BBL 15: Team of the Tournament

This year’s Big Bash League has seen several players who have performed exceedingly well in conditions with are pacy, bouncy etc. There have been some explicit and memorable showcases of batting and bowling abilities.Chris Lynn’s five sixes in a row or Chris Gayle’s fastest fifty record or even the team hat-trick that Sydney Thunder produced during the Melbourne Stars' innings in the final. There have been several players though, who have topped the charts and made themselves a major mark in the tournament. These players have sent out a strong message to the viewers by showcasing their talent and cricketing skills at the cash-rich league.Here’s a look into the team of the tournament, who have been chosen based on their stunning overall stats in the tournaments and individual performances.

#1 Usman Khawaja

Khawaja scored 345 runs in the BBL 2016

Usman Khawaja had to miss a majority of this year’s BBL due to some injuries. However, his presence in the Sydney Thunder squad took the team to great heights and also managed to make it to the finals, where he scored a fantastic 70 of just 40 balls to help the Thunder to a fantastic victory. In the 4 matches Khawaja played, he amassed a stunning 345 runs in 4 matches, with two hundreds in addition to carrying his bat through in two innings.

With these stellar record this year, and earning the ‘man of the final award’, Khawaja will be an obvious choice to take up the first opener’s slot in this team of the tournament, with him holding the record for the highest average held by any player in the history of BBL.

Khawaja’s stats this season:

Matches: 4

Runs: 345

Average: 172.5

Strike rate: 163.50

#2 Michael Klinger

Klinger (L), alongside his Scorcher’s opening partner Shaun Marsh

Michael Klinger takes the other opener’s slot the dream team of BBL 2015/16 for his stunning performance with the bat. Captaining the side, Klinger made his bat speak all types of languages on the field to different kinds of bowlers, without showing mercy to any of them.

In the whole season, he scored 285 runs at a wonderful average of 40.71 and led his team through to the semifinals, where the Scorchers lost to a thundering Sydney Thunder Line-up.

Klinger’s stats this season:

Matches: 9

Runs: 285

Average: 40.71

Strike rate: 122.31

#3 Chris Lynn

Chris Lynn, the top run-getter of the cash rich tournament

Undoubtedly the most obvious choice for the No.3 batsman in the team of the tournament has to go to the marauding Chris Lynn. Representing the Brisbane Heat, he collected a total of a stunning 378 runs in just 8 matches to his name, averaging a whopping 54. One of the fondest memories of BBL 2015/16 would surely be the over in which he took on Ben Hilfenhaus, smashing him for 5 sixes all over the park in a mammoth over.

Although Lynn was in phenomenal form, he could not take his team over the qualifying stages level, but was named ‘BBL player of the season’ for his astronomical batting performances. Recognising his potential, he earned a call-up to the Australian national T-20 squad to play India in a 3 match series.

Lynn’s stats this season:

Matches: 8

Runs: 378

Average: 54.00

Strike rate: 173.39

50/100: 3/1

#4 Kevin Pietersen

Kevin Pietersen

Kevin Pietersen, one of the hardest hitters of the cricket ball, takes the No.4 position. BBL 5 has no doubt witnessed the right-handed England batsman make most of his time count with the Melbourne Stars, striking at a mammoth 159.11 and has helped the Stars cross the finishing line many times.

The third highest run-getter of the BBL 05 and the highest run-getter for the Stars, KP showed his class and innovativeness through the 10 matches he played, amassing 323 runs at a wonderful average of 40.37.

In the final, Pietersen stroked a wonderfully crafted half-century, scoring a rapid 74 of just 39 balls, with 4 fours and 5 sixes, but it went in vain as the Stars fell to the might of the Thunder.

Pietersen’s stats this season:

Matches: 9

Runs: 323

Average: 40.37

Strike rate: 159.11

50/100: 4/-

#5 Michael Hussey (c)

Michael Hussey, still at the top of his game

Michael Hussey, the ‘old youngster’ still showed that he has cricket left in him, by performing exceedingly well in this year’s BBL. Captaining the Sydney Thunder, Mike Hussey led his team to the Big Bash League season 05 victory, adding to his wonderful batting form, where he amassed 306 runs at a healthy average of 43.71.

His heralding tactics were truly up to the fore, and his ever-fluent batting was easily on display, which makes him the captain of the BBL dream team for 2015-16.

Hussey’s stats this season:

Matches: 9

Runs: 306

Average: 43.71

Strike rate: 131.33

50/100: 3/-

#6 Travis Head

Travis Head exults after blazing through to a century against the Sixers

One of the most fearsome strikers in the Adelaide strikers line-up, Travis Head surely made a mark this BBL with his jaw-dropping batting performances for the Strikers. With 299 runs in 9 matches to his name, Head emerged as the 5th highest run-getter of BBL 05.

Against the Sydney Sixers, Head ensured that his team romped home in style with a well measured but super aggressive century. When Alex Ross fell with the scoreboard reading 121, it was as if the Strikers lost the match. Travis Head on the other hand, had other ideas. He bashed his way out in the last 3 overs, scoring each of the 56 runs that were required for victory, and created quite a name for himself.

Seeing these performances, Head was named the Big Bash League ‘top young gun’ of the tournament.

Hussey’s stats this season:

Matches: 9

Runs: 299

Average: 42.71

Strike rate: 154.9

50/100: 2/1

#7 Brad Haddin (wk)

Experience is one major weapon in Haddin’s armoury

Brad Haddin, the wicketkeeper-batsman who played for the Sydney Sixers this year, takes the wicket-keeper’s position in the dream squad. Having retired from the International level, Haddin is now more of a domestic T20 batsman of some sorts.

This year too Brad had a good outing, keeping the stumps for the Sixers and forging timely partnerships for the team. In terms of runs, he was the second highest run-getter for the Sixers, just behind Michael Lumb.

Although age was a factor against him, he showed stunning reflexes while keeping and his batting was sheer aggressive.

Matches: 7

Runs: 200

Average: 33.33

Strike rate: 151.1

50/100: 2/-

Highest score: 72

#8 Andre Russell

Andre Russell picked up 16 wickets in the tournament

Andre Russell, the West Indian all-rounder has created a domain for himself already. Known for his powerful hitting of the cricket ball, this year’s BBL showcased Russell’s talent with the ball too. Sporting the Sydney Thunder outfit, he emerged as the leading wicket taker for the Thunder.

Russell demolished the Sydney Sixers in the first match of the tournament, by picking 3-13 in his alloted 4 overs. Although not upto the mark with his batting, his hard-hitting abilities made sure he was always in contention for the top-allrounder spot.

He continued his fine form against the Sixers, scoring a match-winning 40 of just 21 balls to take his side to a good first Innings total. This year’s BBL performance sees the mighty West Indian topping the All-rounders charts and makes him a valuable player to have in the dream squad.

Matches : 10

Runs : 185

Batting Average : 23.12

50/100 : -/-

Strike Rate : 186.86

Wickets : 16

Bowling Average : 18.87

Economy rate : 7.74

#9 Andrew Tye

Tye, a yorker specialist

Andrew Tye, the ‘Find of the tournament’ in the BBL-4, yet again proved that he has what it takes to make it big on the international level. A specialist death overs bowler who is known to deliver the ‘perfect yorker’, Tye performed splendidly well for the Scorchers this season, picking up 13 wickets at a wonderful economy of just over 7.

Tye’s performance led the Scorchers to a semifinal berth in this year’s BBL.

Tye’s stats this season:

Matches: 10

Wickets: 13

Average: 18.00

Economy rate: 7.05

#10 Adil Rashid

Rashid’s tweakers and variations have been hard to pick this season

If one player was to be given an honorary mention for his rise in the tournament due to his performances, it has to be the right arm wrist spinner from England, Adil Rashid. Playing his first Big Bash League representing the Adelaide Strikers, Rashid ended his stint with roaring success, claiming 16 wickets in his 9 matches.

When introduced into the attack by skipper Hodge, Rashid always had an answer, claiming key wickets or even barricading the flow of runs with his combination of tweakers and subtle variations.

Boasting of an economy of 6.51 and an average of 14.12, Rashid would have certainly gone back home with a proud feeling, and will be raring to go all guns blazing against any opponent that plays against him in the upcoming ICC T20 world cup.

Matches: 9

Wickets: 16

Bowling Average: 14.12

Economy Rate: 6.51

Best performance: 3/23 vs Perth Scorchers

#11 Clint McKay

Clint McKay bagged 18 wickets in the tournament

Clint McKay has arguably been the best bowler of the Big Bash League, picking up wickets constantly for his Sydney Thunder side. The leading wicket-taker in the tournament, McKay has been a major cog in the Sydney Thunder wheel due to his ability to time and again pick important wickets at crucial junctions.

In the 10 matches he played, he has taken 18 wickets at an applaudable average of just over 15.

McKay’s stats this season:

Matches: 10

Wickets: 18

Average: 15.22

Economy rate: 8.09