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Bigbash.com.au's team of BBL|07

Cricket.com.au crunches the numbers and picks a dynamic XI that, like the tournament itself, is dominated by spinners

1) D'Arcy Short
Hobart Hurricanes

M: 10 | Runs: 504 | HS: 122* | Ave: 56.00 | SR: 147.80 | 50s: 3 | 100s: 1 | Overs: 15 | Wkts: 3 | Econ: 7.60 | Ave: 38.00 | SR: 30.0 | BBI: 1-20

Best of the Big Bash League: D'Arcy Short

What a tournament it's been for the little-known left-hander, who's enjoyed a record-breaking season to help the Hurricanes into the final four. After falling in the nineties twice, the left-hander broke through for his maiden hundred against Brisbane at the Gabba and pushed on to the highest score in BBL history. And his left-arm wrist spin was a handy option for the 'Canes as well.

2) Alex Carey (wk)
(Adelaide Strikers)

M: 10 | Runs: 425 | HS: 100 | Ave: 53.12 | SR: 143.09 | 50s: 2 | 100s: 1 | Ct: 12

Aussie T20 squad sizzle reel: Alex Carey

It’s been a breakout tournament for the wicketkeeper-batsman, lifting him to an international debut this month with the promise of more games for Australia in the coming weeks. Sharp as always behind the stumps, Carey has been a consistent source of runs for the Strikers at the top of the order and his century at the Adelaide Oval was one of the innings of the tournament so far.

3) Shane Watson (c)
(Sydney Thunder)

M: 10 | Runs: 331 | HS: 77 | Ave: 36.77 | SR: 139.07 | 50s: 2 | 100s: 0 | Overs: 17.4 | Wkts: 3 | Econ: 9.50 | Ave: 56.00 | SR: 35.3 | BBI: 1-13

Watson blasts six sixes in stunning 77

He was below his best with ball in hand, but Shane Watson fired with the bat in a Thunder top-order that lacked star power apart from the brief cameo of Usman Khawaja in the tournament. The right-hander all but won the game off his own bat in the tournament opener and was a reasonably consistent performer, finishing as the competition's third-highest run-scorer with a strike rate just shy of 140 to edge out Cameron White in our XI. And in a team with just two frontline quicks, he's an option with the ball as well.

4) Glenn Maxwell
(Melbourne Stars)

M: 9 | Runs: 299 | HS: 84 | Ave: 37.37 | SR: 154.12 | 50s: 3 | 100s: 0

Maxwell sees through niggles in BBL blitz

Surprisingly available for almost the whole tournament following his shock ODI axing, Maxwell was a shining light in a horror season for the Stars. His tournament strike rate of 154 is the second-highest among those to have scored more than 150 runs and his ability to bat anywhere in the order makes him a dangerous batsman in any side.

5) Ashton Turner
(Perth Scorchers)

M: 10 | Runs: 250 | HS: 70 | Ave: 35.71 | SR: 165.56 | 50s: 3 | 100s: 0

Terrific Turner belts whirlwind 70

One of the first players picked in our XI, Turner played four match-winning innings in high-pressure run chases to help Perth secure a home semi-final. The right-hander posted scores of 52no, 45, 70 and 50no at an average strike rate of 183 in those four efforts and while a shoulder injury restricted him in the field (and led to him being overlooked for international duty), he's a must-have in this team.

6) Tom Cooper
(Melbourne Renegades)

M: 10 | Runs: 262 | HS: 65* | Ave: 43.66 | SR: 143.95 | 50s: 3 | 100s: 0 | Overs: 9 | Wkts: 1 | Econ: 6.77 | Ave: 61.00 | SR: 54.0 | BBI: 1-6

Cooper wows the crowd with a screamer

Renegades teammate Mohammad Nabi was tough to leave out, but we've gone for the extra batting power Cooper provides. The right-hander's inclusion may surprise some but his numbers illustrate what a solid performer he's been in the second-half of the innings, bringing a different set of skills than those at the top of the order. He's sent down some handy overs and is a gun fielder as well to provide the complete package.

7) Ashton Agar
(Perth Scorchers)

M: 9 | Overs: 35 | Wkts: 8 | Econ: 5.74 | Ave: 25.12 | SR: 26.2 | BBI: 3-19 | Runs: 149 | HS: 33* | Ave: 49.66 | SR: 128.44

Agar’s triple treat in Alice Springs

Having had the start of his summer interrupted by a finger injury, Agar responded impressively with his best BBL campaign so far to earn a spot in Australia's T20 squad. His economy rate is the second-best in the competition and his ability to pick up a wicket per game made him a bankable option for the Scorchers in the middle overs. A gun in the field, Agar impressed with the bat as well, showing an ability to both finish the innings with some big hits or steady after a rush of wickets.

8) Jofra Archer
(Hobart Hurricanes)

M: 10 | Overs: 39.2 | Wkts: 15 | Econ: 7.50 | Ave: 19.66 | SR: 15.7 | BBI: 3-15 | Runs: 40 | HS: 25* | Ave: 40.00 | SR: 137.93

Jumping Jofra pulls down classic catch

The surprise packet of the tournament, Archer wouldn't have even played in the BBL this season had Hobart's original overseas signing Tom Curran not earned a call-up to England's Ashes squad. But the England-based Bajan allrounder grabbed his chance and his now being spoken about as an international player in waiting. Fast and dangerous with the new ball and frugal at the death, Archer produced some breathtaking fielding performances as well as some handy hitting late in the order. The complete package at T20 level ... and he's still only 22 years old.

9) Rashid Khan
(Adelaide Strikers)

M: 10 | Overs: 40 | Wkts: 17 | Econ: 5.52 | Ave: 13.00 | SR: 14.1 | BBI: 3-20

Rashid bamboozles Bancroft with jaffa

The leading wicket-taker in his first tournament in Australia, Rashid Khan provided the Strikers with a bankable four overs in every game. The wrist spinner was both economical and a potent wicket-taker, a dream combination for any captain, and makes him a no-brainer in this team.

10) Mitchell Johnson
(Perth Scorchers)

M: 9 | Overs: 36 | Wkts: 7 | Econ: 5.86 | Ave: 30.14 | SR: 30.8 | BBI: 3-13

Red-hot Johnson destroys the Renegades

The left-armer has been surprisingly short of wickets this season but his tournament economy rate of 5.86 gets him the nod in this side, just ahead of unlucky Strikers duo Billy Stanlake and Peter Siddle and Scorchers teammate AJ Tye. A hostile prospect with the new ball, Johnson has been hard to get away as his late career resurgence in the shortest format continued.

11) Fawad Ahmed
(Sydney Thunder)

M: 10 | Overs: 40 | Wkts: 12 | Econ: 6.12 | Ave: 20.41 | SR: 20.0 | BBI: 3-31

Fabulous Fawad collects three-wicket haul

In a season dominated by spin, Fawad was second only to the brilliant Rashid Khan among the leggies in BBL|07. The Thunder veteran averaged better than a wicket per game and his tournament economy rate of a touch more than a run-a-ball was second only to Rashid among bowlers with 10 or more wickets.

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