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Team-by-team preview for the upcoming Big Bash League, which is entering its 10th edition.
HOW EACH TEAM IS SHAPING UP FOR THE 10TH EDITION OF THE BIG BASH LEAGUE:-
ADELAIDE STRIKERS
BBL09: 4th
Key Ins: Matthew Renshaw (Brisbane Heat), Daniel Worrall (Melbourne Stars), Danny Briggs (England)
Key Outs: Billy Stanlake (Melbourne Stars), Cameron White (retired), Jake Lehmann.
Player to watch: Afghani legspinner Rashid Khan has been a BBL revelation for a number of years. His stunning hat-trick against champions, the Sydney Sixers, last season showed how dangerous he is.
The Strikers have improved, on paper, and will fancy their chances of adding a second title to the one they claimed back in 2018. Their inclusions will all likely feature the entire campaign.
BRISBANE HEAT
BBL09: 7th
Key Ins: Morne Morkel (Perth Scorchers), Jack Wildermuth, Tom Cooper (both Melbourne Renegades)
Key Outs: AB de Villiers (retired), Ben Cutting (Sydney Thunder), Matthew Renshaw (Adelaide Strikers), Cameron Gannon (Perth Scorchers), James Pattinson (Melbourne Renegades), Zahir Khan (Melbourne Stars).
Player to watch: Captain Chris Lynn has struggled to stay on the park in recent times but at his best is one of the BBL's most explosive players. Lynn enters this campaign injury-free and in good form.
Coming off a disastrous campaign where not even one of the world's best-ever batsmen, AB de Villiers, was able to push them into the finals. Lost plenty of depth and might again struggle to match it with the best.
HOBART HURRICANES
BBL09: 5th
Key Ins: Peter Handscomb, Sandeep Lamichhane (Melbourne Stars), Dawid Malan (England), Colin Ingram (South Africa), Keemo Paul (West Indies)
Key Outs: George Bailey, David Miller, Qais Ahmad, Clive Rose
Player to watch: You can't go past the world's top-ranked Twenty20 player. Dawid Malan averages more than 50 for England in T20Is and he is sure to give opposition BBL bowling attacks nightmares.
The Hurricanes are still looking for their maiden title and this season shapes as another golden opportunity to do it. Some huge inclusions who will boost the batting (Handscomb, Malan and Ingram) and bowling (Lamichhane and Paul).
MELBOURNE RENEGADES
BBL09: 8th (wooden spoon)
Key Ins: James Pattinson, Josh Lalor, Jack Prestwidge (Heat), Imran Tahir, Rilee Rossouw (South Africa), Noor Ahmad (Afghanistan),
Key Outs: Dan Christian (Sydney Sixers), Tom Cooper, Jack Wildermuth (Brisbane Heat), Richard Gleeson, Harry Gurney (England)
Player to watch: Imran Tahir will be spinning webs around opposition batting line-ups. Despite being 41, the South African is always a threat.
Hard to see last season's strugglers improving drastically. They have Australian white-ball skipper Aaron Finch, but much of the Renegades' batting hopes rest with him.
MELBOURNE STARS
BBL09: Runners-up
Key Ins: Billy Stanlake (Adelaide Strikers), Zahir Khan (Brisbane Heat), Will Pucovski, Andre Fletcher
Key Outs: Dale Steyn, Peter Handscomb, Sandeep Lamichhane, Daniel Worrall, Haris Rauf
Player to watch: Glenn Maxwell has been in extraordinary form in Australia's white-ball matches and he will feature heavily for the Stars during the month-long Test window.
The Stars were set to have the services of Jonny Bairstow before the power-hitter received a call-up to England's Test squad. Despite that huge out, the perennial bridesmaids will yet again be in a position to challenge for the title.
PERTH SCORCHERS
BBL09: 6th
Key ins: Colin Munro (New Zealand), Joe Clarke, Jason Roy (England), Cameron Gannon (Brisbane Heat)
Key outs: Chris Jordan, Morne Morkel
Player to watch: England opener Jason Roy will spearhead the Scorchers' batting line-up and much will rest on his shoulders.
The three-time champions have stumbled in the last two BBLs and it will take something special from them to seriously challenge for a record fourth title.
SYDNEY SIXERS
BBL09: Champions
Key Ins: Dan Christian (Melbourne Renegades), Carlos Brathwaite (West Indies), Mitchell Starc
Key Outs: Josh Hazlewood, Steve Smith
Player to watch: Josh Philippe is one of the rising stars of Australian cricket and an international debut isn't far off. He will again form a lethal opening partnership with England's James Vince.
Hit top-gear at the right time last season, but won't be able to call on Australian stars Smith and Hazlewood, who have completely ruled themselves out of BBL duties. Christian and Brathwaite are more than handy inclusions, however.
SYDNEY THUNDER
BBL09: 3rd
Key Ins: Sam Billings (England), Ben Cutting (Brisbane Heat)
Key Outs: Jay Lenton, Chris Morris, Gurinder Sandhu
Player to watch: Daniel Sams enjoyed a breakout BBL09, snaring 30 wickets and earning a spot in the team of the tournament.
A well-balanced team that came close to securing a spot in last season's final, the Thunder will again be a threat with a consistent side that will be barely affected by international departures.
