The Big Bash League arrived on our sporting landscape last year with all the subtlety of a hot, new nightclub opening. With season two, will it further establish its competitive bona fides? A dalliance with certain Olympic sprinters aside, the BBL is getting past its initial phase of past-prime names and candy-coloured uniforms and settling into becoming an honest-to-goodness sporting contest. Any team in the field has a chance at emerging with the title. And if the IPL has taught us anything, this brand of cricket is seemingly made for surprising punters.

SAFE BET

Few teams were as appropriately named as the Melbourne Stars, which seemed equal parts T20 team and tabloid frenzy. It rather obscured the fact that the Stars played some decent cricket along the way, going out in their semi-final in Perth, and they once again have a rather Bash-ful line-up. Shane Warne takes over as captain from Cameron White, while holdovers David Hussey, Clint McKay and Englishman Luke Wright were among the brightest in the constellation last year. Brad Hodge and Glenn Maxwell made the crossing from the Renegades, and the big overseas face is Sri Lankan Lasith Malinga, the best bowler of the IPL two seasons ago.

VALUE BET

After Tasmania’s Sheffield Shield renaissance of recent years, why not the trend flowing over to BBL? The Hobart Hurricanes emerged as the league’s surprise outfit in year one, tying for the most wins and trailing only the Scorchers in run rate. Travis Birt led all run scorers, while Pakistani import Rana Naved-ul-Hasan topped the wicket table and became immortalised as the People’s Mullet. The signing window brought reinforcement, with George Bailey transferring from the Stars, and while the Mullet has been cut off, Kiwi short-form specialist Scott Styris signed on. Another boost: the return of ‘keeper Tim Paine, who missed the entire BBL season with injury.

BRUSH

On paper, it looks right for the Sydney Sixers. The first champion of the BBL and winners of the Champions League last October can roll out ample star power with Brett Lee, Steve Smith, Brad Haddin and Windies spinner Sunil Narine, another standout of the IPL and World T20 this year. But as their lucrative trip to South Africa proved, it’s the Sixers’ next tier – the likes of Moises Henriques, Nic Maddinson, Michael Lumb and Nathan McCullum – that has powered this team. They’ll need them to come through again, as well as defy those probabilities that build up against repeat winners.

ABSOLUTE BOLTER

The major new wrinkle in the BBL’s follow-up season is the addition of an extra local derby, which may be reason enough to take a look at the two franchises that have quickly developed in the “other” Sydney and Melbourne teams. Their rosters may lack the commensurate flash, but the Thunder and Renegades don’t lack for top-end talent. Sydney will have Chris Gayle and Shahid Afridi, with Matt Prior subbing in when they’re not available. Melbourne brought in Muttiah Muralitharan, and was chasing the signature of West Indian star Marlon Samuels. Enhanced local rivalry may be the thing that fires up the Thunder and Renegades, or maybe they should just hope for good weather – both teams lost their respective derbies last year in rain-shortened contests.

- Jeff Centenera

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