Top 10 specialists in Twenty20 cricket

Cricket used to be a summer sport, but now it is played non-stop, all-year round. Since it is popular countries in both the Northern and the Southern hemispheres, there's a very good chance of a league being played somewhere, every month of the year.

This has helped cricketers with skills which are prized assets in Twenty20 become high in demand properties. The development has been beneficial to players who are out of favour with their national sides for various reasons and also those who have reduced their workload to extend their careers.

There are opportunities aplenty.

T20 Blast starts off in England in July, the Caribbean Premier League is played in August-September, Sri Lankan League is in September, Bangladesh Premier League in November-December, RamSlam in South Africa starts around the same time, Big Bash begins in December in Australia, so too does Super Smash in New Zealand. Pakistan Super League is played in February-March and the most open window of April-May is reserved for the IPL in India.

These athletes go and participate in these leagues and for which, they have been branded a bit harshly, as cricketing mercenaries, owing to the franchises giving them very handsome paychecks.

The now r — The now-retired Kevin Pietersen was a textbook freelancer and much sought after by franchises

Mercenary is a harsh word to describe international cricketers but is also an adjective that they have grudgingly come to accept. It is barter system that suits them materialistically. Personally, I think that freelancers is a better word, as their services are auctioned for. Only if they are participating in these leagues in favour of representing their countries does an ethical question arise.

The players who have successfully built a career as freelancers are invariably those with unique skills and charisma; and around whom franchises prefer to build their teams. Here are the top seven freelancers in Twenty20 cricket of all time.

*All statistics as of May 10, 2018

#10 Rashid Khan

Rashid Khan's stocks have risen quickly in T20 cricket — Still

Franchises: Adelaide Strikers, Band-e-Amir Dragons, Comilla Victorians, Guyana Amazon Warriors, Kabul Eagles, Quetta Gladiators, Sunrisers Hyderabad

The leg-break bowlers have been very successful in this format and a bowler of the calibre of Rashid Khan has been instrumental in bringing back the art of wrist spin. The Afghan's variations have confused batsmen, which explains his outstanding career economy rate of under 6. By bowling a leg-break traditionally as well as with the wrist position of a googly, he further perplexes batsmen. He is quick through the air, gets the drift, and bowls the googly with accuracy.

Trivia: He got the highest-ever bid for an Associate player when Sunrisers Hyderabad bought him for 4 crores in 2017

#9 Luke Wright

An under-rated all-rounder, who has plenty of match-winning performances in T20s

Franchises: Abahani Limited, Dhaka Gladiators, Melbourne Stars, Pune Warriors, Quetta Gladiators, Rajshahi Kings, Sussex

Luke Wright has 7 hundreds in this format. He is a force to reckon with his deceptively nippy bowling and his top-notch fielding makes him an ideal player for the format. He is capable of muscling bowling attacks and making a mockery of field placements. He's not been his best while playing for England, but in franchise cricket, he's found his calling.

Trivia: Has been retained by his Big Bash franchise Melbourne Stars for 7 seasons running.

#8 Kieron Pollard

Keiron Pollard is known for his fearsome hitting

Franchises: Adelaide Strikers, Barbados Tridents, Dhaka Gladiators, Karachi Kings, Melbourne Renegades, Multan Sultans, Mumbai Indians, Somerset, Trinidad & Tobago

Brute force with the bat, uncanny wicket-taking ability and an athletic boundary patroller -Pollard fits the template of a Caribbean all-rounder to the tee. He specialises in taking the game away from the opposition in the middle overs with the ball and in the death overs with his raw hitting power. The balls that this temperamental Trinidadian clubs, sails over the boundary, the ones he mistimes, do too.

Trivia: His career strike rate has never dipped below 150 and holds the records for most catches for a fielder in the format.

#7 Shane Watson

Shane Watson has played some of his best cricket for his T20 franchises

Franchises: Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Chennai Super Kings, Islamabad United, Quetta Gladiators, St Lucia Zouks, Sydney Sixers, Sydney Thunder

Shane Watson, with his dependable seam-up and explosive batting, while when it comes to the opening is often one of the first names on the team sheet. Rajasthan Royal's IPL title surge in 2008 was based on a large part, on Watson's regular contributions. He remains one of the most bankable freelancers in the format and easily a modern great. Post his retirement from all forms of international cricket in 2016, his form has been resurgent, indicating that he's got plenty still to offer.

Trivia: He's the only player to have won 2 Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards in the IPL, in 2008 and 2013 playing for Rajasthan Royals.

#6 Andre Russell

Andre Russell launching into a six over long on

Franchises: Delhi Daredevils, Islamabad United, Jamaica Tallawahs, Kolkata Knight Riders, Sydney Thunder, Sylhet Royals, Worcestershire

He's a proper fast-bowling all-rounder. 'DreRus' is a finisher and an unapologetic one at that. Russell by his own admission likes the match scenario the most when there are 5-10 overs left, giving him the license to launch the ball into dizzy orbits. His preferred method is to play in the 'V', but aerially and with tremendous power. His attractive, explosive batting at in the death overs make many a totals chase-able as also set-up targets beyond reach.

Trivia: He has won both the Big Bash, the IPL and the World T20 tournaments.

#5 Lasith Malinga

Mumbai Indians won 3 IPL titles on the back of Malinga's death bowling

Franchises: Melbourne Stars, Mumbai Indians, Ruhuna Royals, Guyana Amazon Warriors, Jamaica Tallawahs, Kent

Lasith Malinga's slinging action is as much a trademark as it is unorthodox. No one has quite figured out a fool-proof way to play his toe-crushing yorkers. He bowls them with unerring precision and is the go-to option for his captains in the death overs to stem the flow of runs. His variations - the slower ball and the bouncer are also equally hard to pick. He quit Test cricket at just the age of 27 to prolong his limited overs career and he's done so with great effect.

Trivia: He's the leading wicket taker of all time (154) in the IPL; all taken for Mumbai Indians

#4 Sunil Narine

Franchises: Kolkata Night Riders, Melbourne Renegades, Sydney Sixers, Trinbago Knight Riders Barisal Burners, Cape Cobras, Comilla Victorians, Guyana Amazon Warriors, Lahore Qalandars

Sunil Narine started off as a mystery spinner, who was impossible to pick. After a re-modelling his bowling action, he is still potent, and still mysterious. With his repertoire of carrom ball, knuckleball, off-spinner and the slider, he has been able to keep a lot of batsmen tied down. He boasts the most economical bowling rate in the history of IPL (6.33/ over). Add to that his reinvention as a dynamite opener who regularly returns a strike rate in the region of 150, and you have one of the most valuable players in the XI.

Trivia: Once bowled 21 dot balls out of 24 balls (4 overs) in a Caribbean Premier League game.

#3 Dwayne Bravo

Dwayne Bravo can win games with his bowling, batting and his outfield catches

Franchises: Chennai Super Kings, Essex, Gujarat Lions, Kent, Lahore Qalandars, Melbourne Renegades, Mumbai Indians, Peshawar Zalmi, Sydney Sixers, Trinbago Knight Riders, Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel, Chittagong Kings, Comilla Victorians, Dhaka Dynamites, Dolphins, Surrey

Dwayne Bravo has had his share of fallouts with West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) for prioritising his IPL career over his Windies one. But given the value and flexibility that he brings to any given line-up, this street-smart cricketer is never short of offers to ply his skills around the T20 leagues around the world. He is a specialist death bowler, a specialist finisher and a terrific outfielder, making him a beast of a player and capable of winning matches though any of these skills.

Trivia: Bravo is the leading wicket-taker in T20 matches of all time and the second on the list of most catches by a fielder.

#2 Brendon McCullum

Brendon McCullum hoisting a six over extra cover playing for Brisbane Heat

Franchises: Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kings XI Punjab, Brisbane Heat, Canterbury, Chennai Super Kings, Glamorgan, Gujarat Lions, Lahore Qalandars, Otago, Sussex, Trinbago Knight Riders

Swashbuckling is the best word to describe his modus operandi. Brendon McCullum's brand of fearless hammer and tongs batting sends shivers down the spine of bowlers, who know that his attack is going to be relentless. It will only end if they get him out, somehow, someway. Apart from AB de Villiers, he's another batsman capable of hitting the ball in a 360-degree arc. He's frequently employed the Dilscoop and upper-cuts to devastating results.

Trivia: He hit the first hundred (158*) in IPL in its first match in 2008 for Kolkata Knight Riders

#1 Chris Gayle

Chris Gayle launching into yet another of his towering sixes

Franchises: Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kings XI Punjab, Barisal Burners, Chittagong Vikings, Dhaka Gladiators, Jamaica Tallawahs, Karachi Kings, Qalandars, Melbourne Renegades, St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, Sydney Thunder

There has been no other player with such a devastating impact as the 'Universe Boss'. Chris Gayle has 21 tons under his name, three times any other player. Gayle has the most runs, sixes, hundreds, the highest individual score, the fastest hundred and best average in the format. He brings the swagger of the Caribbean to any franchise he joins. His nonchalant hits are as addictive as his infectious braggadocio post-match interviews.

Trivia: He has played for franchises from 8 Test playing nations - from Zimbabwe to Bangladesh to South Africa.

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