Umar Akmal signed for Sixers.
Here's what my best XI's would be, not including players likely playing for Australia or guys out injured
Adelaide Strikers
Klinger
Hughes
McDonald
Ferguson
Pollard
Reardon
Neser
Botha
Richardson
Putland
Tait
Brisbane Heat
Hopes
Burns
Forrest
Lynn
Christian
Pomersbach
Hartley
Johnson
Vettori
Roach
McDermott
Hobart Hurricanes
Paine
Ponting
Birt
Bailey
Shah
Styris
Blizzard
Doherty
Hogan
Laughlin
Bollinger
Melbourne Renegades
Finch
Harris
Samuels
Cooper
Hill
Rohrer
Nevill
Rimmington
O'Brien
D. Pattinson
Murali
Melbourne Stars
Quiney
Wright
Hodge
Hussey
Maxwell
White
Handscomb
Hastings
McKay
Warne
Malinga
Perth Scorchers
Gibbs
North
S. Marsh
M. Marsh
Voges
A. Morkel
Triffitt
Coulter-Nile
Mennie
Hogg
Beer
Sydney Sixers
Haddin
O'Keefe
Maddinson
Akmal
Smith
Henriques
Thornley
Lee
Starc
Hazlewood
Narine
Sydney Thunder
Khawaja
Gayle
Rogers
Cosgrove
Borgas
Afridi
Floros
Carters
Coyte
Doran
Nannes
Common theme amongst teams - Plenty of bowling depth/options for selection, but the batting depth is very thin.
James Faulkner and Jackson Bird miss out on a spot for the Stars, but there's a lot of batsmen who are just making up the numbers. Will be an interesting tournament. I hope that the Renegades and Thunder can at least be competitive, because on paper they're pretty ordinary. On paper the Stars look like clear favourites, however as we saw last season a good team on paper doesn't automatically translate into success.
My picks at this stage would be either Melbourne Stars as they have only one player without international experience and Sydney Sixers because of their very good bowling line-up. Narine alone would dominate line-up, add to that Starc, Hazlewood, Lee and O'Keefe. Questionable batting line up though.
My smokey would be Hobart. Tasmanian teams in the recent past have always played well as a team and gotten the most out of themselves.