Cricket Australia’s coveted franchise tournament Big Bash League (BBL) will enter its 6th edition when the defending champions Sydney Thunder take on Sydney Sixers on December 20th. BBL has attracted tremendous crowd attention since its inception in the year 2011 and is perhaps the second most popular franchise T20 tournament after the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Just like every other league around the world, BBL has produced plenty of talented domestic players who have made it to the Australian national team. The league has also witnessed some terrific performances from overseas players which adds to the value of the tournament and promote it over the cricketing fraternity.

There are several players that have made a mark in the IPL in the past who will be in action in the BBL 2016-17. Here are some of them to watch out for in the upcoming season:

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/04/Sunil-Narine-KKR.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-15381"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-15381" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Sunil-Narine-KKR.jpg" alt="Sunil Narine KKR" width="700" height="475"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-15381" class="wp-caption-text">Sunil Narine KKR. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption>

The mystery spinner from West Indies will be donning the colours of the Melbourne Renegades. The Renegades had failed to make it to the semi-finals in the last season and finished 5th on the points table. This year, they will hope to turn the fortunes around with the presence of Narine. He has played only once before in the league. In the second season, he represented Sydney Sixers in 5 matches.

The 28-year-old has been an integral part of the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL. He has an outstanding record in the IPL having 85 wickets in 66 matches with an economy rate of mere 6.2. Narine is very hard to score off at any stage of the innings given the amount of variations in his bowling. With minimal changes in action, he can turn the ball both ways which make it very difficult for the batsmen to pick him.

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/05/Kieron-Pollard-Jos-Buttler.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-66962"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-66962" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Kieron-Pollard-Jos-Buttler.jpg" alt="Kieron Pollard-Jos Buttler Mumbai Indians" width="600" height="448" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-66962" class="wp-caption-text">Kieron Pollard of Mumbai Indians. (Photo Source: IANS)</figcaption>

After missing out from the BBL last season due to a knee injury, the Caribbean T20 specialist returns to play for his side, Adelaide Strikers. The team had a great run last year as they were the table toppers before the knock-outs but lost to the Sydney Thunder in the semi-final. Pollard’s return will certainly boost their chances to go one step further this time around.

Pollard has been one of the most valuable players in the IPL playing for Mumbai Indians. He has helped the side win crucial matches and as a result, Mumbai has 2 IPL and 2 Champions League triumphs. His abilities with the ball, fielding acrobatics and most importantly, the sheer power with the bat make him a complete player in the shortest format of the game.

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/04/Shaun-Marsh.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-62397"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-62397" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Shaun-Marsh.jpg" alt="(Photo Source: BCCI)" width="600" height="383" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-62397" class="wp-caption-text">(Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption>

The southpaw has been associated with the Perth Scorchers since the beginning of the league. He has been a very important player for the side as he gets heaps of runs at the top of the order. He is the leading run-scorer for the Scorchers in the span of 5 seasons and the 3rd on the overall list. He has 1127 runs in 25 innings which have resulted in the team winning the league in the 2nd and the 3rd seasons.

In the IPL, he is with the Kings XI Punjab since his debut in the league in 2008 and has turned up with match winning performances on a number of occasions. He won the orange cap in the very first season for being the top run-getter in the league. In fact, it was his performance in that season which gave him a name on the world stage and resulted in a call-up to his national squad.

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/04/Dwayne-Bravo-1.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-64770"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-64770" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Dwayne-Bravo-1.jpg" alt="Dwayne Bravo" width="600" height="412" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-64770" class="wp-caption-text">Dwayne Bravo. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption>

The all-rounder from Trinidad has extended his stint with the Melbourne Renegades for 3 more seasons. It is a great news for the franchise as they had missed out on a final-four spot in the last season. Bravo had a wonderful outing for the Renegades last year scoring 201 runs with the bat at an average of 50.25 and bagging 6 wickets in 8 matches.

He is currently a part of the Gujarat Lions’ squad in the IPL who had finished on top of the points table last season. He was long associated with the Chennai Super Kings before the team was suspended from the league. He is yet another all-rounder who adds value to every department of the game. He is perhaps the best death bowler currently in the T20 format in the world having the ability to ball deceiving slower ones as well as accurate yorkers.

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/05/Andre-Russell-1.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-65813"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-65813" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Andre-Russell-1.jpg" alt="Kolkata Knight Riders" width="600" height="416" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-65813" class="wp-caption-text">Andre Russell. (Photo Source: IANS)</figcaption>

The Jamaican would be amongst the first few to be picked for any T20 side in the world given his ability with the bat and the ball. Having played a pivotal role in Sydney Thunder’s conquest last season, he is back once again in the squad to boost the title defence. He had bagged 16 wickets and scored 185 at a monstrous strike rate of 186.86 in the 2015/16 season.

In the IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders have kept him in the squad for a long time and he has repaid the faith of the owners by contributing big time. There is possibly nothing he can’t do on a cricket field. He can ball with both new and old balls and consistently over 140 clicks. He has immense power in the arms which shows in his batting strike rates. In the outfield, he is as good as any other fielder in the world.

<p>Cricket Australia’s coveted franchise tournament Big Bash League (BBL) will enter its 6th edition when the defending champions Sydney Thunder take on Sydney Sixers on December 20th. BBL has attracted tremendous crowd attention since its inception in the year 2011 and is perhaps the second most popular franchise T20 tournament after the Indian Premier League (IPL).</p>
<p>Just like every other league around the world, BBL has produced plenty of talented domestic players who have made it to the Australian national team. The league has also witnessed some terrific performances from overseas players which adds to the value of the tournament and promote it over the cricketing fraternity.</p>
<p>There are several players that have made a mark in the IPL in the past who will be in action in the BBL 2016-17. Here are some of them to watch out for in the upcoming season:</p>
<h4><strong>1. Sunil Narine:</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_15381" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-15381" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/04/Sunil-Narine-KKR.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-15381"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-15381" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Sunil-Narine-KKR.jpg" alt="Sunil Narine KKR" width="700" height="475" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-15381" class="wp-caption-text">Sunil Narine KKR. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
<p>The mystery spinner from West Indies will be donning the colours of the Melbourne Renegades. The Renegades had failed to make it to the semi-finals in the last season and finished 5th on the points table. This year, they will hope to turn the fortunes around with the presence of Narine. He has played only once before in the league. In the second season, he represented Sydney Sixers in 5 matches.</p>
<p>The 28-year-old has been an integral part of the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL. He has an outstanding record in the IPL having 85 wickets in 66 matches with an economy rate of mere 6.2. Narine is very hard to score off at any stage of the innings given the amount of variations in his bowling. With minimal changes in action, he can turn the ball both ways which make it very difficult for the batsmen to pick him.</p>
<h4><strong>2. Kieron Pollard:</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_66962" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-66962" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/05/Kieron-Pollard-Jos-Buttler.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-66962"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-66962" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Kieron-Pollard-Jos-Buttler.jpg" alt="Kieron Pollard-Jos Buttler Mumbai Indians" width="600" height="448" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-66962" class="wp-caption-text">Kieron Pollard of Mumbai Indians. (Photo Source: IANS)</figcaption></figure>
<p>After missing out from the BBL last season due to a knee injury, the Caribbean T20 specialist returns to play for his side, Adelaide Strikers. The team had a great run last year as they were the table toppers before the knock-outs but lost to the Sydney Thunder in the semi-final. Pollard’s return will certainly boost their chances to go one step further this time around.</p>
<p>Pollard has been one of the most valuable players in the IPL playing for Mumbai Indians. He has helped the side win crucial matches and as a result, Mumbai has 2 IPL and 2 Champions League triumphs. His abilities with the ball, fielding acrobatics and most importantly, the sheer power with the bat make him a complete player in the shortest format of the game.</p>
<h4><strong>3. Shaun Marsh:</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_62397" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-62397" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/04/Shaun-Marsh.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-62397"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-62397" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Shaun-Marsh.jpg" alt="(Photo Source: BCCI)" width="600" height="383" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-62397" class="wp-caption-text">(Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
<p>The southpaw has been associated with the Perth Scorchers since the beginning of the league. He has been a very important player for the side as he gets heaps of runs at the top of the order. He is the leading run-scorer for the Scorchers in the span of 5 seasons and the 3rd on the overall list. He has 1127 runs in 25 innings which have resulted in the team winning the league in the 2nd and the 3rd seasons.</p>
<p>In the IPL, he is with the Kings XI Punjab since his debut in the league in 2008 and has turned up with match winning performances on a number of occasions. He won the orange cap in the very first season for being the top run-getter in the league. In fact, it was his performance in that season which gave him a name on the world stage and resulted in a call-up to his national squad.</p>
<h4><strong>4. Dwayne Bravo:</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_64770" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-64770" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/04/Dwayne-Bravo-1.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-64770"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-64770" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Dwayne-Bravo-1.jpg" alt="Dwayne Bravo" width="600" height="412" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-64770" class="wp-caption-text">Dwayne Bravo. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
<p>The all-rounder from Trinidad has extended his stint with the Melbourne Renegades for 3 more seasons. It is a great news for the franchise as they had missed out on a final-four spot in the last season. Bravo had a wonderful outing for the Renegades last year scoring 201 runs with the bat at an average of 50.25 and bagging 6 wickets in 8 matches.</p>
<p>He is currently a part of the Gujarat Lions’ squad in the IPL who had finished on top of the points table last season. He was long associated with the Chennai Super Kings before the team was suspended from the league. He is yet another all-rounder who adds value to every department of the game. He is perhaps the best death bowler currently in the T20 format in the world having the ability to ball deceiving slower ones as well as accurate yorkers.</p>
<h4><strong>5. Andre Russell:</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_65813" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-65813" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/05/Andre-Russell-1.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-65813"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-65813" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Andre-Russell-1.jpg" alt="Kolkata Knight Riders" width="600" height="416" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-65813" class="wp-caption-text">Andre Russell. (Photo Source: IANS)</figcaption></figure>
<p>The Jamaican would be amongst the first few to be picked for any T20 side in the world given his ability with the bat and the ball. Having played a pivotal role in Sydney Thunder’s conquest last season, he is back once again in the squad to boost the title defence. He had bagged 16 wickets and scored 185 at a monstrous strike rate of 186.86 in the 2015/16 season.</p>
<p>In the IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders have kept him in the squad for a long time and he has repaid the faith of the owners by contributing big time. There is possibly nothing he can’t do on a cricket field. He can ball with both new and old balls and consistently over 140 clicks. He has immense power in the arms which shows in his batting strike rates. In the outfield, he is as good as any other fielder in the world.</p>

<p>Cricket Australia’s coveted franchise tournament Big Bash League (BBL) will enter its 6th edition when the defending champions Sydney Thunder take on Sydney Sixers on December 20th. BBL has attracted tremendous crowd attention since its inception in the year 2011 and is perhaps the second most popular franchise T20 tournament after the Indian Premier League (IPL).</p>
<p>Just like every other league around the world, BBL has produced plenty of talented domestic players who have made it to the Australian national team. The league has also witnessed some terrific performances from overseas players which adds to the value of the tournament and promote it over the cricketing fraternity.</p>
<p>There are several players that have made a mark in the IPL in the past who will be in action in the BBL 2016-17. Here are some of them to watch out for in the upcoming season:</p>
<h4><strong>1. Sunil Narine:</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_15381" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-15381" style="width: 700px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2015/04/Sunil-Narine-KKR.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-15381"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-15381" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Sunil-Narine-KKR.jpg" alt="Sunil Narine KKR" width="700" height="475"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-15381" class="wp-caption-text">Sunil Narine KKR. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
<p>The mystery spinner from West Indies will be donning the colours of the Melbourne Renegades. The Renegades had failed to make it to the semi-finals in the last season and finished 5th on the points table. This year, they will hope to turn the fortunes around with the presence of Narine. He has played only once before in the league. In the second season, he represented Sydney Sixers in 5 matches.</p>
<p>The 28-year-old has been an integral part of the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL. He has an outstanding record in the IPL having 85 wickets in 66 matches with an economy rate of mere 6.2. Narine is very hard to score off at any stage of the innings given the amount of variations in his bowling. With minimal changes in action, he can turn the ball both ways which make it very difficult for the batsmen to pick him.</p>
<h4><strong>2. Kieron Pollard:</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_66962" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-66962" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/05/Kieron-Pollard-Jos-Buttler.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-66962"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-66962" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Kieron-Pollard-Jos-Buttler.jpg" alt="Kieron Pollard-Jos Buttler Mumbai Indians" width="600" height="448" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-66962" class="wp-caption-text">Kieron Pollard of Mumbai Indians. (Photo Source: IANS)</figcaption></figure>
<p>After missing out from the BBL last season due to a knee injury, the Caribbean T20 specialist returns to play for his side, Adelaide Strikers. The team had a great run last year as they were the table toppers before the knock-outs but lost to the Sydney Thunder in the semi-final. Pollard’s return will certainly boost their chances to go one step further this time around.</p>
<p>Pollard has been one of the most valuable players in the IPL playing for Mumbai Indians. He has helped the side win crucial matches and as a result, Mumbai has 2 IPL and 2 Champions League triumphs. His abilities with the ball, fielding acrobatics and most importantly, the sheer power with the bat make him a complete player in the shortest format of the game.</p>
<h4><strong>3. Shaun Marsh:</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_62397" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-62397" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/04/Shaun-Marsh.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-62397"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-62397" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Shaun-Marsh.jpg" alt="(Photo Source: BCCI)" width="600" height="383" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-62397" class="wp-caption-text">(Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
<p>The southpaw has been associated with the Perth Scorchers since the beginning of the league. He has been a very important player for the side as he gets heaps of runs at the top of the order. He is the leading run-scorer for the Scorchers in the span of 5 seasons and the 3rd on the overall list. He has 1127 runs in 25 innings which have resulted in the team winning the league in the 2nd and the 3rd seasons.</p>
<p>In the IPL, he is with the Kings XI Punjab since his debut in the league in 2008 and has turned up with match winning performances on a number of occasions. He won the orange cap in the very first season for being the top run-getter in the league. In fact, it was his performance in that season which gave him a name on the world stage and resulted in a call-up to his national squad.</p>
<h4><strong>4. Dwayne Bravo:</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_64770" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-64770" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/04/Dwayne-Bravo-1.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-64770"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-64770" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Dwayne-Bravo-1.jpg" alt="Dwayne Bravo" width="600" height="412" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-64770" class="wp-caption-text">Dwayne Bravo. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
<p>The all-rounder from Trinidad has extended his stint with the Melbourne Renegades for 3 more seasons. It is a great news for the franchise as they had missed out on a final-four spot in the last season. Bravo had a wonderful outing for the Renegades last year scoring 201 runs with the bat at an average of 50.25 and bagging 6 wickets in 8 matches.</p>
<p>He is currently a part of the Gujarat Lions’ squad in the IPL who had finished on top of the points table last season. He was long associated with the Chennai Super Kings before the team was suspended from the league. He is yet another all-rounder who adds value to every department of the game. He is perhaps the best death bowler currently in the T20 format in the world having the ability to ball deceiving slower ones as well as accurate yorkers.</p>
<h4><strong>5. Andre Russell:</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_65813" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-65813" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/05/Andre-Russell-1.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-65813"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-65813" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Andre-Russell-1.jpg" alt="Kolkata Knight Riders" width="600" height="416" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-65813" class="wp-caption-text">Andre Russell. (Photo Source: IANS)</figcaption></figure>
<p>The Jamaican would be amongst the first few to be picked for any T20 side in the world given his ability with the bat and the ball. Having played a pivotal role in Sydney Thunder’s conquest last season, he is back once again in the squad to boost the title defence. He had bagged 16 wickets and scored 185 at a monstrous strike rate of 186.86 in the 2015/16 season.</p>
<p>In the IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders have kept him in the squad for a long time and he has repaid the faith of the owners by contributing big time. There is possibly nothing he can’t do on a cricket field. He can ball with both new and old balls and consistently over 140 clicks. He has immense power in the arms which shows in his batting strike rates. In the outfield, he is as good as any other fielder in the world.</p>

5 IPL stars to watch out for in BBL 2016-17

There are several players that have made a mark in the IPL in the past who will be in action in the BBL 2016-17. Here are some of them to watch out for in