5 non-Australians who are performing well in the 2015/16 BBL

The popularity meter of the Big Bash League, Australia’s premier domestic T20 competition, has been growing with every passing year. What has also gone up is the count of international players from outside Australia taking part in the tournament.The current edition of the BBL has already seen some breathtaking performances with both bat and ball, most of which have come from the local players. However, there have been a few non-Australians too who have held their own in the tournament and played good cricket for their respective teams.Let’s take a look at 5 non-Australians who are doing well at the BBL:

#5 Mahela Jayawardene (Adelaide Strikers)

The Sri Lankan import has been showcasing the elegance that dotted his career.

MAT	RUNS	AVG	HS	S/R
6	184	30.66	57	121.85

Legendary Sri Lankan batsman Mahela Jayawardene may have retired from the international game, but his hunger for runs does not seem to have subsided yet. Jayawardene’s exploits during the ongoing BBL provide us the greatest proof of this fact.

The iconic batsman has scored 184 runs at a 30 plus average and this includes 2 half-centuries in consecutive half centuries. Alongside Australians Travis Head and Brad Hodge, Mahela Jayawardene has been one of the mainstays of the Strikers’ batting line-up.

In a match against Brisbane Heat recently, Mahela received the Player of the Match award for a blistering 53 from just 30 deliveries which helped Adelaide chase down a target of 176.

#4 Michael Lumb (Sydney Sixers)

Michael Lumb of the Sydney Sixers bats at WACA.

MAT	RUNS	AVG	HS	S/R
6	194	32.33	63	133.97

Sydney Sixers may be struggling at 7th position in the points table for this year’s BBL, but their opening batsman Michael Lumb has been having a decent tournament with the bat thus far. The southpaw has scored nearly 200 runs in 6 matches at a very decent average of 32.33 and an impressive strike rate of just below 134.

Lumb’s top score of 63 set up a rare victory for the Sixers in a game against Melbourne Renegades, where they chased down a target of 173 with more than an over to spare. He scored his runs in only 35 balls and smashed as many as 5 sixes.

#3 Luke Wright (Melbourne Stars)

Luke Wright celebrates after reaching his fifty.

MAT	RUNS	AVG	HS	S/R
6	199	66.33	109*	136.3

Luke Wright may not be finding favour with the England selectors at the moment, but he is surely making the most of his opportunities at the BBL. Wright has easily been the best non-Australian batsman in the tournament with a tally of 199 runs from 6 games at a superb average of slightly over 66.

The 30-year old has scored one of the few centuries in the BBL this year and it came in a match against the Melbourne Renegades. Wright’s unbeaten 109 came off just 63 balls and led the way for Melbourne Stars in a successful 162-run chase.

#2 Adil Rashid (Adelaide Strikers)

Adil Rashid celebrates after taking a wicket during the BBL match between the Brisbane Heat and the Adelaide Strikers.

MAT	WKTS	AVG	BBI	ECO
6	12	13.41	3/23	6.70

England leg-spinner Adil Rashid has been one of the driving forces behind the success of Adelaide Strikers in the ongoing season of the BBL. Rashid has bowled brilliantly to pick up 12 wickets in 6 matches so far at an incredible average of a shade over 13.

What’s been more impressive about Adil Rashid is his economy rate of 6.70, which goes to show that he has been in complete control whenever he has bowled. The leggie’s best bowling figures of 3 for 23 were recorded in a match against the Perth Scorchers, which ended in a 36-run victory for the Strikers.

#1 Andre Russell (Sydney Thunder)

Sydney Thunder allrounder Andre Russell has been in top form this season.

MAT	RUNS	AVG	S/R	WKTS	BBI	ECO
6	113	22.6	182.25	11	3/13	7.00

The big-hitting West Indian allrounder is having a great time at the BBL this year and has been one of the best performers in the tournament. With the bat, he has smashed it around quite a bit as his strike rate of 180 plus would suggest. Russell’s top score of 42 may have come in a losing cause but he got the runs in just 20 balls and blasted 5 sixes.

Andre Russell has also been the second highest wicket taker in this year’s BBL so far with 11 wickets at an impressive average of just over 15. His economy rate of 7 is also very acceptable as per T20 standards. The pace-bowling allrounder’s best figures of 3 for 13 helped his team register an emphatic victory in their very first game.