10 players who have a point to prove in the Big Bash
The Big Bash league enters its fifth edition, with a more exciting lineup of international stars rubbing shoulders with the best in Australian cricket. With the likes of Kumar Sangakkara, Kevin Pietersen, Mahela Jayawardene and Jacques Kallis in the fold, the tournament appears to be as exciting as its previous editons.The Perth Scorchers, with two consecutive wins, have been the most successful franchise in the tournament. The opening match, which saw Sydney Thunder beat rivals Sixers, saw both the sides earning money for charity for every six they hit. The final will be played in the home-ground of the highest ranked team.Each year, the BBL presents the opportunity of being a proving ground for young talents as well as established stars.Here’s a list of ten players who have a point to prove in this edition:
#1 George Bailey
Having made way for Michael Clarke in Australia’s squad for the World Cup, out-of-favour former captain George Bailey returned to the ODI team against England in September this year.
In 2012, still uncapped, he replaced Cameron White as the captain of Australia’s T20 team, and has captained the ODI team in the absence of Michael Clarke on various occasions. He was presented with the Baggy Green in the 2013 Ashes, and hit James Anderson for 28 runs in a single over in the same series.
Yet, he hasn’t been able to cement his place, and last played a T20I for Australia in 2014. He stepped away from T20 captaincy to focus on his place in the ODI side. He has been replaced by Tim Paine as the skipper of the Hobart Hurricanes, but will be looking forward to getting his Australian T20 spot back with strong performances in the BBL.