Best XI of BBL 2020-21 from league stage

The league stage of the 2020-21 edition of the Big Bash League (BBL) came to an end with a game between Melbourne Stars and Sydney Sixers at Melbourne Cricket Ground on January 26, Tuesday. The viewers were served with utmost entertainment throughout the league stage as they witnessed the arrival of many new players who introduced themselves to the world of cricket in a stunning fashion.

With an end of league stage, we also have four teams that qualify for the playoffs namely Sydney Sixers, Sydney Thunders, Perth Scorchers and Brisbane Heat. In this article, let’s take a look at players who shined for their teams and made it to the Best Playing XI of BBL 2020-21.

Best Playing XI of league stage of BBL 2020-21

1. Josh Philippe

Josh Philippe is one of the most talked-about players in the Australian domestic circuit. Thus, there is no surprise that the wicketkeeper-batsman from Western Australia has made it to the Best XI of 2020-21 edition of the Big Bash League (BBL) from the league stage. Playing for Sydney Sixers franchise, Josh has proved his worth thus far and has emerged as the mainstay of their batting line-up.

The 23-year-old opening batsman is the second highest run-getter in BBL 2020-21, only behind Alex Hales. In 14 games, Josh has amassed a staggering 454 runs at an average of 32.42 and strike rate of 149.34.

He has smashed 3 half-centuries in the tournament and fell five runs short of scoring a century in a game against Melbourne Renegades. Josh Philippe has also recorded three 80+ scores in the Big Bash League; the most by any player for the Sydney Sixers.

2. Alex Hales

Sydney Thunder sealed their place in the playoffs of BBL 2020-21 after thumping the Adelaide Strikers in their last league fixture by 9 wickets. The team is proudly sitting at third position in the points table with 31 points under their belt after winning 8 out of 14 games. The major credit of Sydney Thunder’s success in the marquee event goes to their opening batsman Alex Hales who formed the backbone of the team’s batting line-up throughout the league stage.

Hales has been exceptional with the bat this season as he scored a whopping 535 runs in 14 innings at an average of 41.15 and strike rate of 163.60. The opening batter has three half-centuries and one century to his name, with 110 being his highest score.

Hales’ tally of 535 runs is the 2nd most by any player for Sydney Thunder behind his own total of 576 runs in 2019-20 edition. No player other than Hales has scored over 450 runs in an edition of BBL for Thunder. Along with that, Hales had recently broken Marcus Stoinis record of hitting most sixes in a BBL season by smashing 30 sixes in the ongoing edition.

3. Colin Munro

Perth Scorchers opening batsman Colin Munro also finds a place in this esteemed list as he adds a lot of value to any T20I side in the world. The New Zealand batsman proved to be a beneficial signing for Scorchers ahead of the 2020 edition of the Big Bash League (BBL).

Munro is the highest run-getter for his team Perth Scorchers in this edition of the tournament. He boasts of scoring 411 runs in 13 innings at an average of 34.25 and strike rate of 129.65. The batsman has scored four 50+ scores in the tournament thus far and his highest score in BBL 2020-21 read 82 runs against Brisbane Heat.

Colin Munro’s 82-run knock is the 2nd highest individual score for the Perth Scorchers in the BBL against the Brisbane Heat. The highest is 93* by Mitchell Marsh during the 2019-20 season at the Optus Stadium in Perth.

4. BR McDermott

Australia’s right-handed batsman BR McDermott shouldered the responsibility of scoring runs for his franchise Hobart Hurricanes throughout the league stage of 2020-21 edition of the Big Bash League (BBL). McDermott was the main reason behind Hurricanes’ stabilised and powerful middle-order.

Though the franchise had a torrid run in the tournament as they failed to qualify for the playoffs and are sitting at the seventh position with 28 points and 7 wins from 14 games, BR McDermott shined with the bat and made sure to leave an impact on the fans and the viewers.

He is the highest run-scorer for Hobart Hurricanes this season with 402 runs in 12 innings at an average of 36.54 and strike rate of 139.58. The middle-order batsman also hammered three half-centuries with the willow.

5. Alex Carey (wk)

The wicketkeeper-batsman batsman Alex Carey impressed big time with his performance in BBL as he made a case for himself to get selected in the Australian cricket team. The batsman opened the innings for Adelaide Strikers and produced some scintillating knocks from his willow.

Carey hogged the limelight during BBL 2020-21 with his stunning performance as he has 412 runs to his name including one century and two half-centuries in 12 games at an average of 34.33 and strike rate of 126.38. The 29-year-old was also decent behind the stumps as he completed 20 catches.

However, the splendid form of Alex Carey couldn’t help his franchise Adelaide Strikers reach the second stage of the league as they have fell out of the tournament after winning just 7 games out of 14 played by gaining 28 points.

6. Marcus Stoinis

Australia’s one of the most celebrated all-rounder Marcus Stoinis doesn’t need any introduction. Stoinis was in breathtaking form in the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League for his franchise Delhi Capitals , hosted in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) across three venues namely Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.

The all-rounder carried forward his amazing form in the Big Bash League as well while playing for Melbourne Stars as he shined with the bat. Stoinis garnered 396 runs with the willow in 13 games at an average of 33 and strike rate of 142.44. He managed to produce two 50+ scores while his highest score is 97 not out.

As far as bowling is concerned, Stoinis didn’t get a chance to exhibit his talent with the ball as he bowled in just three games and scalped two wickets while maintaining an economy of 7.67 and average of 23.

7. Glenn Maxwell

Glenn Maxwell featured in the 2020-21 edition of the Big Bash League (BBL) as the skipper of the franchise Melbourne Stars. In his short career, Maxwell has established himself as one of the legends of the shortest format of the game. He was at his fluent best throughout the tournament both with the willow and the ball.

Glenn Maxwell has 379 runs under his belt in 13 innings at an average of 31.58 and strike rate of 143.56. Glenn hammered three 50+ scores in BBL 2020-21. With the ball in his hand, Maxwell took 7 wickets at an economy rate of 7.66 and strike rate of 31.57.

However, his team Melbourne Stars couldn’t flaunt the same class overall as they failed to make it to the playoffs of the tournament after winning just 5 games out of 14 played.

8. Jhye Richardson

Australia’s right-hand fast-bowler Jhye Richardson has been highly impressive in recent times. The 21-year-old has managed to attract the attention of the who’s who of the cricket fraternity with his raw pace while playing for his franchise Perth Scorchers in BBL.

He is topping the charts of picking most number of wickets in the 2020-21 edition of BBL with 27 wickets in 14 innings. He maintained an economy of 7.08 while his average read 13.25 with 4/24 being his best bowling figures.

Recently, while playing against Hobart Hurricanes, Jhye Richardson had registered himself as only the 3rd player with 25+ runs and 4+ wickets in a BBL match after Daniel Christian and Marcus Stoinis.

9. Mark Steketee

Brisbane Heat managed to make it to the Top 4 and book a berth for themselves in the playoffs of 2020-21 edition of the Big Bash League (BBL) at the end moment after registering a win against Perth Scorchers. One of the main reasons behind the success of Brisbane Heat in the tournament has been their ferocious pace attack led by right-arm quick Mark Steketee.

Mark has breathed fire with the ball throughout the league stage of BBL and stands at second position in terms of scalping the most number of wickets, only behind Jhye Richardson. Mark bowled a total of 49.2 overs in the tournament and picked 22 wickets while giving away 466 runs.

Throughout the tournament, he bowled at an economy rate of 9.44 while his average was 21.18. In addition, his best bowling figures in BBL 2020-21 read four wickets while conceding just 33 runs.

10. Tanveer Sangha

The 19-year-old Tanveer Sangha has been weaving magic with the ball in the ongoing edition of the Big Bash League (BBL) for his franchise Sydney Thunders. The right-arm leg break bowler is the only spinner to scalp 20+ wickets in BBL 2020-21 while he stands at third position in the list of picking most wickets this edition after Jhye Richardson and Mark Steketee.

Sangha represented Sydney Thunders in 14 games picking up 21 wickets at an average of 16.66 and economy of 8.04. He also boasts of having taken a four-wicket haul during the marquee tournament. His best bowling figures in the tournament thus far are 4 for 14.

Tanveer Sangha has also been rewarded for his prolific performance in his debut season at Big Bash League as he earned his maiden call for the Australia cricket team for the three-match T20I series against New Zealand.

11. Adam Zampa

Apart from Tanveer Sangha, the other spinner who has constantly been the talk of the town for his performance in the 2020-21 edition of the Big Bash League (BBL) is Adam Zampa.

There is no doubt over the fact that the presence of Zampa is a must in any T20 line-up and he again stamped his authority on the field by bowling economical spells throughout the tournament.

For his franchise Melbourne Stars, Zampa bowled 45.1 overs and picked 19 wickets at an average of 17.47 and economy rate of 7.35. He bowled one of the most economical spells of the season with the figures of 5/17.