10 players who have a point to prove in the Big Bash

The Big Bash league enters its fifth edition, with a more exciting lineup of international stars rubbing shoulders with the best in Australian cricket. With the likes of Kumar Sangakkara, Kevin Pietersen, Mahela Jayawardene and Jacques Kallis in the fold, the tournament appears to be as exciting as its previous editons.The Perth Scorchers, with two consecutive wins, have been the most successful franchise in the tournament. The opening match, which saw Sydney Thunder beat rivals Sixers, saw both the sides earning money for charity for every six they hit. The final will be played in the home-ground of the highest ranked team.Each year, the BBL presents the opportunity of being a proving ground for young talents as well as established stars.Here’s a list of ten players who have a point to prove in this edition:

#1 George Bailey

Having made way for Michael Clarke in Australia’s squad for the World Cup, out-of-favour former captain George Bailey returned to the ODI team against England in September this year.

In 2012, still uncapped, he replaced Cameron White as the captain of Australia’s T20 team, and has captained the ODI team in the absence of Michael Clarke on various occasions. He was presented with the Baggy Green in the 2013 Ashes, and hit James Anderson for 28 runs in a single over in the same series.

Yet, he hasn’t been able to cement his place, and last played a T20I for Australia in 2014. He stepped away from T20 captaincy to focus on his place in the ODI side. He has been replaced by Tim Paine as the skipper of the Hobart Hurricanes, but will be looking forward to getting his Australian T20 spot back with strong performances in the BBL.

#2 Luke Wright

Luke Wright has been forever branded as England’s T20 expert, especially because of his exploits in various T20 leagues across the world. But yet, curiously, he hasn't played a T20I for his country in over 21 months.

In his ODI debut against India in 2007 at the Oval, he scored a 39-ball 50. In the inaugural Big Bash (2011-12), he slammed a 44-ball hundred for the Melbourne Stars against the Sydney Sixers. Following the retirement of Andrew Flintoff, he came agonizingly close to getting a spot in the English Test team, but was never given a chance.

After being named the Sussex captain in 2015, he had an excellent season with the bat, scoring 1210 runs at 46.53, but couldn’t prevent Sussex from getting relegated.

He last played for England in March last year, and would be hoping to break into the squad for the WC next year. Given his vast experience and impressive strike rate of almost 150 in the format, a strong BBL might prompt the selectors to consider him for a place on the squad.

#3 Shane Watson

Watson picked up three wickets on his Thunder debut

Even 10 years after his debut, Watson still remains an unfulfilled talent. A lot has changed for Watson in the past nine months.

He had an average World Cup with two fifties, including a crucial 64 against Pakistan in the quarter finals. But his subsequent dip in form during the Ashes, and his eventual retirement from the longer format, as well as his never-ending bout with injuries hasn’t helped his cause.

He was snubbed in the recent IPL draft, and will have to enter the main auction along with the others next year. He got off to the perfect start for his new franchise, Sydney Thunder, as he picked up three wickets in the opening game of BBL 2015 against Sydney Sixers.

If he can continue his good start and demonstrate that he is not a spent force yet, he may yet make Australia's World T20 squad, where his experience of playing in IPL will prove to be invaluable.

#4 Matthew Wade

Next in line after Brad Haddin, Matthew Wade has been in and out of the Australian team since 2012. Following Haddin’s retirement after his third consecutive World Cup, Wade has been assigned the keeper’s responsibilities in ODIs.

Although he lost the Test spot to Peter Nevill, he will be hoping to put up a good show and stave off competition from Ben Dunk and secure a permanent place in the limited overs squad.

He suffered a broken collarbone during a practice session last month, and will be raring to be fit in time for the Melbourne Renegades’ opening match against the Brisbane Heat at the Gabba.

#5 Clint McKay

Clint McKay, a tall bowler with a number of variations, was the mainstay of Australia’s bowling attack at the start of this decade. Following a stress fracture, he was omitted from the World Cup squad before he made his comeback against India in the Commonwealth Bank series in 2012.

Known for his lethal back-of-the-hand slower deliveries, McKay has been out of favour from the ODI team for close to two years now. With the potent pairing of Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc, as well as the inclusion of Kane Richardson, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Josh Hazlewood, McKay couldn’t force his way back.

Things have changed now, and with Johnson having retired and Starc injured, Australia might fall back on McKay for experience before the T20 WC. He has shifted sides from Melbourne to the Sydney Thunder and will be hoping to repeat the performances for his new franchise.

#6 Adil Rashid

2015 has been a breakout year for Adil Rashid, who has been given the English cap for all three formats after sporadic appearances in limited overs since 2009. He recently trained with Shane Warne, and the latter didn’t fall short of lavishing praise on Rashid.

Jason Gillespie, who has worked three years with Rashid at Yorkshire, has brought in the 27-year old for a stint with the Adelaide Strikers. Rashid will be hoping to cash in on the opportunity in a tournament that has no dearth of leg spinners.

An impressive outing for the Strikers might just make him first-choice for the national side ahead of the World T20 in India.

#7 Ashton Agar

In a single Ashes Test match in 2013, Ashton Agar made the highest score for a number 11 and also became the first teenaged spinner to pick a Test wicket. Although he played just a single Test match after that, he had left his impression.

Agar was recently given a look in for the ODI team for the third match between Australia and England at Manchester. He would hope to secure his position as the primary spinner in the limited overs squad, as well as get a look in in T20 cricket before the World Cup next year.

He’ll be a part of a spin attack featuring Brad Hogg and leg spinner James Muirhead.

#8 Chris Gayle

Although the Jamaican doesn’t have anything to prove to anyone, given that he is just recuperating from a back injury he sustained earlier this year, he will want to prove to the selectors that he is fit enough to play in the World T20 in March.

He last played a T20I for the West Indies in January, but has been an active participant in the IPL, the Caribbean Premier League and the Bangladesh Premier League. He scored the fastest double century in ODIs in this year’s World Cup.

Never seeming to be out of form, he capped his return from injury with an unbeaten 92 in a recent BPL match but complained of having difficulty practicing the following day. His previous stint, with the Sydney Thunders, was a failure, as he averaged just under 20.

He will be hoping to set the stage on fire for the Melbourne Renegades, along with an equally swashbuckling opening partner, Aaron Finch.

#9 Sean Abbott

The Sydney Sixers all-rounder has gathered a lot of praise leading up to this year’s BBL. He has been impressive for the NSW Sheffield Shield team, and cemented his place in the Sixers lineup.

Unfortunately associated with the demise of Phillip Hughes, Abbott showed immense character to return to the field just 17 days later, taking 6-14 against Queensland at the SCG, and eventually picking up 23 wickets in the Sheffield Shield. He was adjudged the Bradman Young Cricketer earlier this year.

With the retirement of Mitchell Johnson, and injuries to Mitchell Starc and Patrick Cummins, Abbott can force his way into the team on the back of strong performances in the BBL.

#10 John Hastings

Hastings, who has been out of favour from the Australian ODI side since 2011, got a surprise recall in September this year, when he replaced Nathan Coulter-Nile for the ODI series against England.

He played his only Test in 2012, against South Africa, and returned with a solitary wicket. The comeback to the ODI squad, however, has given a new lease of life to his fledging international career, and Hastings will be looking for a strong performance in the BBL to get back his spot in the limited overs team.

He has been a consistent performer for Victoria in the Sheffield Shield and was the leading wicket taker in last year’s BBL. He will most likely share the new ball with Ben Hilfenhaus, and will be looking to repeat his exploits for the Melbourne Stars.

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Edited by Staff Editor