THE TEAMS | AT A GLANCE

ADELAIDE STRIKERS

Coach: Jason Gillespie. Last year: 7th. In: Cameron White (Renegades), Phil Salt (Eng), Harry Conway. Out: Colin Ingram (RSA), Ben Laughlin (Heat). Star men: Rashid Khan (AFG), Phil Salt (ENG). Analysis: Swashbuckling Englishman Phil Salt is the key man in the Strikers’ batting line-up. Salt, 23, was one of the leading run scorers in this year’s English Vitality Blast (406 runs at 36.9 with a strike rate of 161). Afghan spinner Rashid Khan remains the team’s talisman with the ball. BRISBANE HEAT

Coach: Darren Lehmann. Last year: 5th. In: A.B. de Villiers (RSA), Zahir Khan (AFG), Tom Banton (ENG), Ben Laughlin (Strikers), Cameron Gannon (returning). Out: Brendon McCullum (retired), Brendan Doggett (Thunder), Alex Ross (Thunder). Star men: A.B. de Villiers, Chris Lynn. Analysis: New coach Darren Lehmann has pulled off one of the biggest signings in Big Bash history by snaring South African superstar de Villiers for the last six games and, maybe, finals. English youngster Tom Banton (first eight games) and Afghan spinners Zahir Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman will also bring a cutting edge. HOBART HURRICANES

Coach: Adam Griffith. Last year: 1st (lost semi-final). In: Scott Boland (Stars), David Miller (RSA), Nathan Ellis. Out: Johan Botha (retired), Tymal Mills (unsigned), Tim Paine.

Star men: David Miller, D’Arcy Short. Analysis: South African T20 superstar David Miller has signed on but the Hurricanes will miss the bowling of English star Jofra Archer who is on England Test duty. Matthew Wade is also likely to miss the start of the tournament. MELBOURNE RENEGADES

Coach: Michael Klinger.

Last year: 2nd (won grand final).

In: Shaun Marsh (Scorchers), Usman Shinwari (PAK), Faheem Ashraf (PAK).

Out: Cameron White (Strikers), Usman Khan Shinwari (PAK), Chris Tremain (Thunder), Tim Ludeman, Andrew Fekete.

Star men: Aaron Finch, Harry Gurney (ENG). Analysis: The signing of Shaun Marsh from the Scorchers is a huge boost. English death bowling specialist Harry Gurney will be back, although not until midway through Round 5. Usman Shinwari will take his place in the squad until then. MELBOURNE STARS

Coach: David Hussey. Last year: 4th (Lost grand final). In: Dale Steyn (RSA), Hilton Cartwright (Scorchers), Nathan Coulter-Nile (Scorchers), Clint Hinchliffe (Scorchers).

Out: Dwayne Bravo (retired), Jackson Bird (Sixers), Liam Plunkett (ENG), Scott Boland (Hurricanes). Star men: Dale Steyn, Glenn Maxwell. Analysis: The signing of South African superstar Dale Steyn is a huge coup for last season’s runnerup, although he’s only available for the first six games. Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Peter Handscomb, Adam Zampa and Nathan CoulterNile are expected to miss the middle rounds due to ODI commitments in India. PERTH SCORCHERS

Coach: Adam Voges.

Last year: 8th.

In: Chris Jordan (ENG), Liam Livingstone (ENG), Fawad Ahmed (Thunder), Kurtis Patterson (Thunder).

Out: Usman Qadir (PAK), David Willey (ENG), Hilton Cartwright (Stars), Nathan Coulter-Nile (Stars), Michael Klinger (retired), Shaun Marsh (Renegades), Clint Hinchcliffe (Stars).

Star men: Chris Jordan, Liam Livingstone. Analysis: There’s some huge omissions, although the Scorchers have signed two quality imports in Chris Jordan and Liam Livingstone. SYDNEY SIXERS

Coach: Greg Shipperd. Last year: 3rd (lost semi-final). In: Jackson Bird (Stars), Steve Smith. Out: Joe Denly (ENG). Star men: Steve Smith, James Vince (ENG). Analysis: They have the world’s best Test batsman Steve Smith. Taking into account international commitments, he is set to play the final 2-3 regular-season games and finals. The side will have a distinctly English flavour yet again with James Vince and Tom Curran confirmed. SYDNEY THUNDER

Coach: Shane Bond. Last year: 6th. In: Alex Hales (ENG), Chris Morris (RSA), Alex Ross (Heat), Chris Tremain (Renegades). Out: Jos Buttler (ENG), Joe Root (ENG), Chris Jordan (ENG), Fawad Ahmed (Scorchers), Pat Cummins, Shane Watson (retired), Kurtis Patterson (Scorchers). Star men: Alex Hales, Chris Morris. Analysis: The Thunder have lost big names including Jos Buttler, Pat Cummins, Chris Jordan and the now-retired Shane Watson. Alex Hales and Chris Morris will bring in some firepower.