The BBL12 squads are starting to be finalised for the Big Bash League season which kicks off December 13th 2022. The BBL12 draft has wrapped up with all eight teams adding three international signings to their list. The draft was a new concept for the Big Bash League. Was it a success? Probably not, as teams went for proven talent over high profile signings, much to the frustration of Cricket Australia. The BBL needs a spark in 2022, so we have to hope that the talent that has been signed will perform on the field to provide the best possible product.
Let's take a look at the signings, availabilities and the updated BBL12 squads for each of the eight BBL12 teams.
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BBL12 Squads
Last updated December 12th 2022.
* denotes international signing
** denotes replacement player
Adelaide Strikers
The Adelaide Strikers look a relatively settled squad for the BBL12 season. Their only losses are Matt Renshaw (Heat) and Jono Wells (Renegades) which did leave a hole in the middle order, but that has been filled with the recruiting of major attraction Chris Lynn after he was unsigned by the Heat. They've also added the spin of Cameron Boyce who will form a useful combination with star international Rashid Khan. Colin de Grandhomme and Adam Hose round out their international signings.
Strikers squad: Wes Agar, Cameron Boyce, Alex Carey, Harry Conway, Colin de Grandhomme*, Ryan Gibson, Travis Head, Adam Hose*, Henry Hunt, Thomas Kelly, Rashid Khan*, Chris Lynn, Harry Nielsen, Matthew Short, Peter Siddle, Henry Thornton, Jake Weatherald
Brisbane Heat
The Brisbane Heat have recruited strength for their batting after the loss of Chris Lynn. They've included gun recruits in Usman Khawaja and Matt Renshaw, as well as internationals Sam Billings and Colin Munro, along with the lesser-known Ross Whiteley. Lynn is a significant loss but they have filled the void nicely, and otherwise look a solid squad if their young bowlers can stand up. Josh Brown is a local replacement player for when their Test stars are unavailable, while Sam Hain was recently added as an international replacement for Billings and Munro who are expected to depart in January.
Heat squad: Xavier Bartlett, James Bazley, Sam Billings*, Josh Brown**, Max Bryant, Sam Hain*, Sam Heazlett, Spencer Johnson, Usman Khawaja, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Ben Manenti, Colin Munro*, Michael Neser, Jimmy Peirson, Will Prestwidge, Matthew Renshaw, Mark Steketee, Mitch Swepson, Ross Whiteley*, Jack Wildermuth
Hobart Hurricanes
The Hurricanes have turned to the Pakistanis for assistance towards their first BBL title with Asif Ali, Faheem Ashraf and Shadab Khan signed as their international imports, however they are going to have some international commitments to juggle. Englishman Zak Crawley has been named as an international replacement player, while New Zealand all-rounder Jimmy Neesham was recently added as cover for Ashraf. They have also added Billy Stanlake to their fast bowling stocks. Tom Rogers is the only loss to the squad, however a number of former players are still unsigned including Scott Boland. The Hurricanes have the fire power to go all the way, if they can learn to perform in the big moments.
Hurricanes squad: Asif Ali*, Faheem Ashraf*, Iain Carlisle, Zak Crawley*, Tim David, Paddy Dooley, Nathan Ellis, Caleb Jewell, Shadab Khan*, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Jimmy Neesham*, Mitch Owen, Joel Paris, Wil Parker, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Chris Tremain, Matthew Wade, Mac Wright
Melbourne Renegades
The Melbourne Renegades had the benefit of the #1 draft pick which they used on Englishman Liam Livingstone to add huge fire power to their top order. However with Livingstone now set to be heavily committed to the national side, he has withdrawn completely from the BBL12 tournament. West Indian powerhouse Andre Russell and Sri Lankan spinner Ruwantha Kellapotha have been brought in as international replacements, while Kiwi veteran Martin Guptill was a recent addition. They have also brought in spinners Akeal Hosein and Mujeeb Ur Rahman who could form a lethal combination on the slow, low wicket at Marvel Stadium. Jono Wells and Tom Rogers have also been pulled in from other clubs, with Cameron Boyce and James Pattinson making way. The Renegades still have an older top order with Aaron Finch, Shaun Marsh and Nic Maddinson struggling for form in recent years. Surely it's time to turn to the young guns in the squad to rise up the ladder?
Renegades squad: Zak Evans, Aaron Finch, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Martin Guptill*, Peter Handscomb, Sam Harper, Marcus Harris, Mackenzie Harvey, Akeal Hosein*, Ruwantha Kellapotha**, Nic Maddinson, Shaun Marsh, David Moody**, Jack Prestwidge, Mujeeb Ur Rahman*, Kane Richardson, Corey Rocchiccioli, Tom Rogers, Andre Russell**, Will Sutherland, Jon Wells
Melbourne Stars
The Melbourne Stars were pretty keen to get Joe Clarke back to the club, and with the additions of Trent Boult and Luke Wood, they are always going to be a dangerous opposition. Their only loss is Billy Stanlake but he hasn't played much in recent seasons anyway due to injury. At full strength, the Stars look strong, but the problem is the depth of their squad, with a number of spots still available on their list likely to be filled by second level state cricketers.
Stars squad: Trent Boult*, Joe Burns, Hilton Cartwright, Joe Clarke*, Brody Couch, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Sam Elliott, Liam Hatcher, Clint Hinchliffe, Nick Larkin, Campbell Kellaway, Glenn Maxwell, Cam McClure, Tom O'Connell, Marcus Stoinis, Beau Webster, Luke Wood*, Adam Zampa
Perth Scorchers
The Perth Scorchers have filled their squad and as usual, have a very strong lineup full of local talent. It's very hard to argue that they don't have every base covered, and have the depth to cover all situations. Phil Salt is a great international signing to replace Colin Munro, while Tymal Mills returns once again as a proven, experience performer. Some controversy on the eve of the tournament saw international recruit Laurie Evans terminated after returning a positive doping test. However the Scorchers did well to bounce back from that situation with South African Faf Du Plessis a fantastic replacement.
Scorchers squad: Ashton Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Jason Behrendorff, Cooper Connolly, Faf Du Plessis*, Steve Eskinazi**, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Peter Hatzoglou, Nick Hobson, Josh Inglis, Matt Kelly, Adam Lyth**, Mitch Marsh, Hamish McKenzie**, Tymal Mills*, Lance Morris, Jhye Richardson, Phil Salt*, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye
Sydney Sixers
The Sydney Sixers are always a strong squad, but they still have some work to do to complete their lineup with potentially some Test stars coming into consideration. They've drafted Englishmen Chris Jordan and James Vince who have performed well in magenta in the past, but the surprise pick was Afghanistani young gun Izharulhaq Naveed. Kurtis Patterson has also joined the squad from the Scorchers.
Sixers squad: Sean Abbott, Jackson Bird, Dan Christian, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Mickey Edwards, Moises Henriques, Daniel Hughes, Chris Jordan*, Hayden Kerr, Nathan Lyon, Todd Murphy, Izharulhaq Naveed*, Steve O'Keefe, Kurtis Patterson, Josh Philippe, Jordan Silk, James Vince*
Sydney Thunder
The Thunder recruited known commodities in David Willey and Rilee Rossouw, while Alex Hales returns once again. However since the BBL Draft, Willey has withdrawn from the team for the season, which leaves a big hole for the Thunder to try and fill. They recently announced Afghani left-arm pace bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi would be joining as a replacement for the first half of the season, while Pakistani leg-spinner Usman Qadir has also been added to the squad. Sam Billings is a big loss from their squad of last season, but David Warner has signed up and could be the ace up the sleeve later in the season after Test commitments wrap up. The Thunder have enough match winners to push all the way in BBL12.
Thunder squad: Ben Cutting, Oliver Davies, Brendan Doggett, Fazalhaq Farooqi*, Matthew Gilkes, Chris Green, Alex Hales*, Baxter Holt, Nathan McAndrew, Alex Ross, Rilee Rossouw*, Usman Qadir*, Daniel Sams, Gurinder Sandhu, Jason Sangha, Tanveer Sangha, David Warner, Sam Whiteman
