How will the Bash Boost influence the final five line-up, is Aaron Finch suffering from burn out and which teams will benefit from an Australia Test player or two for the latter stages?
James Bazley: A success story in keeping faith
Big Bash fixtures 2020-21: Full BBL schedule, matches dates
Finch woes continue
It was a dismissal which typified a campaign which has struggled to ignite from the outset.
Bowled off your inside thigh might sound unfortunate, but it has been par for the course for Australia's white-ball captain.
Finch took a big swipe at an innocuous Zahir Khan delivery, missed it, and saw the ball hit both legs before rolling onto the stumps.
The opener has 169 runs in 11 innings in the 2020-21 edition. Unless something dramatically changes, it'll be among his worst returns in the competition's history.
He averaged 18 in 2014-15 and 2017-18, but on both occasions played just half a dozen appearances. Just three matches remain for him to reach a landmark score, too, which is also absent from his record.
Is this an indication that the pressure of the leadership, in another troubling campaign for Melbourne Renegades, is bleeding into Finch's batting? Or is it something much deeper?
Since late August, Finch has played 37 matches inside three different bio-secure bubbles in a trio of countries. That number will likely swell to 40 by the end of the month. Finch would only be human if he were suffering from a degree of burnout.
Renegades' campaign is starting to mirror last year's turbulent season, which began with a losing run with ended their play-off ambitions before a string of wins ensured there was a degree of optimism heading into the new term.
Mackenzie Harvey and Beau Webster were superb in putting on 63 in 25 balls to upset Stars in the derby. Harvey was particularly brutal, twice dispositing Nathan Coulter-Nile into the second tier at Docklands.
With nothing to play for, Renegades now represent a dangerous floater for their final two matches. Brisbane Heat and Hobart Hurricanes are their final two opponents and they'll be eager to stick the knife in their play-off hopes for the schedule comes to an end.
They did exactly that to Heat last term, winning by seven wickets in the final group match to deny them a top-five spot. Finch came to the party that day. What odds on him repeating that feat 12 months on?
Sydney Sixers lead the table thanks to their eight bonus points
Bonus point battle
The Bash Boost rule has probably been the outstanding success of the new regulations introduced for the 10th edition of the competition.
It has created two matches within one, further context within a chase and forced teams into decisions over their batting order and tactics. You have two sets of death overs, these days. What could have been accused of being overkill, has just added another layer on intrigue.
But in the long-term context of the BBL play-offs, it remains to be seen how influential it proves to be. For all the success of the bonus point system in rugby union's Six Nations, it has rarely ended up influencing the destination of the championship.
If you based this season on last year's points system the top five would remain unchanged, with the gap to the bottom three remaining the same. So while it is teeing up an exciting end to the competition, the outcome is likely to be largely the same.
Only Sixers and Stars have more bonus points than Heat, Adelaide Strikers and Renegades in the sixth, seventh and eighth. It'll be fascinating to see how key the Bash Boost comes towards the sharp end and indeed if it affects the table.
SS 16; PS 12; ST 12; HH 12; MS 10; BH 10; AS 10; MR 6
Australia's Test stars return - but Lyon opts out
Australia's Test players will have the opportunity to jump right back on the horse during the closing stages of the BBL, with several returning to their sides for the climax to the competition.
Heat v Strikers on Thursday (January 20) will see Marnus Labuschagne and Mitch Swepson - who was unused against India - line-up against Travis Head and Michael Neser at the Adelaide Oval.
Border restrictions have caused uncertainty over availability, but Moises Henriques, Sean Abbott, Matthew Wade and Marcus Harris are all expected to join them. Tim Paine may also be recalled by Hobart Hurricanes.
Among those who have opted for a rest, with a possible tour of South Africa looming, is Cameron Green who has returned to Western Australia where he will have to quarantine.
Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc, the latter of whom returned to Sydney Sixers amid much fanfare in the off-season, will also miss the end of the group phase and the play-offs.
James Pattinson, whose injury issues played a major role in Australia's inability to rotate a jaded seam attack, is missing as is Will Pucovski.
Add that group to a list of players which includes Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Steve Smith and David Warner, all of whom don't have BBL contracts, and there is a substantial list of talent for whom the schedule is too much.
It is hard to see that changing next summer, either, when England's Ashes tour is preceded by the T20 World Cup in India.
Nathan Lyon is taking a rest after the India series
Sams blow for Thunder
Though Sydney Thunder are unaffected by the return of the Australia internationals, they have suffered a blow ahead of the final three matches of the regular season.
A hand injury for Daniel Sams means he will miss the back-to-back matches with Strikers which follow the second Sydney derby.
The allrounder, who has taken 10 wickets and scored 199 runs at a strike-rate of 191.34, was in visible pain after falling awkwardly on his wrist while fielding off his own bowling against Hurricanes.
Team physiotherapist Murray Ryan added: "His timeline for a return to play will be determined by medical staff following these games."
The Eliminator, Qualifier and Knockout matches take place on consecutive days on January 29-31. The Challenger is set for February 4 and final on February 6.
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