BIG BASH TEAM OF THE WEEK: D'Arcy Short and Chris Lynn make it in, but who joins them?

The Cricketer casts an eye over the best performers from the first week of January

D’Arcy Short

The Hobart Hurricanes left-hander has been the competition’s top run-scorer for the last two years and, after starting this year’s tournament without quite the same verve, he racked up the first century of this season’s Big Bash in an eight-run win over Perth Scorchers.

It was a different kind of hundred for the Australia batsman, batting through the innings for his 70-ball ton against a strong Perth Scorchers bowling attack, which featured five international cricketers. He now sits fourth in this campaign’s run charts, as well as fifth on the all-time list.

Tom Banton

Sydney Thunder must have known what was coming when Brisbane Heat chose to bat first in a rain-reduced contest of eight overs aside. Chris Lynn and Tom Banton strode to the middle and all hell broke loose. The fifty came up in the third over, while Banton was dismissed with the score on 90 – to the last delivery of the fifth over.

The Englishman had done much of the damage, taking Arjun Nair for five consecutive sixes, en route to the second-fastest fifty in Big Bash history. Only Chris Gayle, during his Melbourne Renegades days, reached the milestone faster than Banton’s 16-ball effort.

Josh Philippe

If Banton is the next big thing in English T20 cricket, then Philippe has picked up a similar mantle for Australia. The second-highest run-scorer in this year’s competition, the 22-year-old made his second 80+ score of the campaign during Sydney Sixers’ seven-wicket victory against Adelaide Strikers.

Few players have looked so comfortable against Rashid Khan; Philippe seemingly picked him out of the hand, while he and Justin Avendano also climbed into Michael Neser’s new-ball spell.

Chris Lynn

If Banton stole the show during their 30-ball opening stand of 90 against Sydney Thunder, then Lynn – the remaining Bash Bro after Brendon McCullum’s retirement – tucked into Hobart Hurricanes’ attack alongside Max Bryant.

Lynn ended 88 not out in a comfortable victory for Darren Lehmann’s side. It was hardly as swashbuckling as his rapid 94 against Sydney Sixers, when he came close to recording the competition’s fastest-ever ton. He has the highest strike-rate of anyone to have made more than 130 runs.

^{Tom Banton made the second-fastest half century in Big Bash history}

Max Bryant

Like Banton, another outrageously talented youngster learning under the explosive wing of Lehmann and Lynn. At 20 years old, Bryant is taking part in his second Big Bash and much is expected of the youngster.

He had struggled to fire this year until joining forces with Lynn to take down Hobart at Blundstone Arena. His 65 came off just 36 deliveries; when he was dismissed, there were still more than eight overs remaining.

Marcus Stoinis

It has been a week for controversy for Marcus Stoinis, having been fined for a homophobic slur made in the direction of Melbourne Renegades seamer Kane Richardson.

The incident took place during the Melbourne Derby, with Stoinis’ unbeaten 68 key in a straightforward victory for Glenn Maxwell’s Stars team.

Opening the batting, Stoinis anchored a comfortable chase, putting on an unbroken stand of 68 with his captain.

Daniel Sams

In a disappointing week for Sydney Thunder, Daniel Sams has been a bright spark. The left-arm seamer is the top wicket-taker in this year's Big Bash and he came in for less punishment than many during the eight-over slog-fest defeat against Brisbane Heat, with Sams dismissing both Max Bryant and Matt Renshaw in his two overs.

In another reversal for Callum Ferguson’s side against Melbourne Stars, Sams impressed once more. He ended with figures of 3 for 25 from his four overs; he dismissed Nic Maddinson for a first-over duck, bowling a wicket maiden in the process, before seeing off Glenn Maxwell and Ben Dunk cheaply.

^{Haris Rauf has impressed during his three appearances for Melbourne Stars}

Josh Hazlewood

The big Australia fast bowler played his first game for Sydney Sixers since February 2014 when he returned to action after injury in his side’s seven-wicket win against Adelaide Strikers. Of the ten bowlers to get through at least three overs, Hazlewood was the most economical by some considerable distance.

His four overs cost just 18 runs, picking up the vital wicket of Alex Carey in the process. While he conceded his runs at just 4.50 runs per over, Jackson Bird was the next best, going for 30 from his quota.

Adam Zampa

Melbourne Stars’ frontline bowling attack of Nathan Coulter-Nile, Dale Steyn, Adam Zampa and Sandeep Lamichhane must be among the stronger groups on the T20 circuit. In their clash with their local rivals, with Renegades languishing afoot without a win, Glenn Maxwell’s side dominated from the outset.

Zampa took the key wicket of Adam Finch, before adding Beau Webster as Stars eased to victory. His four overs cost just 19 runs, impressing alongside Nepal’s Lamichhane. They make quite the middle-over pair.

Fawad Ahmed

Fawad Ahmed just doesn’t age. The former Australia bowler – and it is probably fair to call him that at this stage – has enjoyed a fine start to the season, even as his side has struggled for victories.

In a rare win for Perth Scorchers against Brisbane Heat, he took 3 for 16 from his four overs, including the crucial breakthroughs of Chris Lynn and Ben Cutting.

Haris Rauf

Haris Rauf has had an interesting tournament. He was not in Melbourne Stars’ plans when the tournament began but replaced Dale Steyn briefly as the South African nursed a side niggle. He was so impressive that when Sandeep Lamichhane wound up injured, Rauf came in for him.

Now, Lamichhane is fit again and Pat Brown, signed up for the second half of the competition, has been ruled out with a recurrence of a stress fracture. Rauf, one assumes, will once again slot in. Only two players have taken more wickets than the Pakistani seamer – and he’s only played three games.