The final team selection has five Englishmen, two South Africans, two Sri Lankans, an Afghan and a West Indian. This team has plenty of run scorers who can score quickly. There is more than one batter in the team that can score runs 360° around the pitch.

With the ball, they have the ability to blast the opposition out cheaply. There are two spinners in the team, world class ones at that, while the captain’s medium pace won’t be easy to get away.

As with the Australian team, the selection criteria are reputation, statistics and team balance.

Here’s the overseas team of the decade:

Michael Carberry (Eng) – Perth Scorchers

Batting ave 35.30, SR 127.50, HS 77no

A BBL winner with the Scorchers, Carberry’s consistency gets him the job at the top of the order.

 

Herschelle Gibbs (SA) – Perth Scorchers

Batting ave 32.53, SR 139.50, HS 71

Gibbs had the ability to either anchor an innings or explode himself. 488 runs over two seasons with the Scorchers sees the South African at the top of the order.

 

Kevin Pietersen (Eng) – Melbourne Stars

Batting ave 37.00, SR 137.17, HS 76

One of the most destructive batters to play in the BBL. Pietersen’s ability to play the most ridiculous shots easily, to open up the gaps, makes him a lock at number three. Never one to hide his feelings, like his pathological hatred of Brisbane, KP’s opinions polarise but make him fascinate to watch. Add his batting skills to that and he can’t be left out.

 

James Vince (Eng) – Sydney Thunder / Sydney Sixers

Batting ave 32.53, SR 134.50, HS 75

Vince’s tenure with the Thunder was nothing to write home about. His time with the Sixers has been far better. Plenty of runs in BBL08, and this season, have given the Englishman a place in the team.

 

Jacques Kallis (SA - capt) – Sydney Thunder

Batting ave 28.62, SR 119.67, HS 97no; Bowling ave 30.50, ER 6.93, BB 2-18

Kallis played for two BBL seasons and picked up three player-of-the-match awards in that time. International retirement that the South African played in BBL04 and BBL05. An exceptional batting all-rounder, Kallis also gets the captaincy.

 

Jos Buttler (Eng - wk) – Sydney Thunder / Melbourne Renegades

Batting ave 33.61, SR 141.00, HS 89

Wicketkeeping duties fall to Buttler. A competent white-ball keeper with an ability to score quickly, up or down the order, all over the ground. Having played in BBL03 for the Renegades, Buttler played for the Thunder in BBL07 and BBL08.

 

Andre Russell (WI) – Sydney Thunder / Melbourne Renegades

Batting ave 21.14, SR 166.33, HS 46; Bowling ave 23.39, ER 7.97, BB 3-13

The allrounder position had to go to Dre Russ. Whether bowling or batting, Russell is looking to make things happen. With the bat, he’s not hanging around looking to play himself in as a strike rate of over 160 indicates. With ball in hand, the batter knows that they are in for a fight.

 

Rashid Khan (Afg) – Adelaide Strikers

Batting ave 12.90, SR 167.50, HS 21no; Bowling ave 15.97, ER 6.12, BB 3.19

Rashid Khan’s efficacy as a T20 bowler is immense. A constant wicket-taking threat while being difficult to score off is rare. Khan’s ability to create pressure was a clincher for the team.

 

Jofra Archer (Eng) – Hobart Hurricanes

Batting ave 20.33, SR 141.83, HS 25no; Bowling ave 23.29, ER 7.73, BB 3-15

Blessed with a smooth and relaxed action which creates deception. Whether Archer is bowling a 90+mph delivery, or a slower ball, the action is the same. Also, able to play a few shots at the end of the innings.

 

Lasith Malinga (SL) – Melbourne Stars

Batting ave 4.00, SR 50.00, HS 2no; Bowling ave 15.00, ER 5.40, BB 6-7

If Archer’s pace wasn’t enough to deal with, imagine facing Malinga at the other end. Spearing yorkers in at pace, the Sri Lankan is going to be difficult to score off. He’s also going to make a mess of your stumps if you are slightly off the bowling line. An economy rate of under six in T20 is ridiculously good.

 

Muttiah Muralitharan (SL) – Melbourne Renegades

Batting ave 0.50, SR 20.00, HS 1; Bowling ave 18.32, ER 5.70, BB 3-18

Not just another spinner, Murali’s bowling average and economy rate are phenomenal. Add to that a strike rate of 19.20 and you have a bowler you can’t ignore. With Rashid Khan and Muralitharan bowling in tandem, it would create pressure quickly to make the batters take risks.

 

Owais Shah (12th man) – Hobart Hurricanes

Batting ave 36.31, SR 127.17, HS 69

Shah’s time with the Canes saw the English batter put together a solid set of scores. Not a big six-hitter, just 14 in 21 innings, but an ideal foil for others to tee off. Shah scored 472 runs in the BBL.

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Compared to the Australian team where there are nine current players, the overseas team has just two playing in BBL09.  Other players that could have made the list include: Joe Denly (Sydney Sixers), Eoin Morgan (Sydney Thunder), Luke Wright (Melbourne Stars) and the Universe Boss Chris Gayle (Sydney Thunder / Melbourne Renegades).