BRING ON THE BASH
KNOW THE ENEMY: Your club-by-club guide
ADELAIDE STRIKERS
Last year: Champion (9-3)
Marquee player: Rashid Khan (Afg). What’s the right mindset facing Khan? Protect your wicket and chew up valuable balls or hit out, and likely get out? The leg-spinning prodigy rarely gives up a boundary.
X-Factor: Alex Carey. Australia’s ODI vice-captain and keeper was dubbed a “gun in all facets” by the great Adam Gilchrist. Enough said.
Sam says: Took the BBL by storm last summer with a youthful line-up bursting with energy and acrobatic field catches. Batting firepower plus Khan means they should be extending the trophy cabinet.
BRISBANE HEAT
Last year: 7th (4-6)
Marquee player: Chris Lynn. Forget Lynn’s flimsy international record, he has crunched 1607 runs at a strikerate of 156 for the Heat. Dodgy shoulder hurts his fielding but not his rope-clearing.
X-Factor: Brendon McCullum (NZ). The little Kiwi remains a shrewd tactical thinker who will be able to help new captain Lynn. Oh, and at 37 the batting dynamite remains.
Sam says: Bat speed, courtesy of Lynn and McCullum is once again the strength. But they have finally invested more in the ball by signing strike quick James Pattinson.
HOBART HURRICANES
Last year: Runner-up (6-6)
Marquee player: D’Arcy Short. Billed as the new David Warner for his blazing style and backed as a Test smoky last summer. Fun to watch.
X-Factor: Jofra Archer. Signed late as a replacement player, he was the find of last summer. Searing pace and swagger earned him instant cult-hero status. Eligible to play for England in next year’s Ashes.
Sam says: In an era of slower-ball saturation in T20, the Canes will again look to overheat the speed gun with Archer and Tymal Mills. Short helped shoot them to the final and if he again catches fire they will be the wildcard.
MELBOURNE RENEGADES
Last year: 4th (6-5) Marquee player: Aaron Finch. Finch has been the poster boy since day dot. With him in the Test whites, could stalwart Tom Cooper emerge from the shadows?
X-Factor: Dan Christian. T20 success has long stalked Christian and he is a crowd pleaser. Remember that 117m six launched on to the Gabba roof?
Sam says: The BBL’s chameleon — a flexible squad able to transform depending on the opposition. Replacing Finch and Harris at the top is a hard ask though.
MELBOURNE STARS
Last year: Last (2-9) Marquee player: Dwayne Bravo. Bravo’s three kids are named after him — daughter Dwaynice and sons Dwayne Bravo Jr (DJ) and Dwade. Doesn’t that say it all for the king of cool who the Stars stole from the Renegades?
X-Factor: Glenn Maxwell. No more Shane Warne, no more KP … Maxi is now the man. And you sense he might relish it. True all-rounder — explosive batter, handy bowler and rocket-armed fielder.
Sam says: Stars have loaded up on leg-spin after an overdue list rejuvenation following last summer’s stale stench.
PERTH SCORCHERS
Last year: 3rd (8-3) Marquee player: Mitchell Marsh. The Test team’s loss should be the Scorchers’ gain. World-class allrounder gives new coach Adam Voges yet another superstar in his overloaded line-up.
X-Factor: Ashton Turner. WA native Brad Hogg reckons this bloke could captain Australia. Smart cricket brain pairs well with his hard hitting.
Sam says: A lethal speed attack which can defend tiny totals. But will it fire on the new Perth Stadium pitch (and not the bouncy WACA?)
SYDNEY SIXERS
Last year: 5th (4-6)
Marquee player: Sean Abbott. Impressive quick who picked up 13 wickets last summer, including 10 in three hot games.
X-Factor: Lloyd Pope. A young legspinner with flaming red hair. If Pope — who skittled England with 8-35 in the Under-19 World Cup — gets going, the fans will flock.
Sam says: Rattled home with six straight wins last summer but it again looks a squad thin on match-winners.
SYDNEY THUNDER
Last year: 6th (4-6)
Marquee player: Joe Root (Eng). David Warner’s old sparring partner will make his debut in an overseas T20 league. England Test captain was dropped by their T20 line-up this year.
X-Factor: Jos Buttler. Root brings the class and countryman Butler brings the fireworks. Averaged 34 and struck two half-centuries from six Thunder games last summer.
Sam says: The perennial underachiever (save for their shock championship season), they have signed new coach Shane Bond (NZ).