The BBL season is coming towards the knockout stages and each team now has just the one match remaining. With this in mind, we’ve decided to select our ‘BBL Team of the Group Stage’. This is based purely on the players’ performances in their team’s 13 league games so far; and does not include international players who have played in only the last round or two. We have also tried to pick a maximum of 2 players from each side; just to make things a little bit more difficult!
1. Josh Phillipe - Sydney Sixers: 2nd in the runs table, he is a fantastic young talent who will surely get an Australia spot very soon. 453 runs @ 34.84, SR 150
2. Alex Hales - Sydney Thunder: The leading run scorer has had some mammoth innings including a maiden BBL ton. 472 runs @ 36.30, SR 163.88
3. Ben McDermott - Hobart Hurricanes: Scores the first ton of BBL10 and has the highest average of the top 5 run scorers. 401 runs @ 40.1, SR 140.2
4. Colin Munro - Perth Scorchers: The New Zealander has been the key to many good scores for the Scorchers. 404 runs @ 36.72, SR 133.33
5. Alex Carey - Adelaide Strikers: The Aussie keeper-batsmen has scored good runs as expected, putting him 3rd in the runs table. 410 runs @ 37.27, SR 128.52
6. Marcus Stoinis - Melbourne: The all rounder has been a bright spark in the Stars line-up, the season after he topped the run charts. Also now back bowling which adds a 6th bowling option if required. 384 runs @ 34.90, SR 142.75
7. Rashid Khan - Adelaide Strikers: The Afghanistan spinner is the number 1 T20 bowler in the world and yet again he showed why. Innovative and destructive with the bat also. 16 wickets @ 6.87.
8. Ben Dwarshuis - Sydney Sixers: The key bowler for the Sixers who has helped them close out games. An effective left-arm seamer. Can hit quick runs too. 16 wickets @ 8.92
9. Nathan Ellis - Hobart Hurricanes: Its been a bit of a breakthrough year in his second season. Been resilient with the ball. 20 wickets @ 8.02
10. Tanveer Sangha - Sydney Thunder: The star youngster in this year’s BBL, taking him to 4th in the wicket takers charts. He’s been key for the Thunder, offering a consistent leg spin option. 20 wickets at 7.95
11. Jhye Richardson - Perth Scorchers: The tournament’s highest wicket taker and a constant threat in the most important bowlers, the fast and skiddy young Aussie has been fantastic this year. 26 wickets @ 6.75
Let us know if you agree or disagree with our team; there has been plenty of brilliant players to choose from with both bat and ball.
The last round of fixtures now take place across Monday and Tuesday, with 7 teams all having a chance of winning the trophy come the end of the knockouts; the Renegades are the only team already out.
The Scorchers are top and take on the Heat knowing they have already qualified and a win will secure top spot for them, and even with a loss it’s highly unlikely they will drop out of the top 2 thanks to their Net Run Rate.
Sydney Sixers are in second on NRR and are also already through. They play on Tuesday vs the Stars and will know what they need to do, if possible, to gain top spot. They only need the Boost point to guarantee a Top 2 spot, and even without it and a loss could still finished 2nd through NRR.
The Adelaide Strikers are in 3rd and face 4th placed Thunder on Monday. With a 4 point win they could steal a top 2 spot on NRR, but they are more likely to be looking at trying to get at least a point to ensure qualification for the knockouts.
In 4th is the Sydney Thunder and they take on the Strikers, knowing a win will secure them a knockout spot, and a 4 point win should get them 3rd spot through NRR. If they lose then they will be hoping that only one of the Hurricanes, Heat and the Stars secure a win; or that they can get the Boost point and the other results go there way to secure a spot on NRR.
Hobart Hurricanes occupy the last knockout spot and take on the bottom-placed Renegades on Tuesday. Only a win will guarantee them a knockout spot, although should they lose they can still qualify should both the Heat and Stars lose; a Boost point could make a difference to them due to their slightly better NRR than the Heat should the Brisbane side only get a 3 point victory.
The Brisbane Heat are in 6th and 2 points short of the knockouts. They simply have to win and then hope one of the Hurricanes or Thunder lose. Should the Hurricanes and Thunder both get the Boost point then they would need a 4 point victory to qualify due to their poor NRR. It won’t be easy though as they face top of the league Scorchers on Tuesday.
The last team who could qualify are the Melbourne Stars. They need the results to go their way on Monday and Tuesday and at least two of the Thunder, Hurricanes and Heat to lose (even if they secure the Boost point in the case of the Hurricanes and Heat.) They must then beat the 2nd placed Sixers on Tuesday in the last game of the league season. Depending on the results and the state of each team’s NRR, a 3 point win could be enough or they may need 4 points. It’s also possible that they could be out before their game on Tuesday starts.
Last-placed Renegades are out of the tournament but could still have a say on proceedings should they beat the Hurricanes.
It is extremely tight throughout the ladder and the next day or two are guaranteed to be nervy and entertaining in equal measure. We can’t wait to see what happens and you would be brave to predict anything in this tournament!
Just in case you have somehow missed it, our first ever ‘Down At Third Man’ podcast is now available! You can find it on this website through the embedded player or on all of your favourite podcast platforms (Apple, Spotify, Google, TuneIn, Alexa and PodBean.)
The next episode will be out Wednesday or Thursday night; please let us know if you have something you would like us to discuss or to submit to the Club Cricket Room 101.
Have a great week and stay safe. Go well!
Supported by Woodstock Cricket
Good line up for your composite team. The only possible problem with it might be deciding whether Philippe or Carey keeps wicket.