MARQUEE ATTRACTION
AB is coming! But bringing in an overseas star to the Big Bash isn’t as simple as hunting big names. As Matt Cleary writes, many teams have found their answer wrapped in a (man of) mystery.
De Villiers is coming! But he’s not the only one, writes Matt Cleary.
The Big Bash League, now in its ninth iteration, has trended to the mysterious. Big names and gun kids abound, as always. But where once team lists were punctuated by big-bashing, bling-toting West Indians, today they’re dotted with superstar South Africans, young gun Englishmen, and international men of mystery.
Big bashers at the top of the order, like your code of football’s fullback, full-forward or striker, remain in vogue, as do high-speed leather-men. Because cricket. But also because fireworks are sexy, and the game is ultimately show business.
To that end, the young and “unknown” from exotic lands bring eyeballs to televisions. There’s the potential of youth, the beauty of it. There’s wow factor. There’s the wonder of a kid from Nepal bowling skidders on the MCG.
Step forward Melbourne Stars Nepalese mystery man Sandeep Lamichhane, “discovered” by Stars list manager Trent Woodhill playing for Delhi Capitals nee Daredevils. Stars coach David Hussey had seen the value in “unknown” Afghanis at other franchises. Sandeep was the missing part that powered Melbourne to last year’s final.
“Sandeep’s been such a breath of fresh air,” says Hussey. “He can bowl the first over, bowl the last over. He’s had a ball in Melbourne.
Really enthusiastic.
“We were missing a mystery spinner like Rashid Khan or Mujeeb Ur Rahman. We love having him around.”
A player like Sandeep, celebrating with such gusto, makes for good TV. The BBL, like all pro sports, is an entertainment. The “show” part of the business appeals to some – See Kevin Pietersen, Chris Gayle, Shane Warne. “Big” personalities. Big showmen. Sandeep is 19 and
celebrates like he’s won Lotto.
Heat off-spinner Mujeeb is 18 years old, has played one Test match. Video of him is obviously scant. Hussey reckons Afghani Mohammad Nabi of the Renegades is “probably the most underrated player in the competition”.
“It’s just a different style of cricket,” says Hussey. “Nabi will swing from ball one, strike at 200. The Australian style is, even in T20, take a few balls to get your eye in and catch up the back end. It’s good to have a point of difference.”
Ask Adelaide Strikers coach Jason Gillespie to name the best overseas players he’s seen in BBL and he’ll nod along to suggestions of Pietersen, Gayle, Brendon McCullum. He’ll throw in Jos
Buttler. He’ll agree that newly signed Brisbane Heat player AB de Villiers is the biggest name of the incoming batch, probably biggest name ever. But Gillespie will argue he’s got a better one. “Rashid Khan can bowl leggies, top-spinners, wrong uns at a good pace. He’s effectively a fast leg-spinner. It’s very hard to use your feet and get down the track to Rash,” says Gillespie.
“He’s been successful all over the world. Good in the field, he can whack a few with the stick. His demeanour is very positive. He’s great around the team, fantastic with fans. He’s a top human being, the all-round package.
“Of course AB de Villiers is a huge name. So is Dale Steyn. But I would argue Rashid, in T20
“AS A COACH YOU WANT TO BE AS UNPREDICTABLE AS POSSIBLE. THE LOCALS CAN GET A SENSE OF WHAT’S COMING … THE AFGHANIS AND NEPALESE PLAYERS, NO-ONE’S SEEN THEM PLAY.”
terms, is a bigger contributor. He’s the no.1 T20 bowler in the world. And he has been for the last few years. And he’s committed to the Adelaide Strikers. We’re very lucky to have him.”
Rashid is a master of mixing things up. Put it to Hussey that bowlers are aiming for six different offerings per over because if batters have pre-conceived ideas of what’s coming it’s like Kevin Costner telling a batter that Tim Robbins will be throwing the fastball in Bull Durham, and he nods.
“As a coach you want to be as unpredictable as possible. The locals can get a sense of what’s coming. Rashid’s been great for the Strikers and Sandeep’s been great for us. The Afghanis and Nepalese players, no-one’s seen them play.”
The Afghanis and Nepalese new boys bowl with angles and flight, arm action and fingerwork that Australians may not be used to. They use various bounce and what’s called “skid”. There’s research required to face these people. And if net practice is less useful than facing the man centre-wicket, peering into YouTube on your phone is less useful again.
Gillespie says the Adelaide franchise favours “stability” in their marquee men over short cameo stints. They want them for the full season and beyond. De Villiers and Steyn are, of course, superstars. They will play half the season and in something of a tragedy for marketeers, effectively wave hello and goodbye to each other at the airport. Hopefully Jofra Archer (of the Hurricanes) can fling a few at De Villiers and Steve Smith (possibly for the Sixers).
Star power, youth and mystery still sell, however. And Englishmen provide plenty. Tom Curran and James Vince will trot out in Sixers’
magenta, Alex Hales in Thunder green. The
Perth Scorchers have a very good one in all-rounder Chris Jordan. The Renegades’ Harry Gurney is described as “an English death bowler”. Cracking handle. The Nottingham ripper has a yorker in him, and a few others, and can do it business end, under pressure.
The Heat’s Tom Banton is 20. He’s played for England. Liam Livingstone is 26, he’s at Perth Scorchers. Phil Salt, 23, is with Adelaide Strikers. A dasher, he’s opened the batting for Sussex with Luke Wright. Pat Brown, 21, of Worcestershire has dominated English T20 matches with his off-cutters and knuckleballs. He’ll replace Steyn at the Stars.
Of course the biggest signing, and arguably the best cricketer to don BBL’s Power Ranger-like colours, is the brilliant Abraham Benjamin “AB” de Villiers. Though he’ll play the last half-dozen games, his name is a huge boon to BBL marketability. Even his opponents are looking forward to seeing him.
“I’m rapt he’s here,” says Stars coach Hussey. “He’ll be great for the tournament. Hopefully it’s the start of more top South African, English, Kiwi players coming over to make it the best comp outside IPL.”
A chance meeting with a sports agent in London before the Lord’s Ashes Test saw Hussey recruit another great South African. “Over a coffee, we talked about the BBL, and I said I didn’t know who was available. He said, ‘How about Dale Steyn?’ I said, ‘Yes! He’ll do!’”
Especially to complement a mystery man.
DE VILLIERS IS ARGUABLY THE BEST CRICKETER TO DON BBL’S POWER RANGER-LIKE COLOURS … EVEN HIS OPPONENTS ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING HIM. “I’M RAPT HE’S HERE,” SAYS STARS COACH HUSSEY.