Our BBL team of the season unveiled

With four teams left in the race for the KFC Big Bash League title, we name our BBL|06 team of the season.

1. Brendon McCullum (c)

M: 7 | R: 277 | Ave: 46.16 | SR: 170.98 | HS: 72

Along with fellow ‘Bash Brother’ Chris Lynn, the former Kiwi skipper has formed one half of BBL|06’s most entertaining duo. He bowed out of international cricket earlier this year but McCullum showed he’s still one of the most destructive batsmen on the planet with a stellar campaign for the Heat. While he struck the equal-fastest BBL half-century against the Renegades on Friday, his most thrilling knock was arguably his 50 off 31 balls against the Scorchers, as he and Lynn helped the Heat chase down Perth’s 174 in just 14.4 overs. Arguably made the biggest impact of any of the BBL’s overseas players.

2. Ben Dunk (wk)

M: 8 | R: 364 | Ave: 52.00 | SR: 163.96 | HS: 85

The trade that sent Hamish Kingston to the Hobart Hurricanes in return for Ben Dunk in hindsight looks a huge coup for the Adelaide Strikers after the ‘keeper-batsman’s superb tournament. Dunk has been a shining light for the struggling Strikers at the top of the order; he was only dismissed for less than 30 in one of his eight knocks as he consistently got Adelaide off to fast starts. He sent his former side a timely reminder of his talents, helping the Strikers to one of their three wins with an unbeaten 79 against the Hurricanes. And he could add to his three career appearances for Australia next month, with Test legend Ricky Ponting suggesting he’s playing too well not to be picked for Australia’s T20I series against Sri Lanka. A capable gloveman, Dunk stands behind the pegs in our team of BBL|06.

3. Chris Lynn

M: 5 | R: 309 | Ave: 154.50 | SR: 177.58 | HS: 98*

The Queenslander took Australian cricket by storm with his phenomenal BBL|06 campaign. Despite playing just five games, Lynn belted 309 runs off just 174 balls and struck 26 sixes, 10 more than the tournament’s next best (McCullum and Dunk hit 16 each). His 11 maximums in his whirlwind knock against the Scorchers equalled the BBL record for the most sixes in an innings, an incredible feat considering there were still 32 to balls to go when the Heat won. But after making his ODI debut off the back off his remarkable run, a bulging disc in his neck proved to be Lynn’s kryptonite, ruling him out of the Heat’s finals run.

4. Aaron Finch

M: 8 | R: 354 | Ave: 44.25 | SR: 160.90 | HS: 71

An opener by trade but the Renegades skipper slots into No.4 in our team of the tournament after another terrific campaign. Yes, it’s an unfamiliar position for Finch but his exploits, while not quite enough to unseat McCullum or Dunk at the top of the order, demand selection in this side. Plus, he thrived down the order for the Gujarat Lions in last year’s Indian Premier League, showing his versatility in the game’s shortest format, and told bigbash.com.au after the win over the Heat that he loves the middle-order role as well. Only Dunk scored more runs than Finch in BBL|06, as he racked up scores in excess of 50 in four of his eight innings and wasn’t dismissed for a total less than 19. The right-hander lost his spot in Australia’s ODI squad for their series against Pakistan, freeing him up to play the entire tournament for the ‘Gades, but it wasn’t enough to secure a finals berth.

5. Brad Hodge

M: 8 | R: 286 | Ave: 40.85 | SR: 131.19 | HS: 56

He made his domestic cricket debut over 23 years ago but Hodge’s appetite for the game showed no signs of shrinking after another excellent campaign. At the helm of Strikers for a second season, the veteran celebrated his 42^nd birthday during the tournament and, along with Dunk, was a key contributor with the bat for Adelaide. But his two half-centuries both came in Strikers’ losses in a disappointing season for the men in blue. While he flagged the possibility of BBL|06 being his Australian cricket swansong, the out-of-contract Hodge has since vowed to play on. Whether or not that’s with the Strikers, we’ll have to wait and see.

6. Mitch Marsh

M: 5 | R: 210 | Ave: 70.00 | SR: 152.17 | HS: 70

W: 3 | Ave: 36.66 | ER: 9.16| BB: 1-13

The powerful allrounder only made five appearance for the Scorchers in BBL|06, but he made them count, racking up over 200 runs and chipping with some handy wickets. Few can match Marsh’s clean-hitting and his ability to find the fence from ball one sees him included as this side’s designated ‘finisher’. The right-hander’s finest moment in BBL|06 was a 41-ball 70 against the Heat, an innings that was quickly undone by the brilliance of Lynn and McCullum. While he’s in the side for some lower-order ball-striking, Marsh also provides the team with an extra bowling option.

7. Sunil Narine

M: 8 | W: 13 | Ave: 19.23 | ER: 7.81 | BB: 3-27

R: 52 | Ave: 10.40 | SR: 136.84| HS: 21

Batsmen in the BBL were often left perplexed by the mystery spinner, who proved the Renegades’ trump card with the ball during the tournament. Forming a potent slow-bowling duo with fellow recruit Brad Hogg, Narine’s economy rate in BBL|06 was up from his terrific career mark of 5.77 but he made up for it with regular breakthroughs, finishing as the tournament’s equal-third leading wicket taker. The Trinidadian also played a significant role with the bat for the ‘Gades, opening the batting as a pinch-hitter in three games.

8. Sean Abbott

M: 8 | W: 16| Ave: 15.62 | ER: 8.33 | BB: 5-16

With the most wickets for the tournament, BBL|06 has been a breakout tournament for the strapping allrounder. Abbott picked up a wicket in all but one game and his 5-16 against the Strikers on New Year’s Eve were the second-best figures in BBL history (before New Zealand’s Ish Sodhi grabbed 6-11 for the Strikers on January 18). And while he struggled with the bat in the Sixers’ first seven games – he had more wickets than runs going into their last match – he came through with a match-winning cameo against the Stars to secure a semi-final berth. Look for Abbott’s return to national colours when Australia take on Sri Lanka in their T20I series next month.

9. Mark Steketee

M: 8 | W: 13 | Ave: 18.76 | ER: 7.87 | BB: 3-32    

The young right-armer takes the new ball in this side after a consistent campaign for the Brisbane Heat in BBL|06. While not a household name coming into the tournament, Steketee has impressed up front for McCullum’s side with a knack of claiming early scalps. And a tournament economy-rate below eight runs per over is an excellent return considering the majority of his overs have come in the powerplay and then towards the end of innings – the two times a bowler is most likely to cop some tap. Steketee edges out fellow spearhead Mitchell Johnson for this spot after claiming four more wickets than the former Test tearaway.

10. Ben Laughlin

M: 7 | W: 9 | Ave: 14.88 | ER: 6.09 | BB: 3-19

Left out of the Strikers’ second match of BBL|06 after an expensive first-up outing, the T20 specialist was back to his miserly best for the rest of the tournament. While he went wicketless in three games, Laughlin makes the XI on the back his competition-leading economy rate (minimum 15 overs). The right-armer again flew under the radar in BBL|06 and he narrowly edges Scorchers quick Andrew Tye as this team’s death-bowling expert. Yet Laughlin’s efforts weren’t enough in an underwhelming BBL|06 campaign for the Strikers.

11. Mitch Swepson

M: 8 | W: 11 | Ave: 20.36 | ER: 7.46 | BB: 2-14

Something of a bolter in Australia’s Test squad for India, the leg-spinner has impressed the likes of Michael Clarke and Shane Warne this summer. With fellow wrist-spinner Samuel Badree missing part of the tournament, Swepson has stepped up for the Heat. He’s taken wickets in all but one of Brisbane’s games and compliments fellow spinner Sunil Narine in this side as a more attacking slow-bowling option. He looms as key figure in their finals run, which begins on Wednesday with a semi-final clash with the Sydney Sixers.