BBL05 Best XI

I've watched a lot of the Big Bash League. Here is the team of the tournament.

There are only two rules:

1. Selection is based on performances during the tournament only. Past performance and reputation counts for nothing.
2. Selections are limited two imports, just like the teams, sorry, franchises.

The official unofficial BBL05 Best XI is presented in batting order:



Aaron Finch (Melbourne Renegades)
Finch played only five matches before being selected for Australia, and still managed to score the second most runs by an Australian opener in the competition. His five innings contained three half centuries and he also scored more quickly than most, with a 143 strike rate. Finch also captained his team and bowled the occasional over of innocuous off-spin that batsmen somehow fail to get away. 

Tim Paine (Hobart Hurricanes)
The only wicketkeeper to open the batting without appearing out of his depth. Tim Ludeman scored more runs, but had a pedestrian strike rate. Aside from his batting, Paine is also still one of the best 'keepers behind the stumps.

Chris Lynn (Brisbane Heat)
Lynn is the player of the tournament, his 378 runs is over 100 more than anyone else. He was the only batsmen to make four scores greater than fifty, one of them a century. He hit more sixes (27) than anyone, including five in a row in one game, and his strike rate (173) was second best of anyone to score more than 100 runs in the tournament. Not surprisingly, he's just been picked in the Australian Twenty20 squad. Will push for national selection in the other formats soon.

Travis Head (Adelaide Strikers)
On New Years Eve, Adelaide needed 51 runs of 18 balls to win. Head scored 56 off 15 to get them home, the final six bringing up his century as well as the win. He also took six wickets bowling off-spin, often bowling within the powerplay and breaking a partnership. Head has just been selected in the Australia Twenty20 squad, and as South Australia's youngest captain, he looks like a future Test star too. 

Michael Hussey (Sydney Thunder)
Brad Hodge (Adelaide Strikers)
When Twenty20 took off, I assumed it would be increasingly dominated by youth, with superior eye-hand co-ordination and sheer athleticism winning matches. Instead, it's become a game for the older heads to prevail. The shorter on-field time means every single ball is critical, and experience, strategy and excellent decision-making under pressure are required for rapid scoring as much as brute force. This is how two semi-retired cricketers aged over 40 make the team of the tournament. Hussey has the second most runs in the competition, and Hodge only has fewer because he has been required to bat less time - his contributions have been just as crucial. Both players have a similar strike rate (~135) and have also taken on critical captain and mentor roles for their teams too.

Andre Russell (Sydney Thunder)
This was a choice between the two West Indian all-rounders Andre Russell and the Renegades' Dwayne Bravo. I initially was leaning towards Bravo - because he made a match-winning half century, and has very clever bowling variations, including an outstanding dipping slower-ball -  but ultimately I've gone with Russell because he had a better strike rate (192) than any batsmen with more than 100 runs in the tournament and took the equal second most wickets of any bowler (14). He also runs like the wind and managed the best catch of the tournament.

Adil Rashid (Adelaide Strikers)
Lynn was the best player in BBL05. Rashid was the most valuable player. His team finished with a 7-1 record and Rashid was critical to their success, taking the most wickets in the tournament (15) at an economy rate only marginally bettered by any regular bowler. Aside from bowling tricky leg-spin, Rashid is also a good batsmen, although hardly required this tournament.

Clint McKay (Sydney Thunder)
McKay took 14 wickets, equal second in the tournament, and impressed with his poise under pressure and very clever variations, including a slower ball that made a few batsmen look silly. He perhaps doesn't bowl quickly enough for the Australian selectors these days, but would do well if recalled to the national limited overs sides.

Andrew Tye (Perth Scorchers)
Jason Behrendorff (Perth Scorchers)
Perth have dominated through superior bowling for three seasons now, and Tye (13) and Behrendorff (10) have been their leading wicket-takers this time around. They also are the only two fast bowlers in the tournament with economy rates under 7 runs per over, excluding those having played only one match. Tye has just been selected in the Australia Twenty20 squad. Behrendorff might have been selected too if the national team wasn't already stocked with left-arm quicks.