Let's start off this year's
BBL TEAM REVIEWS! I'll go in reverse elimination order, so starting with the eighth placed team, the
Adelaide Strikers!
Adelaide got a bit screwed over this year, they looked like a good team but bowled poorly in general outside of 2-3 players and threw away two close games that they should have won (vs ST and BH). So they ended up last. If they didn't do that they'd be playing ST tomorrow. Oops.
Players
Fabian Allen - This guy could have been the season maker for them. Instead, he did his hamstring in the first game and they were forced to use Liam Scott and Harry Manenti et cetera instead. There's a real argument they're a playoff team if he (and Matt Short) stayed healthy.
James Bazley - I'm surprised they picked Harry Manenti over Bazley, because he did alright as a finisher with the bat this year. The issue was that he bowled two absolutely awful overs.
Cameron Boyce - Unusually lackluster in the wickets department. Also got hit harder than usual - nothing crazy by any means but enough to possibly end his BBL career.
Jordan Buckingham - Looked better than his stats; was brought in and straight away given Surge overs, which isn't an easy thing to do by any means. I still rate him.
Alex Carey - Would have loved to have had more impact in his three games, but sometimes over three T20s, that happens. Still an important Striker.
Brendan Doggett - His 47* was a fun performance, but just never really looked like a threat to a batsman's wicket. Economical though; in fact, it begins with a 6 if he wasn't mauled by Tim David.
Liam Haskett - An absolutely awful player. Surely Harry Conway wouldn't have bowled as many pies as he did?
Tom Kelly - A weird one. Never played this year but is being retained.
Chris Lynn - Lynny had a quiet start but was back at his belligerent best through the middle. A dodgy quad cost him a spot right at the end, which was a shame.
Harry Manenti - clearly not the most talented brother from the look we had at him here
Harry Nielsen - Is somehow continuing to sleepwalk into a WK job thanks to Alex Carey's national team exploits and Ollie Pope's lack of exploits. Please someone sign someone better.
Jamie Overton - His temper betrayed him a couple times, getting into a fight with Finn Allen after trying to mankad him and also having a couple other verbal... exchanges. His bowling didn't always live up to the smack - Mitch Owen put him into the Ponting Stand thrice in a row - but he batted well, scoring 191 runs at a rapid rate.
Lloyd Pope - 31-run over aside, he'd be my MIP if Mitch Owen didn't exist. Has come into his own as an attacking leggie, and dare I say it... often he made them not miss Rashid Khan?
Ollie Pope - Just a weird signing. Didn't do much more than H*rry N*elsen would have.
Alex Ross - Old reliable, Ross fought fires well this year at #5, and could have been responsible for a huge win in Sydney if not for S. Smith.
Liam Scott - Terrible with the ball this year. With the bat, also terrible until he almost saved the team with 67 in the final game. It showed some promise but I still don't see him being an elite contributor.
D'Arcy Short - I hope he moves on, because the Strikers trying to turn him into a bowling AR at the end there was bizarre. Perhaps he could help us out?
Matt Short - Missed three games and started the tournament with a few teens scores. But when he returned from his foot injury, he was back to his best, smashing a hundred on a very flat wicket against Brisbane.
Henry Thomas Raphael James York Thornton - Him not playing that last game over Haskett was inexcusable unless there was an injury we didn't hear about, because he was their best quick this year. He takes wickets, sometimes travels, but he's a strike bowler.
Jake Weatherald - Missed a lot of time and when he did play, looked promising but didn't go on. Probably now on his way to Hobart, where he might try and replace Tim David?
XI prediction next year: I have them losing D Short and Weatherald, and using their RTM on Jamie Overton. They might also get Fabian back, but here's what I have for now.
1.
Matt Short
2.
keeper-batsman
3.
Chris Lynn
4. new signing / Liam Scott
5.
Alex Ross
6.
Jamie Overton
7.
James Bazley / new signing
8.
bowling AR
9.
Henry Thornton
10.
Jordan Buckingham
11.
Lloyd Pope
