BBL 2017-18: The Best XI of the tournament

After close to two months of some exciting entertainment, the Big Bash League has finally come to a close. The seventh edition of the tournament treated the fans with some great visual treat throughout the Australian summer. The Adelaide Strikers emerged as the victorious team in the tournament beating the Hobart Hurricanes in the finals. They were very clinical with their performances throughout the tournament and all the players contributed towards the wins. Their captain Travis Head was terrific during the course of the league. Jake Weatherald was awarded the ‘Man of the Match’ for his brilliant century in the finals. He scored 115 runs in only 70 balls which formed the bulk of Adelaide’s total. D’Arcy Short was awarded the ‘Player of the Series’ for his terrific performances. Here is the best XI of the Big Bash League: 1. D’Arcy Short (Hobart Hurricanes) D’Arcy Short of the Hurricanes celebrates his century. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images) D’Arcy Short has been one of the biggest revelations of BBL|07. He is the top scorer of the tournament and played a very crucial role in taking Hobart Hurricanes to the finals. Following up his impressive performances, Short also received his maiden IPL call-up. He was picked by the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL at INR 4 crores. This young lad packs a punch and can hit the ball long. He is a slow left-arm orthodox bowler and can roll his arm over as and when required. He also blasted the highest individual score in BBL history this season. In this season, Short scored 573 runs at a staggering average of 63.66. However, his efforts weren’t enough to help his side lift the trophy. 2. Alex Carey(WK) (Adelaide Strikers) Alex Carey of the Adelaide Strikers celebrates after reaching his century. (Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images) Alex Carey was another significant performer in the Big Bash League this year. Apart from his batting abilities, Carey doubles up in the side as the wicketkeeper. Carey had a terrific Sheffield 2016-17 season. He effected the most dismissals (59) by a wicketkeeper in a single season and became only the fourth gloveman to score at least 500 runs and 50 dismissals in a Shield series. He continues to build up his reputation as one of the emerging stars of the sport. In BBL-7, Carey ended up as the second leading run scorer. He scored 443 runs in 11 games at a terrific average of 49.22. He also has a century to his name and owns a great strike rate of 141.53. He perfectly complements D’Arcy Short at the top of the order and these two prolific run-getters can provide great starts to the team. 3. Cameron White (Melbourne Renegades) Cameron White. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images) A level-headed cricketer of immense talent, Cameron White long seemed destined to play a significant role for Australia. Apart from his batting exploits, White did a terrific job captaining the side. Melbourne Renegades have had a great BBL tournament but unfortunately ended up getting kicked out of the tournament in the semifinals. Following up an impressive BBL, he was also recalled to the Australian national side ahead of Glenn Maxwell. In BBL-7, White was a key member of his team with the bat and is also the second highest run-getter for the Renegades. In just the eight matches that he played, he scored 304 runs at an average of 76, the highest this season. He is a great addition to this team and can also take up the vice-captain’s role. 4. Glenn Maxwell (Melbourne Stars) Glenn Maxwell of the Stars bats. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images) Maxwell is one of the fastest scorers in the modern era and can turn the game upside down within no time. He is known to hit the ball long and hard. Also, he has some unique shots like the reverse sweep in his armor that often upsets the plans of the bowlers. He is also a handy off-spinner but has failed with his consistency. He has been in and out of the Australian squad for quite some time now. However, he had a decent BBL this year and is among the top run scorers. Although the Melbourne Stars had a dismal season ending up last on the points table, Maxwell was a positive for them. He scored 299 runs in the 9 matches he played at an average of 37.37. His strike rate of 154.12 definitely stands apart and has a high score of 84 this season. 5. Travis Head (C) (Adelaide Strikers) Travis Head of the Adelaide Strikers. (Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images) Travis Head is evolving as a crucial member of the Australian middle order. Head is in some great form with the bat and played a very important role Adelaide Strikers’ triumph in BBL-7. Head also has built a reputation as one of the most devastating batsmen in Australian cricket and scored closed to 1000 runs in BBL. The Adelaide Strikers’ skipper will also take charge of this team. Head scored 374 runs in the 9 matches he played. He is the fourth leading run scorer in the tournament and averages 53.42. He had to miss a few games for the Strikers in between because of his Australian national duties. He could have ended up with a much higher runs tally had he played all the games in the tournament. He is also a great asset with the ball and can open the bowling for the team. 6. Tom Cooper (Melbourne Renegades) Mitch Swepson shakes hands with Tom Cooper. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images) Tom Cooper is another important member of the Renegades squad and played a crucial role in their success. The Australian-born Netherlands cricketer is one of the leading run scorers for Renegades. He got an opportunity to represent the Netherlands due to his mother’s place of birth. Cooper also comes in handy with the ball at times. He managed to pick one wicket in this league and bowled at an economy rate of 7.42. He assumes the role of the finisher for the Renegades. Cooper has had a very good BBL-7 scoring 298 runs at an average of almost 50. His top score in the tournament is 65* and he maintained a strike rate of 141.23 throughout the league. He also managed to tonk 12 big sixes and smashed 24 boundaries. 7. Dwayne Bravo (Melbourne Renegades) Dwayne Bravo of the Renegades celebrates. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images) Dwayne Bravo is definitely one of the best T20 players from around the world. He can play the big shots and is also more than handy with the ball. He bowls at the death and isn’t is no easy to get him away. DJ adds some great balance to the team he plays for and is a terrific fielder too. He has been the captain of the Melbourne Renegades in the BBL this season, something that has attributed to their success. Bravo didn’t have a great BBL with the bat. He only managed to score 100 runs in 11 games at a meager average of 20. However, he was one of the top performers with the ball. He finished the tournament as the joint-highest wicket taker with 18 wickets alongside Rashid Khan. However, his economy was on the higher side and hence he ended being second on the list. 8) Rashid Khan (Adelaide Strikers) Adelaide Strikers’ Rashid Khan celebrates dismissing Renegades Cameron White. (Photo by Pat Scala/Getty Images) The 19-year-old Rashid Khan is stirring up waves in the T20 leagues around the world. Over the last 24 months, he has been in stupendous form. The Afghanistan leg-spinner has taken the Big Bash by storm in his maiden season, finishing up as the joint-top wicket-taker with 18 scalps to his name, alongside Dwayne Bravo. However, a better economy rate helped him top the list of highest wicket-takers. Young Rashid is a great prospect to have in any team. He hits the right areas and also bowls some sharp googlies. He bowled at just an economy rate of 5.65 and average of 13.83 in this tournament. Also, he has a terrific strike rate of 14.6. Rashid can also hit the ball long and can add up some crucial runs towards the end of the innings. 9. Andrew Tye (Perth Scorchers) Andrew Tye. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images) Andrew Tye was the go-to man for Adam Voges at the Perth Scorchers in the games that he played. He has been a terrific performer with the ball for quite some time now and is an important member of the Australian national team. Tye who is a late bloomer in domestic cricket managed to pick 55 wickets in just the 38 BBL matches that he played so far. He has a highly deceptive slower ball in his armor that often takes the batsman by surprise. Tye had an unbelievable BBL season this year.He managed to pick 16 wickets just in 6 matches and stands third on the list of top-wicket takers. He is also picked a fifer in the tournament and just averages 12. Further, he has a mind-boggling strike rate of 8.8 and is definitely is one of the best performers of the tournament. 10. Ben Laughlin (Adelaide Strikers) Ben Laughlin of the Adelaide Strikers celebrates. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images) The 35-year-old Ben Laughlin is the all-time leading wicket-taker in the Big Bash League. He picked 85 wickets in 62 matches so far and has the best bowling figures of 4/8. A veteran of the limited overs formats, Laughlin’s pinpoint accuracy and subtle change of pace will provide a challenge to even the most accomplished batsmen. Yet again, he ended as one of the top performers of BBL 2017-18. Laughlin is an important member of the Adelaide Strikers and played a very important role in their success. He picked 16 wickets this season in the 12 matches that he played at an average of 23. His best figures in the tournament read 4/26 and has an economy rate of 8.36. 11. Jofra Archer (Hobart Hurricanes) Jofra Archer of the Hobart Hurricanes. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images) Jofra Archer is another best find from the Big Bash League. He has turned many heads in this tournament and the Hurricanes have already signed him for the next two seasons. Archer bowls at some great pace and also hits the right areas. He is not so easy to get away. Further, he is a lightning fast fielder. His ‘caught and bowled’ and his run-out from the deep are two of his best moments in the field. Archer has also garnered praise from Dale Steyn for his impressive performances. He ended the league as the joint-second highest wicket-taker. He picked 16 wickets in the 12 matches that he played at an economy rate of 7.96. His best figures read 3/4 and also, he was picked by the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL for INR 7.2 crores.

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