Best XI of the BBL season 6

The sixth edition of the Big Bash League (BBL) came to an end after six weeks of thorough entertainment. It will only be a justifiable statement to say that this edition was the most entertaining of all editions thus far. In a very fitting end to the tournament, the most prolific side emerged as the eventual champions. Perth Scorchers toppled the Sydney Sixers in the final to lift the silverware. The edition saw some brilliant display of batting, bowling and without a doubt – fielding too. Some eye-grabbing catches were on display as the players lit up the tournament.

All in all, it was thorough entertainment. Veteran stars like Mitchell Johnson showed that age is just a number with his heroics in the semi-finals and finals. Youngsters like Mitchell Swepson managed to impress the national selectors and got a call up in the national team for India tour. Chris Lynn and his pyrotechnics for the Brisbane Heat was an absolute treat to watch out for. While the performers were many, there were some that were a cut about the rest.

Here are the top performers of BBL 6 who make it to the Best BBL XI of the season:

Ben Dunk (Adelaide Strikers)

Adelaide Strikers wicketkeeper Ben Dunk was the standout performer for his side this season. Dunk emerged as the leading run-getter of the tournament with 364 runs to his name in the 8 league matches. With 3 fifties to his name, Dunk often ensured that he got runs at the top of the order despite the others failing around him.

He averaged 52 with the bat and the highlight of his season was his strike rate that boasted of number like 163.96. He his the most number of fours in the season with 35 fours to his name.

Michael Klinger (Perth Scorchers)

Michael Klinger was the man of the finals for the champions Perth Scorchers. Klinger ably led the batting order with an unbeaten 71 off just 49 balls with 5 fours and 5 sixes to seal the finale with 9 wickets in hand.

Klinger finished as the third leading run scorer of the season with 334 runs in 10 matches. He struck 3 fifties and averaged close to 38 with the bat. Klinger was solid at the top for the Scorchers and thereby an instrumental player for the champions.

Also check out- Statistical Highlights of the BBL 6

Aaron Finch (Melbourne Renegades)

The Melbourne Renegades skipper was in exceptional form throughout the tournament. Finch was only unlucky to have not led his side to the playoffs. In the 8 matches that he played, he piled up 354 runs – the second highest in this season. He averaged 44.25 with the bat and had a strike rate of 160.90.

He had 4 fifties to boast about in the season and a top score of 71. This season, Aaron Finch also found a new dimension of his game of play. He was quite handy with the ball in the death overs and often played the role of the spinner for his side.

Brendon McCullum (Brisbane Heat)

The Brisbane Heat skipper Brendon McCullum got the fans in the stadium this season. It comes as no surprise that he was one of the most followed players in the 6th edition of the BBL. McCullum did not let down with his batting either. He finished as the top scorer for his team in this season and the fourth highest overall.

He amassed 323 runs in 8 matches at an average of 46.14. His strike rate was 170.89, next to only Chris Lynn among the top 10 batters in the tournament. McCullum had 3 fifties in this season and it never looked as if he has retired from the international format of the game.

Chris Lynn (Brisbane Heat)

The hard-hitting Brisbane Heat batsman Chris Lynn made the tournament his own. His herculean knocks with his pyrotechnics saw the Heats surge to high totals in this season of BBL. In a very interesting stat, Lynn hit a six on every 7th ball during his stay at the crease.

With 26 sixes to his name, he hit the most number of sixes in the tournament. The highlight of his stint this year was his 49-ball unbeaten 98 at Perth. He aggregated 309 runs at an average of 154.50 – the highest in the tournament. He had the strike rate close to 178 – the highest in the tournament.

Kevin Pietersen (Melbourne Stars)

Albeit the Australia coach Darren Lehmann had a suggestion for the Melbourne Stars to axe Kevin Pietersen, the numbers suggest otherwise. Pietersen finished this season of BBL as the leading run-getter for the Stars with 268 runs in 8 matches at an average close to 39. Pietersen’s rare failure came in the semi-final encounter against the Perth Scorchers.

Barring that game, the English batsman was exceptional to watch. He hit two fifties this season and had a top score of 73. He continued his good form in the BBL and seemed like having continued from where he had left in the finals in the last edition.

Sunil Narine (Melbourne Renegades)

The West Indies spin bowling sensation Sunil Narine lived up his reputation. The way he bowled with precision and guile was an absolute treat to watch. He had a good season of BBL for the Melbourne Renegades. In the 8 matches that he played, he conceded in excess of 10 runs an over on just one occasion.

Throughout the season, he maintained an economy of under 8. He bagged 13 wickets in 8 matches with a best of 3/27. He averaged 19.23 with the ball and had the strike rate of mere 14.7.

Dan Christian (Hobart Hurricanes)

Veteran T20 all-rounder Dan Christian had a great time with the ball this season. He might have not excelled in batting to the levels where one would relate him to be, but his bowling more than just covered up for it. He bagged a key five-wicket haul early on in the tournament.

With a best of 5/14, Christian was an economical option for the struggling side of Hobart Hurricanes. He bowled with an economy of mere 7.44 with the new balls. He averaged 14.88 with the ball and had a very impressive strike rate of just 12.

Mitchell Swepson (Brisbane Heat)

The young spin bowler Mitchell Swepson made a name for himself during the tournament this year. His efforts helped the Brisbane Heat choke the opposition batting in the middle overs. Swepson was one of the most successful spinners in the tournament and bagged 12 wickets in 9 matches.

He often chipped in with a wicket or two when the captain needed it. He bowled with an economy of 7.5 and averaged 21.25 with the ball in the tournament and had an impressive strike rate of just 17.

Sean Abbott (Sydney Sixers)

Sydney Sixers pace bowler Sean Abbott finished as the leading wicket-taker of the season. Abbott was a wicket-taking option with the new ball up front and was a vital cog in the wheel for the finalists Sydney Sixers.

Abbott ended up with 20 wickets to his name in 10 matches. He averaged 16.15 with the ball – next to only Mitchell Johnson. He bowled with a strike rate of 11.1 and had the best figures of 5/16 in the season.

Mitchell Johnson (Perth Scorchers)

Left-arm pacer Mitchell Johnson had rolled back the years as he wreaked havoc towards the end of the tournament. His best effort came in the semi-finals against the Melbourne Stars where he returned with the most economical spell in the history of the BBL – 4-2-3-3.

He bowled 3 maidens in this edition of the tournament (2 of them coming in the semi-finals) and was one of the three bowlers to have bowled a maiden in the tournament. He had the economy of 5.91 – the best among all the front line bowlers in this season. In the 9 matches that he played, he scalped 13 wickets at an average of 15.46 and a strike rate of 15.6.