Welcome (again) fellow cricket lovers. After the great Test win yesterday I'm fully into cricket season now, and not a moment too soon! Please read the other Big Bash article first on how to join a league.

Firstly, I'm posting the abbreviated schedule (thanks to TTH for posting on a comment on the last article) to clearly show when the byes and when the DGW's are.

[span style='color: #444444; background: #fcfcfc;]Round 1 - Stars play twice, Scorchers do not play<br style='color: #444444; background: #fcfcfc;[/img]
[span style='color: #444444; background: #fcfcfc;]Round 2 - Scorchers play twice as do Sixers, Stars and Heat do not play<br style='color: #444444; background: #fcfcfc;[/img]
[span style='color: #444444; background: #fcfcfc;]Round 4 - Heat play twice, Sixers do not play<br style='color: #444444; background: #fcfcfc;[/img]
[span style='color: #444444; background: #fcfcfc;]- at which point all teams have played 4 matches -<br style='color: #444444; background: #fcfcfc;[/img]
[span style='color: #444444; background: #fcfcfc;]Round 5 - Scorchers play twice, Thunder do not play<br style='color: #444444; background: #fcfcfc;[/img]
[span style='color: #444444; background: #fcfcfc;]Round 6 - Hurricanes play twice, Strikers do not play<br style='color: #444444; background: #fcfcfc;[/img]
[span style='color: #444444; background: #fcfcfc;]Round 7 - Strikers and Heat play twice, Scorchers and Stars do not play<br style='color: #444444; background: #fcfcfc;[/img]
[span style='color: #444444; background: #fcfcfc;]Round 8 - Thunder and Stars play twice, Hurricanes and Heat do not play

International Players & Availability

Unfortunately there's always a bunch of international tours going on that overlap with the BBL. It's important to have all this information available before picking any of these players so you know what you are getting into. I'd still consider picking the Australia/England ODI players, especially if they have a bye in one of the two last rounds.

Australia Test series (up until GW6):
Shane Watson, Shaun Marsh (possibly), Steven Smith, Mitchell Marsh, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood (possibly)

Australian ODI series (GW7&8):
Aaron Finch, Shaun Marsh (possibly), Steven Smith, George Bailey, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, James Faulkner, Cameron White (possibly), Matthew Wade (possibly), Brad Haddin (possibly), Kane Richardson (possibly), James Pattinson (possibly), Xavier Doherty, Josh Hazlewood (possibly), Pat Cummins (possibly)

England ODI series (GW7&8):
Alex Hales,Eion Morgan, Michael Carberry (possibly), Luke Wright (possibly)



West Indies ODI series (GW5 onwards):
Kieron Pollard, Sam Badree, Darren Sammy, Andre Russel, Dwayne Smith



The other international's are mostly replacement players when the primary international leaves for international duty. They are:
Ryan ten Doeschate (replacing Pollard), Andrew Flintoff (replacing Badree), Tim Bresnan (replacing Sammy), Jesse Ryder (replacing Russel).

The lone NZ player is Daniel Vettori, I'm really uncertain about his availability since he is available for test selection once again throwing a spanner in the works. Wait and see on Dan.

Predicted Team XI's

I know you have all been waiting for this! This is my predicted XI's and of course by no means guaranteed. Hopefully it gives you an insight on fringe players who are close to playing though.

Adelaide Strikers
Craig Simmons
Tim Ludeman
Brad Hodge
Travis Head / Jono Dean
Keiron Pollard (GW1-4)
Johan Botha
Michael Neser
Ben Laughlin
Kane Richardson
Jon Holland / Adam Zampa
Shaunt Tait / Gary Putland

Squad: Chadd Sayers, Alex Ross, Trent Lawford, Ryan ten Doeschate (GW5+)

I think Ludeman will be given a chance to open. Head and Dean are will be going head-to-dean (couldn't resist) for their battlng slot. Holland and Zampa also fighting for the second spinner slot to Botha, and Putland's performances have for SA have been good, but Tait might start. The Strikers do like to rotate their squad somewhat so watch out.

Brisbane Heat
Joe Burns
James Peirson
Peter Forrest
Dan Christian
Chris Lynn
Nathan Reardon
James Hopes
Ben Cutting
Daniel Vettori
Sam Badree (GW1-4)
Alister McDermott / Cameron Gannon

Squad: Mark Steketee, Nick Buchanan, Ryan Duffield, Simon Milenko, Shane Watson (Aus duty), Mitchell Johnson (Aus duty), Andrew Flintoff (GW5+)

This best 11 lineup looks fairly straight forward, but there's a number of floaters like Forrest and Hopes to contend with, they could both bat anywhere between 1-8 really. Depending on Vettori availability both McDermott and Gannon may play, at least while Badree is available as a spin option.

Hobart Hurricanes
Alex Hales
Ben Dunk
Tim Paine
[span style='background: #ffffff;]Travis Birt
George Bailey
Darren Sammy (GW1-4)
Evan Gulbis / Jonathan Wells
Cameron Boyce
Sam Rainbird / Joe Mennie
Xavier Doherty
Ben Hilfenhaus

Squad: Timm van der Gugten,Jake Reed,Dominic Michael,Tim Bresnan (GW5+)



A nice looking lineup, they may want Gulbis as the all-rounder 6th bowling option, if not they will pick a genuine batter in Wells. Sometimes they go with 2 quicks and 2 spinners, other times they go with 3 quicks and a spinner, probably depending on which ground they play at. Their 2nd and 3rd quick options aren't the best though so I'm starting both Boyce and Doherty.



[span style='font-size: 14px; text-decoration: underline;]Melbourne Renegades

Aaron Finch
Matthew Wade
Tom Cooper
Ben Rohrer
Callum Ferguson
Andre Russell (GW1-4)
Dwayne Bravo (GW1-4)
Aaron O'Brien
Nathan Rimmington
James Pattinson
Jayde Herrick / Fawad Ahmed

Squad: Alex Doolan,Peter Nevill,Peter Siddle (Aus duty),Jesse Ryder (GW5+)

This is one of the better teams, for the first 4-6 game weeks anyway. Bravo at 7 (he batted 4 last year) looks weird but I'm not sure if he bats ahead of any of the specialists. Herrick and O'Brien should get the nod to start over Ahmed. They still need to find another international for GW5+.



[span style='font-size: 14px; text-decoration: underline;]Melbourne Stars

Luke Wright
Cameron White
Kevin Pieterson
David Hussey
Glenn Maxwell
James Faulkner
Tom Triffitt (replacing Peter Handscomb)
Jon Hastings
Clint McKay
Jackson Bird
Michael Beer

Squad: Scott Boland,Marcus Stoinis,Luke Feldman,Clive Rose,Daniel Worrall,Alex Keath,Rob Quiney

We all know the Stars roll out the best squad on paper every year, the real question is what happens after they lose some of their players. Beer should start over Rose, Stoinos will likely get a look in at some stage.

Perth Scorchers
Michael Klinger
Michael Carberry
Adam Voges
Sam Whiteman
Ashton Turner
Ashton Agar
Hilton Cartwright
Yasir Arafat
Jason Behrendorff
Joel Paris
Brad Hogg

Squad: Andrew Tye,Nathan Coulter-Nile (injured),Mitch Marsh (Aus duty),Shaun Marsh (Aus duty)



If indeed they lose both Marsh's to international duty, there could be a number of surprises in this lineup. Whiteman up the order is exciting and likely to benefit.



[span style='font-size: 14px; text-decoration: underline;]Sydney Sixers

Michael Lumb
Dwayne Smith
Nic Maddinson
Moises Henriques
Marcus North
Ryan Carters
Sean Abbott
Stephen O'Keefe
Mitchell Starc
Brett Lee
Doug Bollinger

Squad: Jordan Silk,Ben Dwarshuis,Trent Copeland, Steven Smith (Aus duty), Brad Haddin (Aus duty), Josh Hazlewood (Aus duty), Nathan Lyon (Aus duty)



Hazlewood may be available for selection, but I think this is what they may start with. Once again they have a million all rounders, so we will see how that plays out with the bowling overs. Good depth considering who is on international duty!



[span style='font-size: 14px; text-decoration: underline;]Sydney Thunder

Usman Khawaja
Chris Hartley
Mike Hussey
Jacques Kallis
Eoin Morgan (GW1-6)
Aiden Blizzard
Cameron Borgas / Kurtis Patterson
Nathan Hauritz
Gurinder Sandhu
Patrick Cummins
Dirk Nannes

Squad: Chris Tremain,Daniel Hughes,Jake Doran,Josh Lalor,Ahillen Beadle,Chris Green, Jameed Kerkhah,Andrew McDonald



Still unsure on whether Hartley will open, they could put Hussey there and move everybody up one and have Hartley bat at 7. Hauritz is the only spinner and will get game time, hopefully on a pitch that suits spinners.