Rashid to lead BBL's spin revolution

Spin it to win it – that's set to be the theme for the eighth KFC Big Bash season starting on Wednesday.

Tweakers will again play a major role in BBL|08 and the revolution is set to be led once more by Adelaide Strikers superstar Rashid Khan.

Rashid took a league-leading 18 wickets at 13.83 during BBL|07 before missing the Strikers' two finals matches because of national duties with Afghanistan as the South Australian side claimed their maiden title.

But this season, in an ominous sign for the Strikers' rivals, he'll be around for the whole tournament and is licking his lips at the chance to play in a final.

"I'm totally here for the Big Bash," Khan said. "I have national commitments after the Big Bash, I'm fully available.

"I'm looking forward to making it through this year and getting to the finals and hopefully playing in a final."

Of the four players that led the BBL in terms of bowling average last season, three were spinners - Rashid, Sydney Sixers' Nathan Lyon and Brisbane Heat's Shadab Khan.

And for the 2018-19 edition, clubs have recruited accordingly.

One of the most interesting prospects is Mujeeb Ur Rahman, a 17-year-old Afghan off-spinner picked up by the Brisbane Heat to replace Pakistani Shadab.

Mujeeb has already played all three formats for his country and took 14 wickets in the Indian Premier League, while he dismissed Chris Lynn last Saturday in a Brisbane Premier Cricket T20 match.

"We've got a world-class spinner in Mujeeb who is going to bring a lot to the table," said paceman James Pattinson, a fellow Heat recruit.

"And as we've seen over the years spinners are really key parts of every team.

"You look at Adelaide last year and Khan pretty much won the tournament for them."

The teenage spinner will be well supported by Queensland leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson, and potentially part-time leggie Marnus Labuschagne.

As they go in pursuit of a breakthrough title, the Melbourne Stars' attack looks likely to be spin heavy.

Australian limited-overs spinner Adam Zampa is set to again will play a big role, as will Nepalese leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane before he departs mid-season, while local product Liam Bowe is again on the books.

The Sydney Sixers have Test tweaker Lyon, who is desperate to prove he belongs in Australia's 2019 World Cup squad, and red-headed wunderkind Lloyd Pope, a leg-spinner who is being touted for higher honours after starring in the Under-19 World Cup.

Across town, Sydney Thunder are bullish about Fawad Ahmed, Arjun Nair and Chris Green being an influential trio.

Off-spinner Nair is returning from a three-month suspension after being cited for a questionable bowling action during last year's BBL.

He has been earmarked as a future Australian representative and showed his class when he destroyed Adelaide's top order with 3-36 last December.

Last year's losing finalists Hobart have added the experienced spin option of Johan Both, while Cameron Boyce heads to the Renegades to continue his journeyman career.

Even the pace-heavy Perth Scorchers look likely to field a few spin options in Ashton Agar, Ashton Turner, and new Pakistani recruit Usman Qadir, son of the great Abdul Qadir.