PREVIOUS EDITIONS:
Here is the team of the tournament (pending finals):
Last year, Stoinis made the BBL08 Best XI as an all-rounder. This year, he couldn't bowl due to injury. It didn't matter. He was the runaway leader on runs scored (607), and passed 50 six times, including a BBL record innings of 147*.
Matthew Wade (Hobart Hurricanes)
Another re-selection from BBL08. Wade only batted seven times, but scored three 50s and a century at a strike rate (S/R) of 173.71.
Special mention also to his teammate and opening partner in the BBL08 Best XI, D'Arcy Short. They rarely played together due to Australian selection, but combined for 657 runs across 15 innings. It's reasonable to suggest the difference between being minor premiers last season and fourth this year is the rarity of their opening partnership. Watch out in the finals...
Josh Inglis (Perth Scorchers)
The leading run scorer amongst wicketkeepers (405) at a very good S/R (153.99). Also took the second most catches.
Beau Webster (Melbourne Renegades)
The defending champions went from first to worst this year, but the unheralded Webster stood out amidst the carnage. He finished with the equal fifth highest run aggregate (425), and adapted well to different situations, whether it was attempting to rescue the innings from a poor start, or crashing some sixes at the finish.
Glen Maxwell (Melbourne Stars)
The Big Show returns to the Best XI after previously being selected in the BBL07 edition. He scored 373 runs at a 156.06 S/R, and also took seven wickets and conceded just 6.80 runs per over (RPO) with his part-time off-spin. The traditional metrics don't do his impact justice - advanced stats rate him as the best player of the BBL season.
Jonathan Wells (Adelaide Strikers)
The finisher! Wells scored 444 runs - fourth highest run aggregate - and was not out in seven of 13 innings.
Rashid Khan (Adelaide Strikers)
Afghanistan's best cricketer makes the Best XI for the third season in a row. He finished third highest on the wicket tally with 18, the most of any spinner. His RPO of 7.24 was quite expensive by his standards, yet still better than most bowlers. In addition to his world-class bowling is his emerging talent as a floating hitter for the closing overs. He scored 124 runs at 156.99 S/R, with more sixes than fours.
Daniel Sams (Sydney Thunder)
The left-arm seamer was the leader wicket-taker (25) and did it bowling the most difficult overs at the start and end of the innings. His S/R of 7.81 RPO was great given the situations where he bowled his overs.
Jhye Richardson (Perth Scorchers)
The Scorchers used to have an entire bowling attack of miserly and threatening fast bowlers - now they just have one. Richardson took 15 wickets at just 7.07 RPO, and looked like the best fast-bowler in the competition.
Peter Siddle (Adelaide Strikers)
Siddle was also in the BBL07 Best XI. Years ago, he couldn't consistently make a BBL team. Now Siddle has reinvented himself as the best closer in the competition - he continually defended achievable 20th over targets - as well as a prolific wicket-taker (17).
Haris Rauf (Melbourne Stars)
Haris Rauf was a fill-in plucked from Hobart grade cricket after South African legend Dale Steyn joined English youngster Pat Brown on the injured list. The unheralded Pakistani quick then took 16 wickets - good for equal fifth most - in only seven matches, or a wicket every ten balls. He also conceded only 6.89 RPO. His meteoric rise was capped by selection in Pakistan T20 team.
12th Man: Fawad Ahmed (Perth Scorchers)
Perhaps a Best XI with only one full-time spinner is a bit light on, in which case Ahmed is the next best option. He took 15 wickets at only 6.90 RPO.
Reserve: Tom Curran (Sydney Sixers)
With very few teams not falling victim to import player musical chairs, it seemed prudent to include a third overseas player in the squad. It is also a way to shoehorn in a Sixers player, as it seemed weird to have no representation from the second placed team, while the Scorchers missed the finals and have three representatives.
Curran took the second most wickets (22). He was very expensive (9.05 RPO), and that prevented him making the starting Best XI like last season, but you can get away with leaking runs if you're a wicket-taking threat surrounded by economical bowlers. Curran also chipped in with the bat, scoring 133 runs at 149.19 S/R.
With very few teams not falling victim to import player musical chairs, it seemed prudent to include a third overseas player in the squad. It is also a way to shoehorn in a Sixers player, as it seemed weird to have no representation from the second placed team, while the Scorchers missed the finals and have three representatives.
Curran took the second most wickets (22). He was very expensive (9.05 RPO), and that prevented him making the starting Best XI like last season, but you can get away with leaking runs if you're a wicket-taking threat surrounded by economical bowlers. Curran also chipped in with the bat, scoring 133 runs at 149.19 S/R.
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