Last Updated on 3 years by Charbel Coorey
Cricket News: BBL 2021/22: The full squads and possible XIs for each team | BBL squads and possible XIs for 2021/22 season
Summer is officially underway in Australia, meaning a highly anticipated Test series along with a brand new Big Bash season is upon us. Sydney Sixers will be aiming to defend their crown, as the other seven teams look to stop them.
BBL 2021/22 will contain 61 matches between December 5 and January 28. As the competition will run during the Ashes series, a number of Test stars will be unavailable for the tournament. Also, Australia A will play England Lions from the 9th to 12th of December. However, this gives up and coming cricketers the chance to make a name for themselves.
Key dates:
- BBL 2021/22 season: December 5 2021 to January 28 2022
- Ashes series: December 8 2021 to January 18 2022
- Australia A vs England Lions: December 9-12 2021
Below are the squads and possible playing XIs for each team in their first match of the season. Also, we look at how each franchise is looking ahead of the tournament and where their strengths and weaknesses lie.
BBL 2021/22 guide – All squads and possible playing XIs:
Adelaide Strikers
Last season finish: 5th
Squad: Travis Head (c) (Test squad), Wes Agar, Alex Carey (Test squad), Harry Conway, Spencer Johnson, Harry Nielsen, Liam O’Connor, Matthew Renshaw (Australia A squad), Liam Scott, Peter Siddle, Jon Wells, Daniel Worrall, George Garton, Ryan Gibson, Fawad Ahmad, Rashid Khan, Matt Short, Jake Weatherald
Possible Playing 11 for first match vs Renegades: 1. Jake Weatherald, 2. Harry Nielsen (wk), 3. Matt Short, 4. Ryan Gibson, 5. Jon Wells, 6. Liam Scott, 7. Rashid Khan, 8. Peter Siddle, 9. George Gargton, 10. Daniel Worrall/Wes Agar, 11. Fawad Ahmed/Liam O’Connor
Verdict: The absence of Travis Head and Alex Carey is a blow for the Strikers as both are in the Australian Test setup. Both are senior members of the side, and their experience with the bat will be missed.
The likes of Jack Weatherald need to deliver with the bat with Matt Renshaw in the Australia A squad. Rashid Khan will be key in leading an attack that has experience of Peter Siddle, Daniel Worrall and Fawad Ahmed.
Brisbane Heat
Last season finish: 4th
Squad: Jimmy Pierson (c), Xavier Bartlett, Tom Cooper, Sam Heazlett, Chris Lynn, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Mark Steketee (Australia A squad), Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Willans, Marnus Labuschagne (Ashes squad), Michael Neser (Ashes squad), Ben Duckett, Tom Abell, Jack Wildermuth, James Bazley, Matt Kuhnemann, Max Bryant, Connor Sully
Possible Playing 11 for first match vs Thunder: 1. Sam Heazlett, 2. Max Bryant, 3. Chris Lynn, 4. Ben Duckett, 5. Tom Cooper, 6. Jimmy Pierson (c & wk), 7. Tom Abell, 8. Jack Wildermuth, 9. Xavier Bartlett, 10. Mitchell Swepson, 11. Mujeeb ur Rahman
Verdict: Marnus Labuschagne, who was terrific for the Heat last season, will be unavailable due to Test commitments. However, the Heat possess plenty of talent, with Sam Heazlett in particular one to watch. Plus, eyes will be on Ben Duckett who is striking at nearly 150 in short-form cricket this year.
Also, their bowling attack has been in good form in domestic cricket and Mujeeb ur Rahman makes any attack even better. The addition of Englishman Tom Abell could prove valuable throughout the season.
Hobart Hurricanes
Last season finish: 6th
Squad: Matthew Wade (c), Scott Boland (Australia A squad), Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Peter Handscomb, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Mitch Owen, Wil Parker, D’Arcy Short, Mac Wright, Sandeep Lamichhane, Caleb Jewell, Joel Paris, Harry Brook, Josh Kann, Tom Rogers, Jordan Thompson
Possible Playing 11 for first match vs Sixers: 1. Matthew Wade (c), 2. D’Arcy Short, 3. Ben McDermott, 4. Peter Handscomb, 5. Tim David, 6. Harry Brook, 7. Jordan Thompson, 8. Joel Paris, 9. Riley Meredith, 10. Nathan Ellis, 11. Sandeep Lamichhane
Verdict: Hobart had a poor season in BBL 10, but they are a very good chance of improving on that this year. Matthew Wade will reunite with D’Arcy Short, and they have excellent middle order players in Tim David and Englishman Harry Brook who is averaging 60.33 and striking at 150 in 18 short-form matches this year. Plus, add English all-rounder Jordan Thompson who strikes at 180 with the bat this year and the Hurricanes have a strong batting lineup.
Also, the bowling attack looks in good shape. Both Riley Meredith and Nathan Ellis have represented Australia, and Sandeep Lamichhane is an excellent spin option.
Melbourne Renegades
Last season finish: 8th
Squad: Nic Maddinson (c), Cameron Boyce, Zak Evans, Aaron Finch, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Sam Harper, Marcus Harris*, Mackenzie Harvey, Josh Lalor, Shaun Marsh, James Pattinson, Mitch Perry, Jack Prestwidge, Kane Richardson, Will Sutherland, Reece Topley, Unmukt Chand, Mohammad Nabi, Zahir Khan
Possible Playing 11 for first match vs Strikers: 1. Sam Harper (wk), 2. Shaun Marsh, 3. Mackenzie Harvey, 4. Jake Fraser-McGurk, 5. Unmukt Chand/Mackenzie Harvey, 6. Mohammad Nabi, 7. Will Sutherland, 8. James Pattinson, 9. Kane Richardson, 10. Cameron Boyce, 11. Reece Topley/Zahir Khan
Verdict: Aaron Finch is likely to miss the first round of the tournament (or potentially more). Nic Maddinson is on Australia A duty. So, the Renegades have a captaincy conunundrum and will be missing two key batsmen. Shaun Marsh will be key in holding an inexperienced but talented top order together, with their finishing also in question.
The bowling attack will need to do a lot of the heavy lifting. James Pattinson is a strong addition and Kane Richardson needs to replicate the form he showed two seasons ago when Renegades won the tournament.
Melbourne Stars
Last season finish: 7th
Squad: Glenn Maxwell (c), Hilton Cartwright, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Seb Gotch, Liam Hatcher, Clint Hinchliffe, Nick Larkin, Tom O’Connell, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa, Joe Burns, Sam Rainbird, Joe Clarke, Qais Ahmad (Abu Dhabi T10 League), Sam Elliot, Beau Webster
Possible Playing 11 for first match vs Sixers: 1. Marcus Stoinis, 2. Joe Clarke (wk) 3. Nick Larkin, 4. Glenn Maxwell (c), 5. Joe Burns, 6. Hilton Cartwright, 7. Nathan Coulter-Nile, 8. Adam Zampa, 9. Liam Hatcher, 10. Sam Rainbird, 11. Billy Stanlake
Verdict: The Stars had a shocker last season. Whether they bounce back this season depends on how Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell perform. Apart from these two, though, the Stars look to lack firepower. If both fire, it will enable the others around them to deliver, including Joe Clarke who is likely to take the gloves and open.
With the ball, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Adam Zampa need to lead the way. Zampa was one of the players of the tournament in the recent T20 World Cup, so he comes into this competition in great form.
Perth Scorchers
Last season finish: 2nd
Squad: Mitch Marsh (c) (Australia A squad), Ashton Agar (Australia A squad), Cameron Bancroft, Jason Behrendorff, Aaron Hardie, Peter Hatzoglou, Josh Inglis (Australia A squad), Matthew Kelly, Lance Morris, Kurtis Patterson, Jhye Richardson (Ashes squad), Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, Colin Munro, Laurie Evans, Tymal Mills
Possible Playing 11 for first match vs Heat: 1. Cameron Bancroft, 2. Colin Munro, 3. Kurtis Patterson, 4. Ashton Turner, 5. Laurie Evans, 6. Aaron Hardie, 7. Andrew Tye, 8. Lance Morris, 9. Matthew Kelly, 10. Jason Behrendhorff, 11. Peter Hatzoglou
Verdict: The Scorchers will be quite depleted for their first match with Mitchell Marsh, Josh Inglis and Ashton Agar all on Australia A duty. In addition, Jhye Richardson is in the Australia Test squad. So, they will have to dig deep against the Heat.
Overall, the Scorchers do have a solid team. The loss of Liam Livingstone might hurt them, but Colin Munro can offer plenty as opener. Also, Mitch Marsh has had a brilliant year in T20s and Josh Inglis is an excitement machine in the middle. This, along with an experienced bowling attack which will soon contain Tymal Mills after his quarantine period, should hold the Scorchers in decent stead throughout the season.
Sydney Sixers
Last season finish: Champions
Squad: Moises Henriques (c), Sean Abbott (Australia A squad), Jackson Bird, Dan Christian, Tom Curran, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Mickey Edwards, Daniel Hughes, Hayden Kerr, Nathan Lyon (Ashes squad), Ben Manenti, Josh Philippe, Lloyd Pope, Jordan Silk, James Vince, Steve O’Keefe, Chris Jordan (five-match contract)
Possible Playing 11 for first match vs Stars: 1. Daniel Hughes, 2. Josh Phillipe (wk), 3. James Vince, 4. Moises Henriques (wk), 5. Jordan Silk, 6. Dan Christian, 7. Tom Curran, 8. Chris Jordan, 9. Ben Dwarshuis, 10. Steve O’Keefe, 11. Jackson Bird/Lloyd Pope/Ben Manenti
Verdict: It is going to be a very tough ask for the other seven teams to try and topple the Sixers once again this season. Chris Jordan is available for a five-game contract, and Tom Curran returns to the franchise in a move that makes the Sixers even stronger. Plus, Sean Abbott, who got injured last season, is set to line up after his stint with Australia A.
Josh Phillipe at the top will be after a big campaign, and James Vince will be aiming to start where he left off from last season. Also, if Dan Christian can have a similar season to the one he had in 2020/21, watch out.
Sydney Thunder
Last season finish: 3rd
Squad: Usman Khawaja (c) (Ashes squad), Jonathan Cook, Ben Cutting, Ollie Davies, Brendan Doggett, Matt Gilkes, Chris Green, Baxter Holt, Nathan McAndrew, Alex Ross, Daniel Sams, Tanveer Sangha, Chris Tremain, Alex Hales, Sam Billings, Baxter Holt, Saqib Mahmood (England Lions squad), Jason Sangha, Gurinder Sandhu
Possible Playing 11 for first match vs Heat: 1. Alex Hales, 2. Ben Cutting, 3. Alex Ross, 4. Ollie Davies, 5. Sam Billings, 6. Matt Gilkes/Baxter Holt (wk), 7. Daniel Sams, 8. Nathan McAndrew, 9. Chris Green, 10. Brendan Doggett, 11. Tanveer Sangha
Verdict: The English core of Alex Hales, Sam Billings and Saqib Mahmood adds serious value to the Thunder side. There is no Callum Ferguson anymore, but the batting lineup can produce big scores with domestic players such as Ben Cutting and Ollie Davies capable of clearing the rope regularly.
Daniel Sams was the leading wicket-taker two seasons ago (30), and is part of an attack that looks talented on paper. Nathan McAndrew could be a quiet achiever this season given his good domestic form, and Mahmood has had a great year in white-ball cricket in England.
The Thunder should be thereabouts in the playoffs once again.
