BBL Fantasy preview: Sydney Thunder

Squad: Fawad Ahmed, Aiden Blizzard, Jos Buttler (ENG), Pat Cummins, Andrew Fekete, Callum Ferguson, Ryan Gibson, Chris Green, Liam Hatcher (rookie), Usman Khawaja, Jay Lenton, Mitchell McClenaghan (NZ), Clint McKay, Arjun Nair, Kurtis Patterson, Ben Rohrer, Gurinder Sandhu, Shane Watson.

Ins: Jos Buttler (ENG, first six only), Andrew Fekete (Heat), Mitchell McClenaghan (NZ), Callum Ferguson (Renegades), Liam Hatcher (rookie).

Outs: Carlos Brathwaite (WI), Jake Doran, Nathan McAndrew, Alister McDermott, Eoin Morgan (ENG), Andre Russell (WI, banned), James Vince (ENG).

Master blaster: If you're looking for proven T20 firepower look no further than former Australia international Shane Watson ($100,100). The price tag isn't cheap, and the veteran did have an injury leading into the competition that kept him out of the Bangladesh Premier League, but his ability is undoubted, as he's proven time and time again over the course of a fantastic career. He will pile up quick runs and is still canny enough to add bonus points to your team with some wickets.

Strike weapon: New Zealand left-arm quick Mitchell McClenaghan provides some good value at $65,000. He's stepped away from international representative cricket to focus on T20 leagues (although may have an eye on the Gillette T20 Tri-Series at the back end of the summer). He's got a good pedigree and an impressive track record.

Young gun: There's long been a buzz about Arjun Nair ($30,000), the teenage off-spinner who taught himself the doosra watching YouTube videos. Nearly two years on from his first-class debut, he's still only 19. The hype and promise hasn't yet fully turned into the results, he may have wanted to but there's plenty of time for him to take the spotlight.

Overseas impact: We've covered McClenaghan so that leaves England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler ($82,000), who certainly knows how to blast away in a T20 innings. The gloveman has long been locked in a battle for England honours with Jonny Bairstow, and is signed up with the Thunder for just the first six games, however, before national duties will drag him away from the Big Bash.

Surprise packet: At the start of the summer, the name Kurtis Patterson ($50,100) was on the fringe of the discussion about Australia's Magellan Ashes squad selection. He's not put the runs on the board to keep his name in that frame in the early JLT Sheffield Shield rounds but has too much talent to keep quiet for too long. A blistering 84 against South Australia in the JLT One-Day cup was a reminder of what he can do and the BBL could be just the tonic he needs.

Fantasy bargain: A cult hero with the Thunder Nation, Fawad Ahmed is a sure-fire steal at just $64,400 this summer. The canny spinner, scored 342 fantasy points last summer and loves playing at Spotless Stadium.