EVERY BBL SIDE RATED
MELBOURNE STARS
Have maintained most of their core squad from last season and added batting firepower at the top of the order with Ben Dunk, who somehow slipped through Adelaide Strikers’ fingers in what can only be described as horrible list management.
The Stars’ batting is strong. With Kevin Pietersen still proud and powerful, along with Glenn Maxwell and Luke Wright, they will score heavily.
Bowling looks a bit thin in top quality pace bowlers, but Adam Zampa and the evergreen Michael Beer provide a handy spin duet.
PREDICTION: Top 4 finish again
MELBOURNE RENEGADES
I tipped them to win it last season and they were poor.
They have all bases covered and have no excuses this season. The late withdrawal of West Indian spin wizard Sunil Narine is a big blow, but Mohammad Nabi and Kieron Pollard provide high quality overseas replacements.
Local Geelong duo captain Aaron Finch and wicketkeeper Tim Ludeman should form a dangerous opening combination.
The experience of Cameron White, Brad Hodge and Dwayne Bravo in the middle order will be invaluable.
Old age pensioner Brad Hogg and Jon Holland give them two quality spinners, which is so important on the Etihad Stadium drop in-wicket.
PREDICTION: Grand finalists
SYDNEY SIXERS
Expect captain Moises Henriques to lead the way if his body holds up. He is a very dangerous batsman in this format.
Former South African captain Johan Botha is now an Australian citizen and will play as a local.
Clever planning has given them technically three overseas players. English duo Jason Roy and Sam Billings will provide batting fireworks.
Josh Hazlewood and Mitch Starc are unlikely to play, which leaves the bowling stocks a bit thin. They will rely on Botha and Steve O‘Keefe to spin them to victory. PREDICTION: 4th
PERTH SCORCHERS
The recent Test selection of Shaun Marsh, Mitch Marsh and Cameron Bancroft puts a massive hole in their batting line up.
They will rely heavily on veteran run scorer Michael Klinger to score the bulk of their runs.
Keep an eye on Ashton Turner to hit some big balls this summer.
The bowling unit is strong with plenty of pace options on their list. Nathan Coulter-Nile remains in doubt but Jhye Richardson and Jason Behrendorff are formidable.
Batting weak, bowling strong. They may miss the finals for the first time ever.
PREDICTION: 5th
HOBART HURRICANES
Cellar dwellers of recent times and I don’t think much will change this year.
Big-name coach Gary Kirsten takes over but has a big challenge ahead.
Little-known overseas players Jofra Archer (West Indies) and Tymal Mills (England) will really need to make a name for themselves if Hobart is to climb the ladder.
George Bailey is a clever captain and will be the backbone of a flaky batting line-up. Matthew Wade will get his chance to shine and it needs to be bright. The bowling line-up has variety but no real stars. PREDICTION: Bottom 2
ADELAIDE STRIKERS
What on earth has happened in the off-season in Adelaide?
How’s this for a list of departures: Brad Hodge, Ben Dunk, Kane Richardson, Tim Ludeman, Kieron Pollard, Jon Holland and Adil Rashid. They have lost seven of their best players and with them the hopes of the Strikers.
It will be either a masterstroke or a disaster by coach Jason Gillespie and list manager Tim Nielsen to exit such experience and punt on youth.
The big positive are the two overseas signings of South African dynamic batsmen Colin Ingram and Afghanistan spin guru Rashid Khan. They will need to carry the boys in blue.
6th
SYDNEY THUNDER
On paper, and without the services of Usman Khawaja, they still have a weak list and I will be surprised if they win more than two games.
Shane Watson must fire if they are to surprise a few teams. Ryan Gibson is a super young batting talent to keep an eye on.
As the worst fielding team in the competition with some ageing veterans, they will struggle. Bowling line-up is steady at best.
Bottom 2
BRISBANE HEAT
The best one-two punch in the BBL, Brendon McCullum and Chris Lynn.
If these two get going together, batting records will be broken. The question is: do they possess enough batting resources around them to fire if these two go cheaply?
Alex Ross has threatened and needs to stand up this series. The astute signing of Shadab Khan (Pakistan) could prove a big hit. A leg-spinner with a bamboozling wrong’un, he will cause troubles and can strike a clean ball in the middle order.
Fast bowling is promising but raw. It’s time Ben Cutting fulfilled his potential and becomes a match winning all rounder. PREDICTION: Top 4 — could go all the way