BBL 2018-19: Best pre-tournament XI

Two months of some enthralling action will greet cricketing fans all around the world with the eighth edition of Big Bash League (BBL) kicking off on December 19. Instead of the conventional coin toss, this edition will witness a bat flip. The winner of the toss will be judged based on if it’ll be a ‘hill’ or a ‘flat’. Apart from this, there will many other innovations and much more entertainment in the league.

Also, for the first time ever, the competition is extended to a full home and away season. A total of 56 regular season matches followed by the semi-finals and final will be rivalled. Some of the best talent in Australia along with some massive global stars will be gracing the league.

Ahead of the tournament, there are high expectations on a few cricketers. Hence, an XI is formed with all the players who are available for the league including four overseas cricketers. There were some tough choices made leaving some of the good players out.

Here is the best pre-tournament XI for BBL:

1. Jos Buttler (wk) | Sydney Thunder

Even though there are some better performers in the league, the wicket-keeper spot will be stolen by the debutant Jos Buttler. Along with England Test skipper Joe Root, he signed up for the first time for this league. He is a highly destructive player and will hope to better his awful T20 record while playing in Australia.

Jos Buttler will open the innings in the XI. Since he likes to take the attack onto the bowlers early on in the innings, he is quite a valuable opening option. The 28-year-old strikes the ball at over 140 in T20 cricket and will be representing the Sydney Thunder in this edition of BBL.

2. Aaron Finch | Melbourne Renegades

The ICC Number 3 T20I batsman is a surety to be on this list. Finch is a great exponent in the shortest format of the game. Therefore, stakes will be high on him. The Aussie opener will be leading the Melbourne Renegades in BBL 2018-19 season.

Finch scored 1,669 runs in the tournament thus far in 46 games at a strike rate of 140. He is the second-leading run scorer overall and will wish to go past Michael Klinger who is leading the charts. The 31-year-old will open the innings alongside Buttler in the side. Finch, though, will not be available for the entire duration of the tournament as he is an important part of the Australian team for the ongoing Test series against India.

3. Chris Lynn | Brisbane Heat

Chris Lynn is another one of those big names taking part in the BBL. A clean-hitter of the cricket ball, Lynn has got the ability to dispatch them miles into the stands even on the big Australian grounds. On a given day, he is absolutely unstoppable and is often a nightmare to bowl for the bowlers.

He is the third highest run scorer overall in the league. With 1,560 runs in 49 games, there is immense competition up there at the top to get to the number one position. In the BBL, Lynn has struck the ball at a strike rate of 158 and will walk in at number three in this XI.

4. Travis Head | Adelaide Strikers

Over the years, Travis Head has had a significant impact on the success of Adelaide Strikers. He has been brilliantly accumulating the runs in the middle order and bailing the side out of trouble. This time around, he will be leading the defending champions – Adelaide Strikers.

Head is closing in on 1,000 runs in the Big Bash League. Thus far, he has 988 runs under his belt at an impressive average of 34 and a strike rate of 138. He adds stability to the middle-order in this XI which has got batsmen who like to go all guns blazing. His team will miss him for the first few weeks it seems as Head is the part of the Test team.

5. Glenn Maxwell | Melbourne Stars

Glenn Maxwell is one of the most impressive finishers in the BBL. He is one of those few players who has got over 1,000 runs in the tournament batting down the order. He strikes the ball big and can also come in handy with the ball in hand.

The big-hitting bloke has amassed 1,101 runs in 41 innings at an average of 31 and a strike rate of 154. He will be representing the Melbourne Stars in BBL 2018-19. In this XI, he can be used as a floater and usually will take up the role of a finisher.

6. Dan Christian | Melbourne Renegades

This lineup is filled with big hitters and Dan Christian is the next to follow up Glenn Maxwell. He is one of the better all-rounders in the league and has shown his prowess over the years. Even though he isn’t as successful in the IPL, he is great when playing back at home in Australia.

Christian is in great form at the moment. He did well in the T20 Blast 2018 and adds great balance to the side. He has got 1,091 runs in 56 innings and picked up 47 wickets. The all-rounder will play a crucial role for the Hurricanes down the order this season.

7. Rashid Khan | Adelaide Strikers

Although just 20-years-old, Rashid Khan gives the feeling of a veteran campaigner in the side. He has achieved everything possible at a tender age and is a greatly matured cricketer for his age. He is a brute force with the ball in hand and keeps reinventing himself with the bat.

Rashid made his BBL debut only in the 2017-18 season. This would be the second season for the leg-spinner following up a highly impressive tournament last year. In 11 games, Rashid picked up 18 wickets and was crucial in helping the Adelaide Strikers lift the trophy last year. His role with the bat will be critical in this XI.

8. Jofra Archer | Hobart Hurricanes

While the 2017-2018 season was the breakthrough year for Jofra Archer, he actually made his BBL debut back in 2011. In the maiden season of the tournament, he featured in one game when he was just 16 years old. He picked one wicket in that game and conceded four runs. Yet, he didn’t get as many opportunities after that.

However, 2017-18 was a revelation for the youngster. He picked 16 wickets in 12 games and did everything he was asked to do. He notched up some unbelievable pace, bowled brilliant spells under pressure and was great on the field. Furthermore, his double wicket maiden was one of the biggest highlights of the league last year.

9. Andrew Tye | Perth Scorchers

Andrew Tye is a great exponent of T20 cricket. His variations are highly deceptive and often outfoxes the batsmen with the countless tricks that he has up his sleeve. Even though he goes for runs at times, very seldom do we find his wickets column empty.

In a very few games, Tye has tasted some great success in the BBL. In only 38 games, he picked up 55 scalps and is already the fourth-highest wicket-taker. His economy rate of 7.21 is just as impressive and will look to keep picking wickets even in this season as well.

10. Mujeeb Ur Rahman | Brisbane Heat

Mujeeb Ur Rahman is only the third Afghan player to feature in the league after the Brisbane Heat signed him up in October this year. Just like his countryman Rashid, Mujeeb has tasted some great success at a tender age. He has got the ability to open the bowling and gives his captain some highly clinical overs in the powerplay.

The 17-year-old, however, hasn’t got much experience playing in Australia. But being the quick learner that he is, Mujeeb will catch up quickly and expect him to light up some fireworks in this edition.

11. Ben Laughlin | Adelaide Strikers

The highest wicket-taker in the history of Big Bash League, Ben Laughlin is a sure shot selection for this XI. Just like Andrew Tye, he has got many varieties of deliveries which confuses the batsmen. The 36-year-old, however, despite the impeccable record in domestic cricket and the BBL hasn’t got as many opportunities at the international stage.

Having reached the twilight of his career, Ben Laughlin would be looking to put up an impressive performance and contribute in Adelaide Strikers’ title defence. In 62 games, this Victoria pacer has picked up 85 wickets and will hope to be the first bowler to get to 100 scalps.

12th Man

Shane Watson | Sydney Thunder

Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson was out of action for a while after the IPL 2018. He carried a few niggles during the tournament. Hence, there were clouds of uncertainty over his participation in the BBL. However, the 37-year-old proved his fitness by taking part in the T10 League this year.

Even though he didn’t bowl in the tournament, he fared well with the bat playing for the Sindhis. He notched up two half-centuries in six games and got into the 40s twice. He will be representing the Sydney Thunder in the tournament and will be the all-rounder in this XI.

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