Quantcast

Updated BBL|06 squads for each club

Four clubs have confimed their 18-player rosters with plenty more signing news to come ahead of the BBL|06 season

With less than six weeks remaining until this summer's KFC Big Bash League season gets underway, clubs are busy finalising their squads for the tournament.

With season to kick off at Spotless Stadium on December 20, clubs must have their 18-player squad completed, including a maximum of two overseas players as well as their community and development rookies, by December 2.

Quick Single: Big Bash League schedule released

The first trade window in February saw no player movement but a second window will be open next week, between November 14 and 18.

With several overseas slots still vacant, expect some big announcements over the coming weeks as clubs look to use their $1.4m salary cap (up from $1.3m in BBL|05) wisely.

As it stands, here are the squads for each club:

Adelaide Strikers

A rejuvenated Kieron Pollard will be back for the Adelaide Strikers this summer, news that is sure to warm the hearts of Adelaide fans as the club looks to improve on back-to-back semi-final appearances.

The West Indies allrounder, who signed a three-year deal with the Strikers in October 2014, was ruled out of BBL|05 after injuring his knee playing in South Africa's domestic Twenty20 competition last November.

Rashid's remarkable regular season

The explosive batsman's return will be particularly welcome following the departure of middle-order batsman Alex Ross to the Brisbane Heat.

England spinner Adil Rashid is contracted as Adelaide's second import for another season and the WBBL|05 leading wicket-taker will be given a warm reception back at the Adelaide Oval.

However, it remains to be seen how much of the season he's able to play, with his availability for the Strikers likely to be severely curtailed by international duty with England touring India in December and January with Rashid highly likely to feature.

Adelaide also pulled off the BBL's third ever trade, securing big-hitting opening batsman Ben Dunk in a deal with the Hobart Hurricanes that sent proming young Tasmanian bowler Hamish Kingston back home to Hobart.

Dunk topped the tournament run tally in BBL|03 with 395 at an average of 43.88 and was named Player of the Tournament. He smashed the Australian List A record high-score of 229 not out in the 2014-15 Matador Cup and a spot in Australia's T20 side followed.

The Strikers have also added some local firepower to their ranks for BBL|06, signing explosive batsman Jake Weatherald and wicketkeeper-batsman Alex Carey, and recruited Wes Agar - young brother of Perth's Ashton - after the Australia U19 fast bowler displayed his potential in a promising Matador Cup campaign.

In: Alex Carey, Jake Weatherald, Ben Dunk (Hobart), Wes Agar.

Out: Alex Ross (Heat), Mahela Jayawardena (OS), Hamish Kingston (Hobart)

Retained: Jonathon Dean, Travis Head, Brad Hodge, Jon Holland, Tim Ludeman, Kieron Pollard (OS), Adil Rashid (OS), Kane Richardson, Craig Simmons, Kelvin Smith, Billy Stanlake.

Off-contract players: Alex Keath, Ben Laughlin, Jake Lehmann, Michael Neser, Gary Putland

Membership details: Become a Strikeforce Member today HERE

Brisbane Heat

Matador One-Day Cup Player of the Tournament Marnus Labuschagne has signed with the Brisbane Heat, completing the club's roster some six weeks out from the beginning of the new Big Bash season.

Labuschagne, who has been in superb touch with the Queensland Bulls in both List A and first-class cricket, adds another middle-order option to the Heat's group – an area that has also been strengthened by the addition of former Strikers batsman Alex Ross.

World No.1 ranked Twenty20 international bowler Samuel Badree will again be spinning his web at the Gabba this summer, after Heat coach Daniel Vettori confirmed the West Indies leg-spinner has re-signed for the upcoming KFC Big Bash League season.

Badree will join former New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum as Brisbane's two international imports for BBL|06, with McCullum to take on captaincy duties this summer.

Chris Lynn is the King of the Six

While Badree didn't pick up a wicket until his fourth game in the teal in BBL|05, he made up for lost time, soaring to the top of the BBL Official Player Rankings with a series of good performances including a match-winning 5-22 against the Melbourne Stars at the MCG.

He followed it up with a strong World T20 campaign, taking nine wickets including 3-12 against Sri Lanka and 2-16 against England in the final.

In: Alex Ross (Strikers), Marnus Labuschagne

Out: Lendl Simmons (OS), Nicholas Buchanan, Peter Forrest, James Hopes

Retained: Samuel Badree (OS) Joe Burns, Ben Cutting, Alex Doolan, Andrew Fekete, Luke Feldman, Jason Floros, Sam Heazlett, Josh Lalor, Chris Lynn, Brendon McCullum (captain, OS), James Peirson, Nathan Reardon, Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson, Jack Wildermuth.

Membership details: Christmas has come early for Brisbane Heat fans with $3,000 worth of presents up for the grabs for any fans that sign up to a two-Game Membership! Choose from any two Heat home games for just $25 for kids and $55 for adults HERE.

Hobart Hurricanes

Stuart Broad will face the unfamiliar prospect of Australian crowds cheering, rather than jeering, him this summer after the Hobart Hurricanes announced the England fast-bowler as their second overseas signing for BBL|06.

Broad joins the Hurricanes in a bid to reignite his international limited-over career after finding himself out of favour with England selectors in white ball cricket.

Hurricanes sign Broad for BBL|06

The 30-year-old fills the Hobart's second international slot for BBL|06, joining Sri Lanka legend Kumar Sangakkara, who will return to the Apple Isle for another campaign.

The Hurricanes have bid farwell to rising paceman Joe Mennie, who as signed with the Sydney Sixers, and have three places vacant on their list for the summer.

Ins: Stuart Broad (OS)


Outs: Joe Mennie (Sixers), Daren Sammy

Retained: George Bailey, Cameron Boyce, Dan Christian, Ben Dunk, Ben McDermott, Dominic Michael, Simon Milenko, Tim Paine, Sam Rainbird, Jake Reed, Clive Rose, Kumar Sangakkara (OS), Shaun Tait, Jonathan Wells.

Off-contract players: Michael Hill, Timm van der Gugten, Beau Webster

Membership details: For Hobart Hurricanes Membership information click HERE.

Melbourne Renegades

The Melbourne Renegades have signed one of the most iconic players in the BBL, luring veteran spinner Brad Hogg from the Perth Scorchers,bolstering their spin stocks as they look to improve on BBL|05. 

Surprisingly, Hogg is arguably not even the biggest coup for the Renegades, after they lured West Indies mystery spinner Sunil Narine to Melbourne.

Image Id: ~/media/039662CB47AA4AE6B1A0D5FA60045A5A

Narine, the ninth-ranked Twenty20 bowler on the International Cricket Council charts, will return for his second stint in the tournament, having played five matches for the Sydney Sixers in BBL|02.

Narine's signing completed the Renegades roster after they confirmed they would not re-sign controversial West Indian Chris Gayle. 

The Renegades have also re-signed West Indies star Dwayne Bravo for BBL|06, while captain Aaron Finch has signed a new long-term deal, committing to the Renegades for the next three years.

Marcus Harris comes across from the Scorchers, while the Renegades have locked in former Australian allrounder Andrew McDonald as coach after David Saker was appointed an Australian assistant coach.

Ins: Brad Hogg (Perth), Marcus Harris (Perth), Sunil Narine (OS),

Outs: Chris Gayle (uncontracted)

Retained: Tom Beaton, Dwayne Bravo (OS), Tom Cooper, Xavier Doherty, Callum Ferguson, Aaron Finch, Peter Nevill, James Pattinson, Nathan Rimmington, Peter Siddle, Chris Tremain, Matthew Wade, Cameron White, Nick Winter, Guy Walker

Off-contract players: Nathan Hauritz, Matthew Short 

Membership details: Join the Renegades now at www.getonred.com.au

Melbourne Stars

With the most stable list in the competition, there's been little news out of the MCG-based club so far this off-season, but they have confirmed David Hussey will carry on as Stars skipper next season.

The 39-year-old says he has unfinished business, after losing last year's final to the Sydney Thunder.

"I had a ball last year, a breath of fresh air, it felt like a new squad and I think (coach) Steve Fleming's brought a nice relaxed atmosphere and environment to the group," Hussey said.

"I thought maybe there was a little bit of unfinished business losing in the grand final, hopefully we can go one step further this season."

Dan Worrall has also re-signed. 

KP's MCG Masterclass

Ins: None

Outs: None

Retained: Michael Beer, Scott Boland, James Faulkner, Sebastian Gotch, Evan Gulbis, Peter Handscomb, Sam Harper, John Hastings, Ben Hilfenhaus, David Hussey, Glenn Maxwell, Kevin Pietersen (OS), Robert Quiney, Marcus Stoinis, Tom Triffitt, Dan Worrall, Luke Wright (OS), Adam Zampa.

Membership details: Join Summer's Super Stars by November 30 for your chance to become a Star for a day. Visit GoStars.com.au for details.

Perth Scorchers

Perth Scorchers have signed former England batsman Ian Bell as their second overseas player for the upcoming Big Bash season.

Bell, who hasn't played for England since he was dropped from the Test side late last year, joins countryman David Willey as Perth's two imports for BBL|06.

But while the Scorchers have settled their 18-man squad for BBL|06 already, coach Justin Langer says he's still in the market for another international player and a bowler.

A lower back stress fracture to Nathan Coulter-Nile and the likely unavailability of Willey - who is likely to be part of England's squad for a 50-over and T20 International series against India due to begin on 15 January, ruling him out of the back-end of BBL|06 - has forced Langer to continue his player search.

While Coulter-Nile is unlikely to be fit, the Scorchers have secured the prized signature of former Test quick Mitchell Johnson.

Johnson had long been hinting he was leaning towards a return to Australian domestic cricket but the confirmation of his signing adds a new level of excitement.

Image Id: ~/media/A4B5F0A84D4B4A5695AB6FD4E42537D6

Johnson, who lives in Perth, said the Scorchers were the only team he was interested in, despite being heavily recruited by the Brisbane Heat, who Johnson had been signed to for several seasons at the peak of his powers but never played for amidst his international commitments.

But the Scorchers will be without iconic spinner Brad Hogg and batsman Marcus Harris, who have both moved to the Renegades.

Ins: Mitchell Johnson, Hilton Cartwright,  Jhye Richardson, Ian Bell (OS) 

Outs: Brad Hogg (Renegades), Marcus Harris (Renegades), Michael Carberry (OS), Simon Mackin

Retained:  Ashton Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Michael Klinger, Mitch Marsh, Shaun Marsh, James Muirhead, Joel Paris, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, Sam Whiteman, David Willey (OS), Adam Voges 

Membership details: Are you #MADETOUGH. Scorchers' memberships are now on sale and selling fast. Sign up HERE here before you miss out!

Sydney Sixers

The Sydney Sixers have secured the services of boom fast bowler Joe Mennie for this summer's BBL, while Steve Smith will assume a new role, taking on the position of official ambassador for the side.

With his role Australia captain and his playing commitments meaning he won't get to appear in the magenta this summer, Smith will focus his attention on promoting and supporting the Sixers i other ways.

Mennie, who was born in NSW coastal town Coffs Harbour, will make the move from the Hobart where he has spent three summers playing for the Hurricanes.

Mennie gets his happy return

"I'm really looking forward to getting home and spending some quality time with good people over Christmas," Mennie said.

"I got the call from my manager saying that he'd been approached by the Sixers and that they were keen to sign me.

"I thought it would be a great opportunity, the Sixers are obviously a great brand and a great team, I've spent a lot of time in Sydney, I love Sydney, and I'm really looking forward to the opportunity."

NSW Blues opener Daniel Hughes has also signed on with the Sixers, bolstering their batting ranks after a one-year absence from the BBL.

The Sixers have two new faces in their international signings this year, helped by South Africa-born allrounder Johan Botha taking up Australian citizenship. With Englishman Michael Lumb not returning, the Sixers have signed two of his countrymen in explosive young openers Jason Roy and Sam Billings, the latter of which served as Brad Haddin's understudy early in 2016 at the Pakistan Super League.

Ins: Joe Mennie (Hobart), Daniel Hughes, Jason Roy (OS), Sam Billings (OS)


Outs: Steve Smith, Michael Lumb (OS) 


Retained: Sean Abbott, Jackson Bird, Doug Bollinger, Johan Botha (OS), Ryan Carters, Ben Dwarshuis, Brad Haddin, Josh Hazlewood, Moises Henriques, Nathan Lyon, Nic Maddinson, Stephen O'Keefe, Jordan Silk, Mitchell Starc

Off-contract players: Ed Cowan, Michael Edwards, Michael Lumb (OS)

Membership details: For Sixers Membership information click HERE.

Sydney Thunder

England Captain Eoin Morgan will return to play for Sydney Thunder for the first half of the Big Bash season.

Morgan returns to the reigning BBL for his third stint with the Club, having previously played eight games, scoring 159 runs.

He is scheduled to play for the first five games of BBL|06 before he joins up with the England side for their ODI and T20 series in India.

The Thunder have yet to confirm their second overseas recruit for BBL|06, but Andre Russell's success in his debut season in lime green makes him a 'must sign'.

Russell's really really ridiculously good catch

Former Australia allrounder Shane Watson has been confirmed as skipper for the Thunder's title defence.

The Thunder have also re-signed BBL|05 title winners Chris Green, Clint McKay and Aiden Blizzard for the next two seasons.

The trio will now remain with the Thunder Nation until the end of BBL|07, while teenage batsman Jason Sangha comes on board as the Thunder's community rookie.

The Thunder have three local spots left to fill on their roster.

Ins: Eoin Morgan (OS)

Outs: Mike Hussey (retired); Jacques Kallis (retired)

Retained: Fawad Ahmed, Aiden Blizzard, Patrick Cummins, Jake Doran, Ryan Gibson, Chris Green, Usman Khawaja, Alister McDermott, Clint McKay, Arjun Nair, Kurtis Patterson, Ben Rohrer, Gurinder Sandhu, Shane Watson

Off-contract players: Ahillen Beadle, Chris Hartley, Andrew McDonald, Andre Russell (OS)

Membership details: For Thunder Membership information click HERE.