BBL 2018-19: One probable stand-out player from each franchise

The Big Bash League (BBL) is back again with a revamped structure in 2018-19. BBL 08 will witness more games where each team is set to play 14 games, up from 10 games each that was played in BBL 07. The 59-game extravaganza will run for nearly two months starting from December 19 until February 17. Eight teams will feature in BBL 08: Hobart Hurricanes, Adelaide Strikers, Melbourne Renegades, Brisbane Heat, Perth Scorchers, Melbourne Stars, Sydney Sixers, and Sydney Thunders. Each of the teams is allowed to have an 18-member squad with 2 of them being overseas players. Each player sees these T20 leagues as an opportunity to perform well so that they can come in the good books of the selectors. Over the years, the Big Bash League in Australia has seen plenty of outstanding players turning out for the different teams and leaving a mark with their performances. This season is no different. Australian T20 league, this year also, will witness certain players who will entertain the viewers with their game and make the tournament their own. Let’s have a look at a probable stand-out player from each of these eight franchises based on their recent performances. Rashid Khan (Adelaide Strikers) Rashid Khan of the Adelaide Strikers celebrates after dismissing Ben Rohrer. (Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images) The young Afghanistan cricketer is one of the most wanted T20 players across the leagues with every franchise wanting to have him. Rashid Khan’s unorthodox spin bowling is known worldwide with even the best batsmen in the world finding him hard to tackle. The all-rounder, apart from taking wickets at a low economy rate, is a very handy lower middle order batsman using the long handle to good effect. The 20-year-old leggie will be the trump card for the defending champions this year as well in BBL 08. The leg-spinner claimed 18 wickets at 13.83 last season, conceding just 5.65 runs per over and his performance was the main reason behind Strikers’ successful campaign in BBL 07. Chris Lynn (Brisbane Heat) Chris Lynn. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images) Chris Lynn, the skipper of Brisbane Heat, is known as the hardest hitter of a cricket ball among the modern day players. The right-hander, known for hitting monster sixes, is capable of tearing any bowling apart on his day. Lynn holds the record for the most number of sixes in the Big Bash history. Known by the nickname Lynnsanity, the Queenslander who signed a five-year million dollar contract with Heat in 2017 is definitely the player the Brisbane based franchise will be banking upon for a successful run in BBL 08. If his shoulder injury remains side-lined, Lynn can be the biggest match winner for his team. Last season, Lynn alongside Brendon Mccullum (known as Bash Brother) got the Heat off to plenty of fast starts and if the pair can again fire throughout the summer, the Heat will play finals. D’Arcy Short (Hobart Hurricanes) D’Arcy Short of the Hurricanes celebrates his century. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images) D’Arcy Short will feature in any of the starting XI if you’re picking the best XI from entire BBL competitions so far. The southpaw had a dream BBL outing last season taking his side single-handedly to the finals where they lost to Adelaide Strikers. His exploits with the bat last season earned him the Man of the Tournament award and also a place in Australian colored outfit. The Hurricanes must be expecting exactly similar performances from the left-hander this season as well. The southpaw scored 572 runs in BBL 07 and ended as the highest run-getter in the tournament. In September 2018, Short blasted a 148-ball 257 playing for Western Australia against Queensland which is the highest individual score by an Australian in One Day cricket. He is definitely the most feared batsman in this season’s BBL as well and is a player to watch out for. Aaron Finch (Melbourne Renegades) Aaron Finch of the Renegades celebrates making his half-century. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images) Aaron Finch is one of the top-ranked T20 players in the world and is also the first and only player to breach the 900 rating points in the shortest format of the game. The captain of the Renegades also holds the record for highest individual T20 international score making 172 against Zimbabwe in July 2018. With so many T20 records to his name, the shortest format is tailor-made for the Australian T20 captain and Geelong based Renegades would be expecting quick and fiery starts from the Geelong native Finch. The right-handed hard-hitting batsman who won the Australian T20 Player of the Year award in February 2018 has to bring all his experience down the table and help Renegades win its maiden BBL trophy. Andrew Tye (Perth Scorchers) Andrew Tye of the Perth Scorchers celebrates win after taking the final wicket. (Photo by Daniel Carson/Getty Images) Perth-born Andrew Tye was a late bloomer in the domestic circuit. In BBL04 Tye was a major contributor to Perth’s second successive Big Bash title and was labeled as ‘find of the tournament’ by the Australian T20 captain Aaron Finch. In 2018 IPL, the right-arm pacer was the highest wicket taker of the tournament with 24 wickets from 14 matches. The 32-year-old bowler who holds the record for most T20 hat-tricks could be the stand-out player for the most successful BBL franchise and his performances with the ball will play a huge role in Scorchers’ success. Tye is very clinical with his variations with the ball and this is the reason why he enjoyed success during IPL 2018. In BBL 07, the Western Australian lad took 16 wickets at 8.8 balls per scalp. Marcus Stoinis (Melbourne Stars) Melbourne Stars player Marcus Stoinis hits the ball during the Big Bash League match. (Photo by Jono Searle/Getty Images) Marcus Stoinis is now a regular feature in the Australian limited-overs squads owing to his brilliant performances both with the bat and the ball. The Aussie all-rounder is known for his hard-hitting exploits with the bat and more than handy medium pace bowling. Owing to his successful outing for the Australian team in the international circuit, Stoinis signed a four-year contract with the greens this year. In his second ODI against New Zealand at Eden Park, the 29-year-old captured attention by claiming 3-49 and then scoring 146 not out, batting at No. 7 to help Australia pull off a remarkable win. His innings included a whopping 11 sixes. Playing five matches for the Stars in BBL 07, Stoinis scored 179 runs striking at 144.35 which included a gutsy 99 in Brisbane against the Heat. He also contributed with the ball taking five wickets in the season. Melbourne Stars will be eyeing on him to take them to their maiden BBL title. Joe Denly (Sidney Sixers) Joe Denly. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images) Joe Denly, in BBL 07, was roped in as a replacement of fellow countryman Jason Roy in the Sydney Sixers side owing to the latter’s commitment to national duties. He left no stone unturned in the four games he played during that season scoring 146 runs at an average of 73.00 with a top score of 72 not out which led to his resigning by the Sydney based franchise in BBL 08. Denly had a good time in the T20 Blast and PSL and will count on the same to perform for Sydney Sixers. The 32-year-old played 12 matches for Karachi Kings in PSL 2018 and ended as the fourth highest run-getter in the tournament with 323 runs. His recent good performances with the willow will definitely be a morale booster for the Sixers who are eyeing on him for providing an ideal start at the top. Jos Buttler (Sydney Thunder) Jos Buttler of England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images) Jos Buttler is one of the top limited-overs batsmen in the world known for his exquisite power hitting. An exciting stroke-maker, Butler has gained the reputation for being England’s player for the shorter formats of cricket. The wicket-keeper batsman enjoyed a stellar 2018 IPL with Rajasthan Royals piling 548 runs in 13 matches at a stunning average of 54.40. Sydney Thunders would be hoping for a similar kind of performance from their star batsman this season in order to clinch the silverware. The Englishman has the capability to single-handedly win the matches for his team and he will definitely be a probable stand-out player for his franchise. After switching loyalties from Melbourne Renegades to Sydney Thunders last season, Buttler scored 202 runs in 6 matches at a strike rate of 143.26. Thunder fans can expect fireworks when he walks to the crease. Get the latest Cricket News and updates, Match Predictions, Fantasy Cricket Tips and lots more on CricTracker.com.

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BBL 2018-19: One probable stand-out player from each franchise

Each player sees these T20 leagues as an opportunity to perform well so that they can come in good books of the selectors.

Aaron Finch (Melbourne Renegades)

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