The BBL10 Squads are now (all-but) finalised with teams recruiting with a flurry in recent days to take advantage of the allowance for an extra import this season. There will be a number of players coming and going following their overseas international campaigns and allowing for two weeks of quarantine in Australia before they can play. As such, some BBL10 teams have as many as five imports on their list to rotate through. There will also be a stronger influence from Australia's top players this season with our white-ball internationals likely to be able to play the entire BBL10 season. Our red-ball players, incorporating an extended squad this year, will only be available towards the end of the BBL10 season.
While putting together likely BBL10 starting teams is not an exact science, we've taken a look at each of the BBL10 teams and tried to put together their likely best teams that you will see during the majority of the season. For the purposes of the BBL10 lineups, we've excluded the current Australian Test squad players.
Notes/Assumptions:
- England players have a tour of South Africa that finishes on December 9th. With two weeks compulsory quarantine in Australia, they won't be available to play BBL10 until after Christmas.
- Afghanistan players have an ODI series against Ireland starting mid January 2021. They won't be able to return to Australia and quarantine in time for the end of BBL10.
- New Zealand vs West Indies Test series finishes on December 15th but is likely to not affect any BBL10 players.
- Australia ODI and T20 players finish their series against India on December 8th, so they will be available for the entire BBL10.
- Australia Test players finish their series against India on January 19th 2021. The extended squad are likely to be kept in a bubble, but it is unsure if the squad will change after Christmas. The main Test players won't be available until very late in the BBL10 fixture.
BBL10 Teams - Predicted Starting Lineups
Adelaide Strikers Lineup
Jake Weatherald
Phil Salt (ENG)
Alex Carey
Matt Renshaw
Jonathan Wells
Matt Short
Rashid Khan (AFG)
Danny Briggs (ENG)
Wes Agar
Daniel Worrall
Peter Siddle
Squad: Harry Conway, Cameron Valente, Harry Neilsen, Liam O'Connor, Jake Lehmann, Liam Scott, Spencer Johnson
Test Squad Players: Travis Head, Michael Neser
The Strikers have three imports but their two England imports are not in the national squad so they should be available for the entire BBL10 tournament. Rashid Khan, as one of the premier T20 bowlers in the world, will no doubt be part of the Afghanistan national team if the ODI series against Ireland goes ahead in January. That will be a massive blow for the Strikers if they make finals. Travis Head should be part of the Test squad throughout, while Michael Neser is right on the fringe if there's an injury or two to the national bowlers. It's hard to see either playing a part in BBL10 until the end of the season. We've given the nod to Matt Short in the middle order, but Cameron Valente and Jake Lehmann could also push for that spot. The Strikers do look a little light in terms of depth in their squad and may find the going tough if their stars don't perform or suffer an injury.
Brisbane Heat Lineup
Dan Lawrence (ENG) / Tom Banton (ENG)
Max Bryant
Chris Lynn
Tom Cooper
Lewis Gregory (ENG)
Sam Heazlett
Jimmy Peirson
Jack Wildermuth
Mujeeb Ur Rahman (AFG)
Morne Morkel
Ben Laughlin
Squad: Matt Kuhnemann, Xavier Bartlett, Matt Willians, James Bazley
Test Squad Players: Mitch Swepson, Joe Burns, Marnus Labuschagne
The Heat have another strong first XI this season. Tom Banton will miss the first couple of games in quarantine, but Dan Lawrence will fill the gap as a replacement. Lawrence may not open, but the Heat have plenty of options in that spot. Morne Morkel is a huge inclusion as a local player and will lead their attack all season. With three guys tied up in the Test squad, the Heat will have to rely on some of the youngsters in the squad to play a role when their internationals are missing.
Hobart Hurricanes Lineup
D'Arcy Short
Will Jacks (ENG)
Colin Ingram (SA) / Dawid Malan (ENG)
Ben McDermott
Peter Handscomb
Mac Wright
James Faulkner
Nathan Ellis
Scott Boland
Riley Meredith
Keemo Paul (WI) / Sandeep Lamichhane (NEP)
Squad: Jake Doran, Tim David, Nick Winter, Will Parker, David Moody, Mitchell Owen
Test Squad Players: Tim Paine, Matthew Wade
The Hurricanes have put together an imposing list on paper with five internationals set to swap and change during the season. Young gun Will Jacks has been announced to play the entire BBL10 season while Colin Ingram is a great replacement until world #1 T20 batsman Dawid Malan joins the team after Christmas. The Canes needed a spinner and they recently announced a good one with the signing of Sandeep Lamichhane who will play in the New Year. West Indian all-rounder Keemo Paul seems to be the replacement player for him to start the season. If the Canes are in good shape towards the end of the season, they will only get stronger for finals when Matthew Wade joins the team for the final stages of the tournament.
Melbourne Renegades Lineup
Aaron Finch
Shaun Marsh
Sam Harper
Riley Russouw (SA)
Beau Webster
Mohammad Nabi (AFG)
Will Sutherland
Josh Lalor
Cameron Boyce
Kane Richardson
Noor Ahmad (AFG) / Imran Tahir (SA)
Squad: Marcus Harris, Jon Holland, Zak Evans, Mackenzie Harvey, Mitch Perry, Jack Prestwidge, Jake Fraser-McGurk
Test Squad Players: James Pattinson
The Renegades are going to benefit from having skipper Aaron Finch available for the entire BBL10 season with no clash with the Australian white-ball schedule. Combining with Shaun Marsh at the top of the order, they look pretty potent with South African T20 specialist Riley Russouw in support. Mohammad Nabi is back again but may be called up to play in the Afghanistan national side in January which would rule him out late in the season. Young Afghan spinner Noor Ahmad will be the replacement for Imran Tahir who will play after Christmas. The Gades have James Pattinson involved with the Australian squad, so it's unlikely we'll see much of him in BBL10.
Melbourne Stars Lineup
Nicholas Pooran (WI) / Johnny Bairstow (ENG)
Marcus Stoinis
Hilton Cartwright
Glenn Maxwell
Nic Maddinson
Ben Dunk
Nathan Coulter-Nile
Clint Hinchcliffe
Adam Zampa
Zahir Khan (AFG)
Billy Stanlake
Squad: Seb Gotch, Nick Larkin, Jonathan Merlo, Tom O'Connell, Lance Morris, Jackson Coleman
Test Squad Players: Will Pucovski
The Stars arguably have their best-ever shot at a BBL title as they reap the benefits of having the Australian ODI and T20 players available throughout, with key players Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell and Adam Zampa available for the whole tournament. They have recruited Johnny Bairstow at the top of the order which is a huge signing and he'll join the side after Christmas. West Indian Nicholas Pooran will play six games, but coming off a tour of New Zealand, he may not be available for the start of the tournament, which suggests there may be some overlap between these two imports in late December/early January. Spinner Zahir Khan will also join the Stars this season, and they may still announce another import to fill some gaps in the coming days.
Perth Scorchers Lineup
Liam Livingstone (ENG)
Joe Clarke (ENG) / Jason Roy (ENG)
Josh Inglis
Colin Munro (NZ)
Mitch Marsh
Ash Turner
Ashton Agar
Andrew Tye
Jhye Richardson
Jason Behrendorff
Fawad Ahmed
Squad: >Matt Kelly, Sam Whiteman, Kurtis Patterson, Cameron Gannon, Cameron Bancroft, Joel Paris
Test Squad Players: Cameron Green
Arguably the deepest BBL squad of any team in the competition this season, the Scorchers have a number of options if injury or selection interupts their campaign. Liam Livingston and Jason Roy will form a devastating top order combination when they arrive, while Colin Munro is a T20 specialist capable of anything. They have a numer of Australian fringe players who look available for the whole season, while they have also multiple batsmen and bowlers in their squad who bring plenty of experience who could easily slide into the starting team. A contender for sure in BBL10.
Sydney Sixers Lineup
Josh Philippe
Daniel Hughes
James Vince (ENG)
Moises Henriques
Jordan Silk
Dan Christian
Tom Curran (ENG)
Carlos Brathwaite (WI)
Ben Dwarshuis
Stephen O'Keefe
Jackson Bird
Squad: Jack Edwards, Mickey Edwards, Hayden Kerr, Lloyd Pope, Ben Manenti
Test Squad Players: Mitchell Starc, Sean Abbott, Nathan Lyon
The defending champions again bring an underrated squad to BBL10 but their consistency and ability to perform in big moments should see them thereabouts again this season. James Vince will be available all season, while Tom Curran will be available after Christmas. The X-factor is Carlos Brathwaite, and we certainly "remember the name". The West Indian will be a highlight of BBL10 and is capable of winning games by himself with bat or ball. The Sixers have a number of options with the ball, but pressure will be on the top order to perform as they batting looks a touch thin. Josh Philippe will be needing to have a big season to take pressure of the middle order. The Sixers do have a couple of Test stars that could bolster their bowling stocks late in the season.
Sydney Thunder Lineup
Alex Hales (ENG)
Sam Billings (ENG)
Usman Khawaja
Callum Ferguson
Alex Ross
Ben Cutting
Daniel Sams
Chris Green
Adam Milne (NZ)
Chris Tremain
Jono Cook
Squads: Arjun Nair, Brendan Doggett, Oliver Davies, Nathan McAndrew, Jason Sangha, Tanveer Sangha, Matthew Gilkes, Baxter Holt
Test Squad Players: Nil
The Sydney Thunder are unique in BBL10 as they do not have any players who will be tied up in the current Australian Test squad, so that may be an advantage for them this season. There will be a big reliance on Englishmen Alex Hales and Sam Billings at the top of the order, as there are some questions about their middle order which will rely on the hitting power of their all-rounders. Adam Milne looks a good pickup, with the Kiwi set to bowl some thunderbolts and should be available for the entire tournament.
