10 Batsmen to watch out for in CPL 2016

With the CPL 2016 looming over the horizon, most will be licking their lips. As they say, T20 cricket is more or less a batsman’s game. While most batsmen seem content on playing the big shots, there are others who play the elegant shots. In addition, the some of the batsmen on show in the upcoming edition of the Caribbean Premier League are perhaps some of the world class batsmen of yesteryear. The biggest hitters in Twenty20 cricket today are a part of the league. That said, here is a list of the top 10 batsmen to watch out for in the fourth edition of the CPL. 1. Shoaib Malik (Barbados Tridents): Shoaib Malik of Barbados Tridents. (Photo by Randy Brooks/LatinContent/Getty Images) Shoaib Malik rather, unfortunately, has been lost in the labyrinth of Pakistan cricket. Once a great player and the skipper of the Pakistan side, Malik will be hoping to make a quick name for himself as he seems set to play the CPL 2016 with the Barbados Tridents. Malik has also been an important player in the CPL and will also be remembered for his infamous confrontation with Tino Best in the 2014 edition of the tournament. However, with the 35-year old’s big-hitting prowess may well see him be perhaps one of the most dangerous batsmen in the tournament. Also read – 5 All-rounders to watch out for in CPL 2016 2. AB de Villiers (Barbados Tridents): AB de Villiers. (Photo by Christopher Lee-IDI/IDI via Getty Images) Although he hasn’t really performed at the international level as well as he would have liked, AB de Villiers is a player par excellence. In addition, his performances for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the recently concluded IPL is something that has captured the fans’ imagination. His leadership skills also qualify him as a potential skipper for the upcoming edition of the tournament. He will most certainly be one of the most exciting players to watch out for courtesy of his big-hitting prowess. In addition, his success on West Indian wickets also makes him a formidable proposition. That said, de Villiers will certainly be hoping to make an impact with the Tridents in his first ever edition of the CPL. 3. Hashim Amla (Trinbago Knight Riders): Hashim Amla. (Photo by Jan Kruger-IDI/IDI via Getty Images) Early on in his career, Hashim Amla was viewed as a Test-match player. However, his fantastic transition from the Test circuit saw him make it to the South African ODI team. Moreover, his ability to score off the bat rather freely coupled with his aggressive approach to the game has also seen him become an important part of the South African T20 setup as well. Having featured in his first ever edition of the Indian Premier League, Amla will also be looking to make his experience in the CPL count. 4. Brendon McCullum (Tribango Knight Riders): Brendon McCullum of New Zealand batting during the New Zealand v Netherlands match at the ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014 played at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium on March 29, 2014 in Chittagong, Bangladesh. (Photo by Graham Crouch-IDI/IDI via Getty Images) Brendon McCullum’s retirement, especially before the World T20, was deemed to be somewhat strange. While many questioned his sanity behind the impulsive decision, McCullum’s conscience was clear as daylight. However, the 34-year old former Kiwi skipper followed it up with a fantastic performance in the IPL with the Gujarat Lions. Moreover, McCullum also showed that he had not lost any of his athletic ability by taking catches at will. This edition will see Brendon McCullum ply his amazing skill-set for the Tribango Knight Riders in the upcoming edition of the Caribbean Premier League. Also read – 5 West Indies players to watch out for in CPL 2016 5. Mike Hussey (St. Lucia Zouks): Mike Hussey. (Photo by Robert Cianflone – CA/Cricket Australia/Getty Images) At the age of 41, the older of the Hussey brothers, Mike Hussey is certainly has got his call-up to the Caribbean Premier League. Although he won’t really have the similar zest he once did, he will be raring to go. Having served as a batting consultant for some time now, Hussey will be looking to add to his T20 CV as he attempts to recapture the sort of cricket he once boasted of. In a nutshell, this will perhaps be the last trip Mr. Cricket makes to the Caribbean as a player. Moreover, the St. Lucia Zouks will be certainly hoping that Hussey brings his ‘A’ game as they prepare to face-off against the rest of the teams. 6. Martin Guptill (Guyana Amazon Warriors): Martin Guptil of New Zealand. (Photo by Jan Kruger-IDI/IDI via Getty Images) Martin Guptill initially went unsold in the opening IPL draft. However, an injury to Lendl Simmons meant that Guptill had to pack his bags and join up with the Mumbai Indians in the IPL. The Kiwi opener has been in terrific form over the past few months, making waves with the bat, impressing the most in the shortest form of the game. The 29-year old is perhaps one of the cleanest strikers of the cricket ball at the moment and will certainly be a massive part of the Guyana Amazon Warriors. 7. Lendl Simmons (St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots): Lendl Simmons. (Photo by Ashley Allen/LatinContent/Getty Images) Lendl Simmons was perhaps the main reason why the West Indies beat India in the semifinal of the World T20 and reach the final. Having been initially left out of the squad, the Trinidadian was hastily drafted back following an injury to Andre Fletcher. The 31-year old, however, is known to be a massive striker of the cricket ball, an attribute that has kept him with the Mumbai Indians for as long as he has. Moreover, Simmons will serve as the skipper of the Patriots, a role that he has seldom served in before. It will certainly be interesting to witness the performance of Simmons in the upcoming edition of the CPL. Also read – 5 Young spinners to watch out for in CPL 2016 8. Brad Hodge (St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots): Brad Hodge of the Adelaide Strikers. (Photo by Daniel Kalisz – CA/Cricket Australia/Getty Images) During his time with the Australian team, Brad Hodge always had the reputation of being a massive hitter of the cricket ball. Boasting of fantastic hitting ability, Brad Hodge will certainly be one of the few names to watch out for in the upcoming CPL. The 41-year old is coming off a coaching stint with the Gujarat Lions, a team he coached to the playoffs of the recently concluded IPL. That said, the last cricketing action Hodge perhaps had was the Masters Champions League in Dubai. That said, the St. Kitts Patriots will certainly be hoping that the 41-year old delivers with the bat and fulfils his capabilities as a batsman in a format perhaps tailor-made for him. 9. Kumar Sangakkara (Jamaica Tallawahs): Kumar Sangakkara of the Hurricanes. (Photo by Michael Dodge – CA/Cricket Australia/Getty Images) The Jamaica Tallawahs certainly have a gem of a batsman in the form of 38-year old Kumar Sangakkara. The southpaw, who retired from international cricket, has been making waves with his newly adopted county side, Surrey. While the Caribbean Premier League will certainly pose a daunting challenge for the 38-year old batting legend, he will certainly be hoping that he will make his trip to the Caribbean count, a testimony to all his centuries he has under his belt. That said, the former Sri Lanka skipper will be hoping that his first ever Caribbean Premier League turns out to be as successful as he makes his way to the Jamaica Tallawahs team for the 2016 edition of the CPL. 10. Chris Gayle (Jamaica Tallawahs): Chris Gayle. (Photo by Christopher Lee-IDI/IDI via Getty Images) If you leave this man out of your playing XI for a T20 match, ou is perhaps the worst judge of talent on God’s earth. 36-year old Chris Gayle has been much more than a big hitter of the cricket ball. In recent times, he has become one of the best entertainers in cricket at the moment. However, while all of that is certainly commendable, one aspect about Gayle’s batting is certainly the fact that when he hits the ball, it stays hit. This time around, Gayle will be serving as the skipper of the Jamaica Tallawahs, a responsibility he will certainly take seriously as the Jamaican-based franchise aims to clinch the CPL title this time around. Also read – 10 Overseas players to watch out for in CPL 2016

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10 Batsmen to watch out for in CPL 2016

5. Mike Hussey (St. Lucia Zouks):

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