Big Bash: English dominate BBL draft

The Big Bash League draft has been completed for the 2024/25 campaign and the competition is set for an influx of English talent.

Almost half of the 30 picks were English players, and each team in the Big Bash League will have at least one Englishman on their roster. Six of the franchises will have two English players.

There are some big names among them, but the BBL have been unable to attract the cream of the crop when it comes to international talent.

Rival domestic T20 league are able to pay the player more per match, while the top India players haven't been permitted to play overseas.

Some big names including Jofra Archer, Haris Rauf and Alex Hales, who have starred in the BBL previously, all went unsold.

Even so, some exciting oversees players will be plying their trade in the forthcoming BBL campaign.

Let’s take a look at each team’s picks.

Perth Scorchers

The Scorchers are the hot fancies at 5.00 to win the Big Bash and they will be mainly relying on a strong list of local players.

They have invested heavily in Finn Allen, a hard hitting opening batsman from New Zealand, while Englishmen Matthew Hurst and Keaton Jennings have also been snapped up.

Sydney Sixers

Sydney Sixers had to pay top dollar to retain the services of James Vince after the Melbourne Renegades made a move to land the Englishman.

The Sixers, who are 5.50 to win the Big Bash, also picked Akeal Hosein, a spin bowler from Trinidad and English bowler Jafer Chohan.

Melbourne Stars

The Stars have also landed a couple of Englishman, taking swashbuckling batsman Ben Duckett with their first pick.

All-rounder Tom Curran is also on board along with Pakistan bowler Usama Mir.

Melbourne Renegades

The Gades will be delighted to have landed big-hitting Englishman Laurie Evans, who has already starred in the Big Bash with Perth Scorchers.

The Scorchers did not have enough cash to retain Evans, and their loss is very much the Renegades gain.

Jacob Bethel from England and New Zealand’s Tim Seifert were also picked.

Sydney Thunder

The Thunder have retained the services of English wicketkeeper/batsman Sam Billings, who is joined by New Zealand bowler Lockie Ferguson.

West Indies all-rounder Sherfane Rutherford will also play for the Thunder in 2024/25.

Hobart Hurricanes

The Canes are 7.00 to win the Big Bash and will be hoping their oversees picks do the business for them.

English all-rounder Chris Jordan is joined by West Indies batsman Shai Hope and Bangladesh leg-spinning all-rounder Rishad Hossain.

Adelaide Strikers

The Strikers have landed two talented Englishmen in the form of batsman Ollie Pope and bowler Jamie Overton.

West Indies power-hitter and left-arm spinner Fabian Allen is also on board.

Brisbane Heat

The Heat are out to defend their Big Bash title, and can be backed at 6.00 to do just that.

Englishmen Paul Walter and Tom Alsop are on board to help them along with big hitting Kiwi batsman Colin Munro.