The Bag Bash is coming and I am not talking about the next WWE wrestling tour. I am referring to the up coming KFC Twenty20 Big Bash League in Australia.
With cricket on the world news stage for all the wrong reasons it is time to put the game back on the spotlight for the right reasons so here are the squads and my thoughts as well. (Squad lists courtesy of Foxsports.com.au)
Adelaide Strikers
Aiden Blizzard, Cameron Borgas, Lee Carseldine, Tom Cooper, Adam Crosthwaite, Theo Doropoulos, Brendan Drew, Callum Ferguson, Daniel Harris, Michael Klinger (c), Nathan Lyon, Aaron O'Brien, Gary Putland, Kane Richardson. Overseas players: Kieron Pollard, Alfonso Thomas. Coach: Darren Berry
With Keiron Pollard there is some real firepower but I have a feeling South Australia will not do so well. They ahve some fine talent in Ferguson & Klinger but I think their attack is light on. Strikers keeps reminding me of Soccer and the Brisbane Strikers. Not the best name to come up with.
Brisbane Heat
Ryan Broad, Nick Buchanan, Daniel Christian, Ben Cutting, Peter Forrest, Ryan Harris, Chris Hartley, Nathan Hauritz, Matthew Hayden, James Hopes (c), Chris Lynn, Michael Neser, Chris Swan. Overseas players: Brendon McCullum, Daniel Vettori. Coach: Darren Lehmann.
With Queensland undefeated in all forms of cricket this year they are my top to win the tournament. The masterstroke for Brisbane will be the coach, Lehmann who is proving to be just a good a coach as he was a player. Add to that the return of Hayden who can blast any team off the park you also have a team with the explosive Hopes who can bowl a team to victory as well. But they are not to be outdone with the hard hitting McCullum and top class spin bowler Vettori. Looking at the team there is a lot of talent and should blow most teams away. And now in Queensland says "How about the heat?" You won't feel like hitting the with your sweaty fist.
Hobart Hurricanes
Travis Birt, Mark Cosgrove, Xavier Doherty, Luke Feldman, Evan Gulbis, Ben Hilfenhaus, Michael Hogan, Phil Jaques, Matt Johnston, Jason Krejza, Nick Kruger, Ben Laughlin, Rhett Lockyear, Tim Paine (c), Ricky Ponting. Overseas players: Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Owais Shah. Coach: Ali de Winter.
Melbourne Renegades
Ryan Carters, Aaron Finch, Shane Harwood, Aaron Heal, Jayde Herrick, Michael Hill, Brad Hodge, Glenn Maxwell, Andrew McDonald, Brenton McDonald (c), Dirk Nannes, Nathan Reardon, Will Sheridan, Shaun Tait. Overseas players: Abdul Razzaq, Shahid Afridi. Coach: Simon Helmot.
A team with Brad Hodge is always a threat and with Razzaq and Afridi could put on some very good performances but any team with a Pakistani cricketer in it knows that they do not know which player is turning up. Definietely a team to avoid in a final.
Melbourne Stars
George Bailey, James Faulkner, John Hastings, Jon Holland, David Hussey, Alex Keath, Clint McKay, James Pattinson, Rob Quiney, Peter Siddle, Chris Simpson, Adam Voges, Matthew Wade, Cameron White (c). Overseas players: Luke Wright. Coach: Greg Shipperd. Late Mail - Shane Warne
This is the Melbourne team I think will perform better with the likes of Hussey, McKay, Siddle and White there is a lot of top line experience. Will be interesting to see which Melbourne team gets the support. With the late addition of Warne this will be the team Melbourne support and should be quite competitive.
Perth Scorchers
Tom Beaton, Michael Beer, Mark Cameron, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Ben Edmondson, Michael Hussey, Simon Katich, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Marcus North (c), Luke Pomersbach, Nathan Rimmington, Luke Ronchi. Overseas players: Paul Collingwood, Herschelle Gibbs. Coach: Mickey Arthur.
Definitely a good team here and with Katich back in WA he will enjoy being as far away from Michael Clarke as he can. A good mix of experience, talented youth and International experience.
Sydney Sixers
Ed Cowan, Pat Cummins, Brad Haddin (c), Josh Hazlewood, Moises Henriques, Brett Lee, Nic Maddinson, Ian Moran, Peter Nevill, Steve O'Keefe, Ben Rohrer, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Dominic Thornely, Shane Watson. Overseas players: Michael Lumb. Coach: Trevor Bayliss.
And yet again another city with two teams for support. Brett Lee still thinks he can do it at top level is a proven performer but they might be a little light on talent. Haddin can hit big scores but at every level always seems to throw his wicket away with a catch to mid-on or mid-off. Shane Watson is a proven match winner but with a big summer he could be rested.
Sydney Thunder
Sean Abbott, Tim Armstrong, Nic Bills, Doug Bollinger, Luke Butterworth, Scott Coyte, Tim Cruickshank, Matthew Day, Luke Doran, Ben Dunk, Jason Floros, Phillip Hughes, Usman Khawaja, Craig Philipson, Daniel Smith, David Warner (c). Overseas players: Fidel Edwards, Chris Gayle. Coach: Shane Duff.
Could this be the dominant Sydney team, with Chris Gayle some big scores could be on offer if he fires with Warner and Bollinger will be their main strike bowler, for me this is the pick of the Sydney teams.
Overall Twenty20 cricket is so hard to pick and I always prefer test cricket but it is entertaining and will be enjoyable to watch. For me this is the first year that Australia has got the concept right. Queensland to win their first title of the season.
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