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How the T20 squad impacts each BBL club

With the BBL|07 finals fast approaching, we take a look at how the national T20 squad selection impacts the business end of the season

The trans-Tasman Gillette T20 INTL tri-series is set to influence the KFC BBL Finals, with the bulk of the international squad coming from the top BBL teams.

Twelve of the 14-player squad remain in BBL Finals contention, albeit some remotely, and will suit up in Australian gold and black to face England and New Zealand.


The Adelaide Strikers will lose three players, the Perth Scorchers and Melbourne Renegades two players each, while Hobart run machine D'Arcy Short also gets his first shot at international cricket.

Bottom-placed Melbourne Stars also lose three players, but the club is out of finals contention for the first time in the tournament's history.

The Sydney Thunder, who remain an outside chance of reaching the BBL Finals, have no players added to the international squad, while the Brisbane Heat and Sydney Sixers had one player each called up.

We take an in-depth, club-by-club look at the impact on each team in finals contention.

Perth Scorchers

The T20 squad announcement presented a mixed bag for the defending BBL champions ahead of yet another finals campaign.

The Scorchers will lose in-form allrounder Ashton Agar and crafty paceman Andrew Tye, but Ashton Turner will remain with the Perth side after his strong performances with the bat in BBL|07 weren’t enough to convince national selectors.

In even better news for Scorchers fans, star opener Shaun Marsh is set for a return from a quad injury for Thursday’s blockbuster against the Strikers, while his brother Mitch and paceman Jhye Richardson will make welcome additions for what will almost certainly be a home semi-final.

Unbeaten Marsh steers Scorchers into final

Adelaide Strikers

The Strikers have arguably been hardest hit by the announcement of the T20 international squad with the top-two contender to lose three of their most integral players for the finals. Skipper Travis Head, wicketkeeper Alex Carey and rapid quick Billy Stanlake have all been called up to national duties for the tri-series.

All of this, in addition to the loss of Rashid Khan who will join up with the Afghanistan squad after the BBL regular season, leaves Jason Gillespie’s side with plenty of holes to fill for the knock-out matches, not least the question of who will keep wicket.

“Alex has impressed in every form he has played this year," said national T20 selector Mark Waugh. "He has been in great form in the BBL with both bat and gloves and stood up to the challenge when he had to take the gloves for an ill Tim Paine in the ODI team.”

Carey crunches rapid century for the Strikers

Hobart Hurricanes

D’Arcy Short’s selection in Australia’s T20 squad is a worthy reward for his tremendous BBL form that has seen the powerful left-hander plunder 504 runs at a strike rate of 148.24, but it leaves the Hurricanes without their star performer for what would be their first finals appearance since BBL|03, should they qualify.

“D’Arcy’s selection speaks for itself, he is the leading run scorer in the BBL and has also taken valuable wickets when handed the ball," said Waugh. "He is in outstanding form and we look forward to seeing what he can bring to this T20 side."

Short smashes BBL record with half-century

Melbourne Renegades

The men in red will continue to be without their skipper Aaron Finch as he acts as David Warner’s deputy in the T20 international tri-series, while paceman Kane Richardson will also be missing from finals – should the Renegades secure a spot.

They will, however, welcome key batter Cameron White back to the fold in time for the semi-finals.

White continues excellent form with unbeaten knock

Sydney Thunder

The Thunder are the least impacted by national selection as they push for a miraculous finals spot.

Dominant leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed – the No.1 ranked bowler in the BBL player rankings – was overlooked for the national side, while in-form opener Usman Khawaja will remain with his BBL club before turning his attention to the South African Test tour. The Thunder would no doubt love to see star quick Pat Cummins back in green if everything fell into place, but Cricket Australia has confirmed that he will enjoy a break after the Gillette ODI Series to freshen up for the four-Test tour in March.

Classy Khawaja hits 44 for the Thunder

Brisbane Heat

The Heat remain a remote outside chance to sneak into the BBL semi-finals, but the news of Chris Lynn’s expected return from injury for Saturday’s clash against the Melbourne Renegades has been countered by his international selection for the T20 series.

Watch Lynnsanity's 100 sixes in 100 seconds!

Sydney Sixers

Out of the finals race so it will not impact their season, but the Sixers would be proud to have developed Ben Dwarshius into an Australian player.

“Ben gives us good variety in the attack with his left-arm pace and has bowled particularly well with the new ball in the Big Bash League,” said Waugh.

Melbourne Stars

It seems somewhat odd that the bottom-ranked BBL team would have three players called up for national honours, but there's no doubting the individual talents of Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis and Adam Zampa. It's just been that sort of year for the Stars.

For Maxwell, the T20 series offers a chance to show his ability on the international stage having been an unlucky out for both the Test and one-day teams this summer.

Maxwell’s screamer removes Ludeman

2017-18 International Fixtures

Gillette ODI Series v England

Australia ODI squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye, Cameron White, Adam Zampa.

England ODI squad: Eoin Morgan (c), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Alex Hales, Dawid Malan, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.

First ODI England won by five wickets at the MCG

Second ODI England won by four wickets at the Gabba

Third ODI SCG, England won by 16 runs at the SCG

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Tickets

Fifth ODI Perth Stadium, January 28. Tickets

Prime Minister's XI

PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Tickets

Gillette T20 trans-Tasman Tri-Series

Australia T20 squad: David Warner (c), Aaron Finch (vc), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Travis Head, Chris Lynn, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, D'Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa.

England T20 squad: Eoin Morgan (c), Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Dawid Malan, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, James Vince, David Willey, Mark Wood.

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Tickets

Second T20I Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Tickets

Third T20I Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Tickets

Fourth T20I NZ v England, Wellington, February 14

Fifth T20I NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final TBC, Eden Park, February 21