a gamble that could pay off,” he said.
“The Pakistani talent is unbelievable. They are some of the best players in the world. But sometimes they can be a little bit inconsistent, you get them for a couple of games where they’re amazing and they blow oppositions away but then they go missing for a couple of games. That’s where the gamble is, but if it pays off ‘Whoa, look out.’”
GRADE: A
