With the Indian T20 League teams releasing a host of big names in order to load up the purse, the upcoming auction for the 2021 season, scheduled on February 18 in Chennai, makes up for an interesting watch.

As many as 1097 players have registered for the Indian T20 League 2021 auction, and the recently concluded Big Bash League now presents the franchises with a glorious opportunity to fill up the much-needed loopholes.

With that being said, today we take a look at three players who can land in lucrative deals for the upcoming edition of the Indian T20 League after wreaking much havoc in BBL this year.

Alex Hales

Sydney Thunders may have bowed out in the playoffs, but a certain Alex Hales once again showed how vicious he can be in the shortest format of the game. In 15 BBL matches this season, the England international accumulated 543 runs, scoring at an average of 38.78. Hitting at a strike rate of 161.60, which was the best amongst the batsmen with a minimum of 300 runs in the competition, Hales scored the highest individual score of this year’s edition (110 off just 56 balls) to further up his credentials in the T20 format.

With many teams releasing their top-order batsmen, including the likes of Bangalore and Rajasthan, Hales will certainly be a good option to consider.

Jhye Richardson

Registered in the auction at a base price of INR 1.5 crore, one can rightly expect a potential bidding war for Australia’s Jhye Richardson, who is coming at the back of a scorching Big Bash League season, having topped the wicket-taking chart with 29 wickets, which includes as many as two four-wicket hauls. Judging by the form, the 24-year-old is enjoying of late, he could well and truly turn out to be a handy option for the teams especially in the powerplay overs; something that he has already showcased in the BBL, having bowled at an average and economy of 16.31 and 7.69 respectively.

Dawid Malan

Like Richardson, batsman Dawid Malan has entered the auction at a base price of INR 1.5 crore. The world's top-ranked T20I batsman, who is yet to feature in the Indian T20 League, can be a serious contender for the teams who are looking to fill up their number 3 position, meaning that the likes of team Punjab, Chennai, Kolkata and maybe Mumbai per se, can splurge big for the Englishman during the auction. Judging by his standards, Malan had a substandard return during the BBL season, accumulating 265 runs in 10 matches at an average of 26.50, but he indeed gave a few glimpses of his sheer brilliance, including a knock of 75 off 56 deliveries against Melbourne Stars.

Feature image courtesy: Twitter / @BBL

There is absolutely no margin for error from here on as Big Bash League 2020-21 season reaches it playoffs stage. Brisbane Heat kick off the round with a tough tie against Adelaide Strikers on Friday, January 29, while Sydney Sixers, who finished at the top of the BBL points table, lock horns with Perth Scorchers on Saturday, January 30.

Also Read: Brett’s watch list: Players to watch during BBL playoffs

Since five teams qualify for the round, the format of the Big Bash League playoffs is designed as such that the teams finishing first and second in the tally will have two opportunities to make their way into the final. The four BBL playoffs finals are known as the Eliminator, the Knockout, the Qualifier and the Challenger, and this is how it works:

The Eliminator: Fourth Placed Team vs Fifth Placed Team

The Qualifier: First Placed Team vs Second Placed Team

The Knockout: Third Placed Team vs Winner of The Eliminator 

The Challenger: Loser of The Qualifier vs Winner of The Knockout 

Who's pumped for the #BBLFinals?! #BBL10 pic.twitter.com/4aWSNYP5RG

�?KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 26, 2021

So with that being said, here we look at some key statistics that will help you ease past the first two playoffs.

Brisbane Heat vs Adelaide Strikers

Brisbane Heat and Adelaide Strikers met twice in the ongoing Big Bash League season and it was the latter who emerged victorious in both of these fixtures. While the first one was a hard-fought victory, that second was, in fact, an easy route. Both teams are coming on the back of three victories in their last five outings, but what gives the Strikers an edge is their head-to-head record against Heat.

Brisbane Heat vs Adelaide Strikers head-to-head
Brisbane Heat	Metrix	Adelaide Strikers
13	Matches	13
5	Wins	8
-	NR	-
38.46	Win Percentage	61.54

In a total of 13 meetings between the two sides, Strikers have won eight while Heat have gotten just five victories. In addition, Strikers have also won three of their last five meetings with Heat; all of them have come in a row. Even the venue - The Gabba in Brisbane - favours Strikers, who have won five of their last six BBL matches there.

Adelaide Strikers hold the upright advantage against Brisbane Heat as they have averaged 171 runs in their last five outings while batting first. Heat, on the other hand, average 161.

Sydney Sixers vs Perth Scorchers

Sydney Sixers vs Perth Scorchers head-to-head record favours the latter, who have won 11 of their 18 meetings in total. This season though, the teams have been on the neck of each other, having won a game apiece. Their first meeting in Perth was all about Mitchell Marsh’s brilliance, who not only scored a quick-fire half-century but also picked a wicket while bowling at a healthy economy of 6.00. In their second meeting in Canberra, Josh Philippe and James Vince combined to play a 106-run stand as Sixers reached their target of 164 in 18.5 overs.

Sydney Sixers vs Perth Scorchers head-to-head
Sydney Sixers	Metrix	Perth Scorchers
18	Matches	18
7	Wins	11
-	NR	-
38.8	Win Percentage	61.2

Perth Scorchers, however, have an underwhelming record at Canberra; the venue for Saturday’s game. They have won just one of their last three matches at the venue. The two teams have clashed twice in Canberra and have won a game apiece. One can rightly expect it to be a tight affair, but odds are stacked in Sixers�?side.

Feature image courtesy: Twitter / @BBL

It took until the very last day of the Big Bash League 2020-21 season leagues stages to decide the five teams who will be playing in the playoffs, starting from Friday, January 28.

While Hobart Hurricanes missed out on the playoffs following a shocking 11-run defeat against Melbourne Renegades. Brisbane Heat found their way into the top half with a six-run win over Perth Scorchers, who had already qualified for the play-offs.

With Sydney Sixers finishing at the top of the BBL points table, the stage is set for another exciting round, and I’m pretty sure the upcoming matches will live upto the hype. 

That said, here are my picks from the first two playoffs games:

Chris Lynn - Brisbane Heat

Credit where it’s due, Chris Lynn has performed exceptionally well, especially after failing to get a game in the Indian T20 League 2020. In just 10 games this season, the hard-hitter has accumulated 420 runs at an average of 42 and a strike rate of 157.30. The 30-year-old has scored four half-centuries in his last six BBL games and I expect more of the same from the explosive opener as his team squares off against Adelaide Strikers; a team against whom Lynn scored his lowest score (17) in the ongoing season. He certainly has some point to prove.

It's one of those days where Chris Lynn is clearing the fence without even finding the middle #BBL10 pic.twitter.com/igmiEhhEPo

�?KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 26, 2021

Wes Agar - Adelaide Strikers

The fourth highest wicket-taker of BBL 2020-21, 23-year-old Wes Agar has been a revelation this season. Though he has been expensive as well as wicketless in his last two BBL outings, Agar knows a thing or two about bothering Brisbane Heat - against whom he delivered his best spell of 4/27. Agar had scorched past Heat’s batting order by getting the better of Marnus Labuschagne, Lynn, Joe Denly and Max Bryant, as Strikers had limited their opponent to just 115. It was arguably one of the best bowling performances I’ve seen in the current edition, and Agar will be raring to have a go once again.

Josh Philippe - Sydney Sixers

Sydney Sixers�?opener Josh Philippe has been amongst runs this season, although inconsistency has been an issue for the player. The 23-year-old, once set, has shown the capabilities of wreaking havoc, but tends to lose his wicket quite early more often than not. Following his match-winning 64 against Sydney Thunder and 84 against Perth Scorchers, Philippe has failed to cross the 20-run mark in all of his last three outings. It’s a good thing that he has a prior history against Scorchers, and I think they will be on the receiving end of another explosive approach.

Jhye Richardson - Perth Scorchers

Jhye Richardson has been a phenomenal presence for Perth Scorchers, and one of the reasons why they finished second in the points table. In 14 games so far this season, the 24-year-old has picked 27 wickets - five wickets clear of his closest opponent - and that at an economy of just 7.08. Richardson has picked four wickets in two matches against Sixers and has conceded just 46 runs this season, meaning that he concedes less than six runs per over against them. A game as important as this requires a lustrous performance, and I firmly believe Richardson will do well once again.

Feature image courtesy: Twitter / @HeatBBL

Sydney Sixers have taken an unassailable lead in the Big Bash League (BBL) 2020-21 season, topping the table by a whopping nine points. Inter-city rivals Sydney Thunder then follow suit at second and will be looking to bounce back when they take on Hobart Hurricanes on January 18 at the Manuka Oval.

One cannot take away anything from the Sixers, but a part of their lead is down to the fact that the Thunder have lost three of their last five games. So, as we approach yet another exciting round of BBL fixtures, we look at some statistics that can help you ace the week.

Sydney Thunder vs Hobart Hurricanes

Sydney Thunder vs Hobart Hurricanes head-to-head figures favour the latter, who have won eight of the team's 14 meetings. Thunder, on their part, have won six. Judging by the form both the teams are in (two wins in last five games), one can place a safe punt on Thunder to come out victorious as they have won four of their last five meetings against Hurricanes. Their record in Canberra is exactly the same (four wins in last five outings).

Sydney Thunder vs Hobart Hurricanes head-to-head
Sydney Thunder	Metrics	Hobart Hurricanes
14	Matches	14
6	Wins	8
-	Ties/NR	-
42.85	Win Percentage	57.15

Speaking of the venue, the last five games at the Manuka Oval has seen an average of 27.4 boundaries and 9.8 sixes. Thunder carry an outright advantage heading into the game, and if the bat flip, too, goes their way, expect it to be a run feast as they have averaged 182 runs in their last five games while batting first.

Perth Scorchers vs Brisbane Heat

Perth Scorchers and Brisbane Heat have always been on the neck of each other. Their head-to-head figures marginally put the former ahead, having won seven of the 13 encounters between the teams. As they head into the fixture, one thing to keep an eye on is the bat flip, as both the teams have won just one of their last five flips. If Scorchers are to bat first, expect them to score more than 170 runs, as they have averaged 174 in their last five BBL matches while batting first.

Perth Scorchers vs Brisbane Heat head-to-head
Perth Scorchers	Metrics	Brisbane Heat
13	Matches	13
7	Wins	6
-	Ties/NR	-
53.84	Win Percentage	46.16

The two teams are separated by a solitary point in the tally after having won four of their last five matches, but what gives Scorchers an upper hand is their recent record against the Heat. They have registered three victories in their last five games against their Tuesday's opponents. The thing to note, however, is the fact that the teams have never locked horns at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, a venue which has averaged 20.6 fours and 7.2 sixes in the BBL this season. 

Adelaide Strikers vs Brisbane Heat

Adelaide Strikers square off against Brisbane Heat for the second time in the BBL 2020-21 season. The two teams played an edge-of-the-seat encounter early in the campaign, with the Strikers coming out on top with a two-run victory. The Strikers hold the advantage even in their head-to-head with Brisbane Heat, having won seven of their 12 encounters against them (three wins in last five games). Their recent form, however, can be a thing of concern as they are coming at the back of just two wins from five games.

Adelaide Strikers vs Brisbane Heat head-to-head
Perth Scorchers	Metrics	Brisbane Heat
12	Matches	12
7	Wins	5
-	Ties/NR	-
58.33	Win Percentage	41.67

What gives Brisbane Heat an added advantage is their record against the Strikers at Adelaide; three wins in five games. Overall, Heat have won four of the six matches that they have played at Adelaide.

Australia’s biggest T20 competition, the Big Bash League (BBL) is all set to get underway on Thursday, December 10, as defending champions Sydney Sixers take on Hobart Hurricanes at the Blundstone Arena in Hobart.

Though BBL was marred by the global pandemic, which saw several international stars pulling out of this edition, the tournament still has some of the best T20 names ready to play some swashbuckling cricket for the next two months. The league’s introduction of three new rules - the Power Surge, X-Factor and Bash Boost -  will further ensure uncertainty to make the shortest format even more exciting.

With the 2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup scheduled to take place in a few months�?time BBL will also be a great opportunity for players to impress their selectors, with numerous T20 squads still incomplete and spots up for grabs.

Here are my top five players to watch out for during BBL 2020-21:

Glenn Maxwell - Melbourne Stars

After a sensational white-ball series against India, Melbourne Stars skipper Glenn Maxwell has once again shown why every T20 franchise wants him in their playing XI. ‘The Big Show�?exhibited his T20 acumen yet again, proving himself to be a match-winner against any opposition on his day. Maxwell is undoubtedly one of the biggest names in BBL and the fortune of Melbourne Stars will largely depend on his form. Maxwell has amassed 1826 runs in 69 BBL innings at a strike rate of 150.28 so far, along with an average of 32.60. Interestingly, the 32-year-old has averaged between 33 and 39 in the last five seasons with a strike rate of 142 since the inaugural edition of the league. Maxwell can also chip in some overs with the ball and has a knack of getting crucial breakthroughs.

• Big Bash League 2020-21: Five players who need to make this season count

Dawid Malan - Hobart Hurricanes

World's top-ranked T20 international batsman Dawid Malan has joined Hobart Hurricanes for the tenth edition of BBL this season. The 33-year-old Englishman has the ability to score hundreds in the shortest format of the game. In the 19 T20Is that Malan has played so far, he has a staggering average of 53.43, accumulating 855 runs with nine fifties and one hundred to his name. The southpaw recently created history by attaining the highest-ever rating points for batsmen in the ICC Men’s T20I Player Rankings. I expect him to flourish in BBL this season and maybe become one of the highest run-getters in the league as well.

Joshua Phillipe - Sydney Sixers

Sydney Sixers wicket-keeper batsman Joshua Phillipe is one of the most exciting upcoming talents in world cricket at the moment. Phillipe, who had made his Indian T20 League debut this year playing for Bangalore, will look to use that experience in the Big Bash as well. The 23-year-old helped the Sydney Sixers secure the BBL 2019-20 title last season, amassing 487 runs. Barring that, Phillipe had also claimed seven catches and four stumpings from behind the stumps. Since leaving Perth Scorchers in 2018, Philippe has amassed 791 runs at a strike rate of just under 140, and I feel the youngster will be at his best this season as well.

Rashid Khan - Adelaide Strikers

Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan has been one of the Most Valuable Players (MVP) in BBL. In the last three seasons, the 22-year-old has picked up 56 wickets in just 40 matches at an average of 17.66 while playing for the Strikers. His economy rate of  6.36 is the best in the league. The leg-spinner has also claimed 89 wickets in 48 T20I at an average of 14.81 and in my opinion, Rashid Khan is the best T20 spinner in the world right now and his great demand in the English T20 Blast, the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) as well as the Indian T20 League hints at the enormous talent he is.  

• Fantasy Focus: Top picks for BBL 2020-21 opening week

Chris Lynn - Brisbane Heat

Brisbane Heat’s swashbuckling batsman Chris Lynn is the highest run-getter in the Big Bash League (BBL), accumulating 2332 runs in 75 matches at a strike rate of 150.35 and has an average of 37.61. The 30-year-old, who has been part of several T20 franchises across the globe, will need a productive BBL season this time if he plans to make the national squad ahead of the T20 World Cup. Lynn can certainly expect strong competition from his compatriots D’Arcy Short and Joshua Phillipe, who will also look to stay in contention for the Australia T20 openers slots for the upcoming T20 series and the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup. While Lynn had a quiet Indian T20 League campaign, his enormous experience in the shortest format makes him a lethal batsman in any tournament.

Feature image courtesy: Twitter / @BBL

Big Bash League 2020-21 season promises to be another big affair. Set to begin on Thursday, December 10, the tenth edition of the competition has undergone several changes which includes bonus points, free-hit for wides and even substitutions. 

The alterations have received its fair share of criticism, but it will rather be interesting to see how the teams would utilize them. Furthermore, in what comes as a major boost, all eight teams will play BBL 10 in front of their home fans this season, subject to the pandemic situation in the country.

Big Bash League 2020 will have several players under the scanner, and here are five names who will need to up their ante during the course:

Alex Hales - Sydney Thunders

England batsman Alex Hales scored 272 runs in nine Pakistan Super League (PSL) games this season at an average of 45.33 and a strike rate of 148.63. Now, the figures are truly impressive on paper for T20 cricket, but note that a majority of his PSL runs came before the lockdown was imposed in Pakistan. In his last two outings of the competition, the 31-year-old has accumulated a mere 33 runs. In fact, since September this year, the England batsman has scored just 176 runs in 10 games, which translates to just above 17 runs per innings.

Hales has an above-average T20I record, but finding a place in the first team has been hard to come by. He played his last T20I against West Indies in March 2019, and a good BBL might uplift his stature as we near the T20 World Cup 2020.

Alex Carey - Adelaide Strikers

Matthew Wade’s surge in form means Alex Carey’s place in the Australian T20I setup is now in jeopardy. The 29-year-old wicket-keeper batsman has registered scores of 4, 14, 14*, 2 in his last T20 outings (first three in the Indian T20 League for team Delhi) and the Big Bash League 2020 gives him a perfect chance to resurrect his career in the shortest format. With the T20I World Cup looming, the Australia cricket team as well as the player would want to assert a claim in the upcoming T20 extravaganza as his figures in T20I (average of 12.57) certainly doesn’t help either party.

Chris Lynn - Brisbane Heat

Hard-hitting batsman Chris Lynn didn’t bat for the entirety of the Indian T20 League 2020, but went on to smash 154 runs off 55 balls in a Queensland Premier Cricket T20 match last week. Playing for Toombul, the 30-year-old scored 140 of his 154 runs in boundaries, hitting 20 sixes and five boundaries to help his team post 266/6. It may well and truly be a booster, one cannot overlook how sub-par he was in the 2020 edition of the Caribbean Premier League. Scoring a mere 138 runs in nine games at an average of 17.25, Lynn failed to score even a single half-century, with his best being 34.

Lynn has always found it difficult to get into the Australian T20I team, and BBL 2020 could well and truly be his last hurray. 

James Vince - Sydney Sixers

A month after testing positive for the global virus, England batsman James Vince will return to action, playing for Sydney Sixers. Vince’s average of 28.33 in T20I may look decent but his recent performances paint an entirely different picture altogether. His last cricketing action came in September 2020 in the Vitality Blast, and he failed to get past the 10-run run mark in four of his last six outings. With the competition within the team itself looking strong, Vince will have to put in an assertive performance in the tournament.

Colin Munro - Perth Scorchers

Colin Munro missed out on a New Zealand central contract for 2020-21 and that has deterred his performances in one way or the other. The 33-year-old has as many as six single-digit scores in his last seven outings. Coming fresh at the back of a 207-run tally in eight innings with an average and strike rate of 34.50 and 133.54 respectively, and a mere 11 runs in the Ford Trophy, Munro will have to be at his very best to regain the lost touch.

Feature image courtesy: Twitter / @OptaJim

The tenth Big Bash League season is set to get underway on Thursday, December 10, with defending champions Sydney Sixers scheduled to lock horns with Hobart Hurricanes at the Blundstone Arena.

BBL 2020-21 will see a host of changes in terms of rules and regulations and will see as many as 61 games - including five knockout-round matches - to be played over the course of two months. The final will take place on February 6, 2021.

While the first half of the competition will be played in Hobart and Canberra, the tournament will eventually move to Launceston, Brisbane, Adelaide, Carrara Oval, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney.

As we approach the Big Bash League 2020 start date, here is all you need to know about the competition in the opening week.

Big Bash League 2020-21 fixtures and week 1 schedule

Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Sixers will be the first game of the Big Bash League 2020 schedule. Melbourne Stars will then play two back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday against Brisbane Heat and Sydney Thunder respectively, before Renegades and Perth Scorchers lock horns in the final game on Saturday.

In Sunday’s doubleheader, Hobart Hurricanes and Sydney Sixers will return to action, this time against Adelaide Strikers and Renegades respectively.

All times in Indian Standard Time (IST)

DATE & DAY	MATCH	TIME (IST)	VENUE
10 December, Thursday	Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Sixers	1:45 PM	Blundstone Arena
11 December, Friday	Melbourne Stars vs Brisbane Heat	1:45 PM	Manuka Oval
12 December, Saturday	Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Thunder	10:35 AM	Manuka Oval
12 December, Saturday	Renegades vs Perth Scorchers	1:45 PM	Blundstone Arena
13 December, Sunday	Adelaide Strikers vs Hobart Hurricanes	8:40 AM	Blundstone Arena
13 December, Sunday	Sydney Sixers vs Renegades	1:45 PM	Blundstone Arena

Where to watch Big Bash League 2020 live in India?

Sony Sports Network is set to provide Big Bash League 2020 live telecast in India. While Sony SIX and Sony SIX HD are expected to broadcast the 10th edition of the tournament, the channel might differ in case there are more cricket matches on a given day.

On the other hand, the live streaming of Big Bash League 2020 will be available on Sony Liv.

Feature image courtesy: Twitter / @BBL