English success, disappointment in Melbourne and three new rules: Six things we’ve learned in BBL 10

Following Sydney Sixers' victory over Perth Scorchers, The Cricketer looks back on the high and lows of the 2020-21 Big Bash

Alex Hales earns a shot at international redemption

In April 2019, Alex Hales was dropped from England’s Cricket World Cup squad following a failed drugs test and hasn’t played for the national team since.

However, during his nearly two year exile Hales has amassed 2368 runs at 32.44 in domestic T20 competitions around the world – and BBL 10 was no different.  Helping Sydney Thunder reach the knockout fixture, Hales scored a competition-leading 543 runs with an average of 38.79 and a strike rate of 161.60.The Golden Bat winner also became the first English player to score a BBL century, striking 110 off 56 deliveries in the Sydney Smash.

With the T20 World Cup on the horizon, it would be unjust for Eoin Morgan and co. to leave a player with Hales’ T20 experience at home. If England want to become double white-ball world champions, maybe it’s time for forgiveness.

Big game James Vince deserves player of the tournament gong

Josh Philippe might be the official player of the tournament but, based off his contribution at the business end of the tournament, The Cricketer’s vote goes to his opening partner, James Vince.

Heading into the playoffs, Vince had scored 46, 5, 38, 52 and 7 in his last five innings. In the qualifier, he thrashed 98 off 53 deliveries against Perth Scorchers before being cruelly denied his century by a wide ball from Andrew Tye. Facing the same opponents in the final, Vince struck 95 off 60 deliveries to put his side well and truly in the driving seat, before completing a stunning catch at cover to dismiss Mitch Marsh.

Vince finishes BBL 10 with 537 runs at 38.75, completing an English one-two in the Golden Bat standings. This was a mammoth season for the 29-year old who really deserved a century in the final to put the icing on the cake.  

James Vince, what a catch!!

This guy is doing EVERYTHING tonight 😮 #BBL10 #BBLFinals pic.twitter.com/UyCZsi2kha

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) February 6, 2021

Sixers join an elite group with history in their sights

In winning BBL 10, Sydney Sixers become just the seventh side to win back to back titles in one of the major domestic T20 competitions. Four of the sides on the list – Chennai Super Kings (IPL), Perth Scorchers (BBL), Trinidad Knight Riders (CPL) and Mumbai Indians (IPL) – went on to achieve three titles in four years, but no one has completed the treble.

Looking at the Sixers squad this season – which didn’t include marquee import Tom Curran or several members of Australia’s Test side – you wouldn’t bet against them retaining their title in BBL 11.

Melbourne Renegades need a major rebuild while Stars fail to shine

Winning BBL 08 after missing the playoffs five times in the first seven editions of the tournament, Renegades appeared to have turned a corner. However, since hoisting the trophy in 2019, they have won just seven matches from a possible 28. The low point of BBL 10? Being bowled out for 60 inside 11 overs against Sydney Sixers to post the second worst score in Big Bash history.

Following Michael Klinger’s resignation at the start of February, they will have a new coach heading into BBL 11 – but whoever takes the job will have a tough road ahead to prevent Renegades from getting a reputation as the worst team in the competition.

Their cross-city rivals, Melbourne Stars, will also be looking for a fresh start next season. With a roster including Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Adam Zampa, and West Indian pair Nicholas Pooran and Andre Fletcher, there is no way Stars should have finished in seventh position.

Maxwell’s side were easily the biggest disappointment of the tournament, particularly after reaching the final in 2019-20, and it just goes to show that a star-studded roster doesn’t guarantee success.

It’s back to the drawing board for both Melbourne outfits.

^{Glenn Maxwell (L) and Aaron Finch (R) captained the Stars and Renegades, respectively, during their disappointing seasons}

Power Surge and Bash Boost are a hit…

Introducing three new rules ahead of the tenth edition of the tournament, the Big Bash organisers can be fairly happy with their two out of three success rate.

Offering two overs of power play to the batting side of the 11th over, the power surge was designed to add entertainment later in the innings. Gifting us with a funky new umpiring signal, big boundaries during the often-slow middle overs and just a smattering of chaos, it certainly delivered.

Sydney Thunder took the new rule in their stride scoring 320 runs from 151 balls during the group stages, whereas Hobart Hurricanes lost 20 wickets – by the end of the tournament, their batsmen probably dreading calling the surge. We still haven’t established when it’s best to take the surge, nor who it benefits the most, but the wax on, wax off signal is a sign the next 12 balls will be electric.

Then there’s the Bash Boost  - a bonus point for the team leading at the 10-over mark. True, in the opening matches it didn’t appear to impact many matches and awarding Renegades a point against Perth Scorchers despite being bowled out for 89 seemed questionable. However, the last day of the group stage was a nail-biter, thanks to the Bash Boost.

Melbourne Stars needed a four-point victory against Sixers to have any hope of qualify, their opponents needed a single point to finish top. Adelaide Strikers missed out on staging the eliminator at the Adelaide Oval by a single point.

To safeguard their partnership and chase the win, Dawid Malan and Ben McDermott didn’t push for the bonus point against Melbourne Stars early in January. Hobart Hurricanes lost the match and were eliminated from the tournament on net run rate. Thanks to the Bash Boost, there was drama until the final 10 overs at the Manuka Oval.

Big Bash Final: Sydney Sixers retain BBL title with 27-run victory over Perth Scorchers

…But the X-Factor is a miss

The X-Factor rule – the opportunity to make a substitution halfway through the first innings – was unpopular when it was unveiled and hasn’t enhanced its reputation in BBL 10. Not only is it overwhelmingly biased towards the side bowling first, but it also leads to a lot of unfair withdrawals.

Xavier Bartlett was substituted by Brisbane Heat on five occasions, four times after bowling the opening powerplay over. Only once in these four overs did Bartlett concede more than five runs while his tournament stats are 12 wickets at an average of eight. Did his replacement – usually Morne Morkel – set the game alight in his place? Not really. Similarly, Mark Steketee was visibly annoyed at being removed by Heat during the challenger while Danny Briggs – the first victim of the rule – was a frequent departee for Strikers.

Cricket has never had substitutions, nor has it ever cried out for their inclusion. If this rule is really here to stay – as Big Bash bosses have indicated – a huge rethink of how it is implemented will be required before BBL 11.