The Cricketer puts together the best XI from the eight-team competition, using just three overseas slots
15 matches, 543 runs, average 38.79, strike rate 161.61
BBL 10’s Golden Bat, the most sixes in a single tournament (30), the first English player to hit a century in Big Bash history and the fourth player to pass 1,000 runs for Sydney Thunder. Hales brought his A-game to the tournament and can consider himself unlucky to be walking away with a only yellow cap after his raining boundaries over the last two months.
16 matches, 508 runs, average 31.75, strike rate 149.41
The 23-year old tailed off towards the back end of the tournament, failing to score a half-century in his final five matches. However, prior to that Philippe carried his side’s top order and came close to maiden centuries against Perth Scorchers (84) and Melbourne Renegades (95). Another impressive show from the player of the tournament.
16 matches, 537 runs, average 38.35, strike rate 143.58
If we want to talk about almost-centuries, maybe don’t do it in James Vince’s earshot. Parachuted into this team of the tournament following his performances in the qualifier and the final, Vince smashed 98 not out and 95 to almost single-handedly win BBL 10 for Sydney Sixers. The England international came from nowhere to finish just six runs behind Hales in the Golden Bat standings and is playing himself into form in a World Cup year.
Goodness, this is some shot from James Vince 😍#BBL10 pic.twitter.com/MxzFg4Z8yf
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) February 6, 2021
13 matches, 458 runs, average 35.23, strike rate 154.72
Criminally left out of the official team of the tournament, Lynn enters this one at number four to accommodate James Vince and pushes Colin Munro onto the bench. Brisbane’s captain fantastic missed a couple of matches through injury but returned to inspire his side to the playoffs, hitting two match-winning half centuries in the final group matches to secure qualification.
16 matches, 382 runs, average 38.2, strike rate 144.69, catches 16
A contender for this berth based purely on his fielding talents, Jordan Silk is arguably BBL 10’s most improved player. The middle-order batsman was one of the players who benefitted the most from the power surge, scoring 79 runs off 45 balls in the two-over spell at 175.55 before the final. A huge contribution and only fitting that he was in at the end of Sydney’s innings in the final.
16 matches, 272 runs at 34, 15 wickets at 8.84
The veteran gun for hire claimed his ninth domestic T20 title with victory over Perth Scorchers and demonstrated his value to the term perfectly in the final. Taking the ball after Sean Abbott conceded 19 runs off the third over, Christian chipped in with a power play over, a power surge over and the 20th over, stepping up for his team on the biggest of stages. And who can forget his 15-ball 50 against Adelaide Strikers? There’s life in the old dog yet.
Sixers' middle-order maestros Dan Christian and Jordan Silk scored a combined 654 runs
10 matches, 200 runs at 40, 11 wickets at 8.51
Another ace all-rounder in the Sydney area. Regarded primarily as a bowler before the tournament, Sams smashed his 200 runs at a strike rate of 188.67 and was a crucial cog in Thunder’s run to the knockout fixture. Missing five matches through injury, you have to wonder if Thunder’s season mid-season slump would’ve happened with their middle-order anchor fit and firing.
17 matches, 29 wickets, economy 7.69
The runaway Golden Arm. Like Philippe, Richardson didn’t play his best cricket during the playoffs but there can be no denying the impact of his bowling. Of the top ten wicket-takers in the tournament, only Peter Siddle and Adam Zampa had lower economies while his 16.31 average was the best of anyone in the top 20. No shoulder issues here for the young gun.
English success, disappointment in Melbourne and three new rules: Six things we’ve learned in BBL 10
14 matches, 15 wickets, economy 6.93
Possibly the most surprisingly entry on the list and one of only two members of the Sixers team, alongside Moises Henriques, to play in the BBL 01 final. However, 36-year old O’Keefe rolled back the years in BBL 10. Miserly with his spin, O’Keefe bowled with an economy of 6.93 and played through a torn calf to provide some much needed stability to Sydney’s bowling attack. An experienced head and a warrior.
13 matches, 19 wickets, economy 7.45
This was probably the toughest position to select with both Wes Agar (Strikers) and Ben Dwarshuis (Sixers) putting in strong claims. However, what edges it for Siddle is his power surge stats. The veteran seamer took eight wickets at 7.36 in 75 power surge balls, completing neutralising the batting side’s advantage. A master at his craft and proof that you can teach an old dog new tricks.
Veteran bowlers Steve O'Keefe (L) and Peter Siddle (R) proved age is just a number in BBL 10
15 matches, 21 wickets, economy 8.08
At the opposite end of the age spectrum to O’Keefe and Siddle, 19-year old Tanveer Sangha gets the nod as this side’s other spinner. Watching him lead the attack for Sydney Thunder, it was hard to believe it was his first season in BBL. His 21-wicket haul was the highest of any spinner, placing him joint-fourth in the Golden Arm standings, and deservedly earned him a call up to Australia’s T20 squad to face New Zealand.
16 matches, 16 wickets, economy 7.03
Another unsung bowler. While the spotlight has rightly been on Jhye Richardson (and after the qualifier, Andrew Tye), Jason Behrendorff has been quietly going about his business with metronomic efficiency. Another player who’s BBL form earned him a spot in the national side, the 30-year old’s 16 wickets – including the crucial wickets of openers Chris Lynn and Joe Denly in the challenger – were crucial in the Scorchers run to the final. He has eight fewer wickets than Dwarshuis but edges his Sixers counterpart on consistency.
16 matches, 443 runs, average 31.64, strike rate 128.03
Just as Ross bumped Isabella Rossellini for Winona Ryder in Friends, Colin Munro has been bumped out of the starting XI by Vince and Lynn. The New Zealander can consider himself very unlucky having scored four half centuries on his way to 443 runs. However, with fewer runs and a poorer average than his rivals, he can only made the bench on this occasion.
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