Ever been watching the BBL and wondered what is the coach doing? I could build a better roster than that! Well, I can do just that and that’s what you’re all here to see me do. The Big Bash League has seen plenty of talent, both homegrown and international grace the pitch so it got me thinking, out of all of them, what would be the most elite XI that I could combine into one giant super-team!
This one is just for the Aussies, the international side coming soon!
For the selections, I have broken down my reasoning for selecting the side into the two most important categories in my opinion – statistics and overall vibes that they would be able to bring to the post-game celebrations. Trust me. Seriously, trust me, the celebration stuff, that’s half the game. Can’t win without team chemistry!
Let’s jump in and have a crack at picking the All-Time Aussie BBL XI!
1; Darcy Short
![](https://themocksports.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/image-34-1024x664.png)
Opening the batting is Darcy Short, 5th all-time run scorer in the BBL. From 72 innings he has scored 2553 runs at an average of 39.89. The second-highest average of a batsman in the BBL with over 50 innings. He’s hit 2 hundreds with a top score of 122* and hit 20 fifties to go with it. Genuine player and is my solid opener for this team.
2. Aaron Finch (C)
![](https://themocksports.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/image-35.png)
The second opener for me is Aaron Finch. Another pretty simple one. 2nd top run-scorer in the BBL with 2817 runs at an average of 34.77. Has also hit 2 centuries with one of them a great 111* back in 2012. Has hit 22 half-centuries and is overall a great opening option. Finchy has hit the most 4’s in BBL history. This bloke hits the roof and I don’t know many that can do. Given him the captaincy here as I’m pretty traditional with giving captaincy to batters. Let bowlers focus on bowling. He has captained 90% of his BBL career and has the best win rate as a captain that has captained more than 30 games at 47.97%. Former Australian white-ball captain, good leader, not much debate here.
3. Chris Lynn
![](https://themocksports.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/image-36-1024x576.png)
In my first drop is Chris Lynn. When you think of Big Bash cricket, you think of Chris Lynn. He is the leading run-scorer in BBL history and the only one to score over 3000 runs. Averaging 34.54 from 100 innings, Lynn has hit 3005 runs. He has the most sixes in BBL history with 180. A hard strike rate of 148.83 runs per 100 balls and a lock pick for me at three. Bit more versatile than Short and Finch and I’d rather have him at 3.
4. Matthew Wade (WK)
![](https://themocksports.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/image-37.png)
In at four and my wicketkeeper is Matthew Wade. Tough option to go through with keepers. You have up-and-coming Phillipe who I think will one day surpass the rest and be the all-time keeper, McDermott and Carey are two honourable mentions as well. Wade is still the 9th top run scorer in BBL history with 2156 runs with an average of 32.17 from 77 innings. He has had one century with a great 130 not out in 2020. Wade as a keeper is the 5th all-time keeper when it comes to catches and stumpings but it’s hard to compare him as he hasn’t kept for all his BBL career. He has 43 dismissals with 37 catches and 6 stumpings. Does the job for me and is my best all-around keeper/batsman combo for my all-time XI. Off-field captain. Easily. Bloke gets it, would demolish beers off the field I already know it, hearing off a podcast I listened to prior to the 2022 T20 world cup final before the game started Wade went out and bought 11 ski goggles for the team when they won to protect their eyes from all the alcohol. Alpha. Off-field captain.
5. Glenn Maxwell
![](https://themocksports.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/image-38-1024x576.png)
Coming in at 5 I’ve got Glenn Maxwell. I know a lot of you reading this if you already didn’t agree with Wade you would put Maxwell at 4. However, I believe Glenn Maxwell is the most versatile player in this team. He can bat anywhere he is put. He has done it so many times coming in that late innings even for Australia as well as the Stars. I think he is a better fit for 5th batsman as opposed to Wade. Maxwell is the third top run-scorer in the BBL with 2673 runs with an average of 33.83 from 95 innings. Has finished with 16 not-outs which shows how good he is late in an innings. Holds the highest individual score in the Big Bash with 154* in 2022 which was an excellent innings to watch. If this man still didn’t bat I would pick him for his fielding. In my opinion one of the world’s best fielders easily. Has the most catches in BBL history with 65 catches. If you watch this guy’s knowledge of cricket in the field you can just see how good he is at the game. He is the only one id be up for an argument with for captaincy over Finchy. Off-field, how he would go I’m not sure. He seems to party hard but maybe too recklessly. Just broke his leg at a party because some bloke fell on him, gotta show a bit more ticker Maxy. Hard to not mention how hairy this mans arms are as well. Wow, elite.
6. Dan Christian
![](https://themocksports.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/image-39-1024x664.png)
In at 6 is Dan Christian. Someone get the red out, this man ages like a fine wine. He is known as one of the best all-rounders going around in T20 cricket and I couldn’t leave him out. Without going into his personal stats this man has won 3 Big Bash finals. The most of any player. As a batsman, Dan is the 12th overall runscorer in the big bash with 2009 runs with an average of 23.91 from 113 innings. He also has 29 not-out finishes and shows how lethal he is at the tail of a batting innings. Before we get into his bowling Dan Christian is also the second overall catch taker in big bash history, sitting one catch behind Maxy with 64 catches. As a bowler, Dan is the 10th overall wicket-taker in the Big Bash with 89 wickets with an average of 27.73 from 298.2 overs. He has 2 four-wicket hauls and 2 five-wicket hauls in his career and shows easily why he is in my XI.
7. Sean Abbott
![](https://themocksports.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/image-41-1024x538.png)
Padding up at 7 is Sean Abbott. The current holder of the most wickets in BBL history with 125 wickets with an average of 20.87 from 307.5 overs. Holds a pretty impressive strike rate with 14 balls bowled every time he gets a wicket. Holds 4 four-wicket hauls and 2 five-wicket hauls. Great bowler and can hold a bat and swing if needed as well. Easy lock pick for my number 7.
8. Peter Siddle
![](https://themocksports.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/image-43.png)
Coming in at 8 is Peter Siddle of loving to eat bananas fame. Apart from holding the most bananas eaten in a day record, he is a genuine cricketer. Not really known for his T20 bowling but this man’s stats reflect differently. 8th all-time bowler with 90 wickets with an average of 19.4 from 235.3 overs. Economy rate in T20 goes a long way and having 7.41 isn’t too bad in my opinion. A 15.7 strike rate goes hard for me and gets me going. I know it’s not BBL but I refuse to bring up Peter Siddle and not mention his birthday hat trick. One of the all-time tricks. Gives me goosebumps to this day, and I know Peter Siddle lives in Alistair Cook’s, Matt Prior’s and Stuart Broad’s head rent-free. He has also had 2 four-wicket hauls and 2 five wicket hauls in Big Bash cricket. GOAT.
9. Ben Laughlin
![](https://themocksports.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/image-44-1024x576.png)
In at 9 Ben Laughlin. This guy is the definition of a genuine Big Bash cricketer. Has never gone on with it and broke into the Aussie squads. Had a brief stint with them but I’m telling you. It was as briefer than the time Cameron Bancroft thought he got away with ball tampering. Anyway in Big Bash this man was different, absolute dad of Big Bash. Taken 111 wickets with an average of 24.26 from 333.1 overs man is a veteran. I also want to mention this man’s fielding for a bowler. He has single-handedly taken some of the best catches the Big Bash has laid eyes on. Actually, I’ll say it he holds the best catch in the BBL’s history I am talking about that diving one over the boundary that he throws back into a fielder. The bloke was flying, he was horizontal, it was unreal. And don’t give me that stupid bullsh*t that he didn’t technically catch it because shut up, he did everything impressive in the catch the other bloke was standing still. DAD of the team.
10. AJ Tye
![](https://themocksports.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/image-45-1024x576.png)
Batting at 10, AJ Tye. This lumberjack-looking man is a weapon. 2nd top wicket-taker in the BBL with 118 wickets with an average of 19.34 from 296.1 overs. Great economy rate for T20 cricket with 7.70. And a great strike rate of 15. 5 four-wicket hauls in his career and 1 five-wicket haul which was an amazing display of bowling.
11. Adam Zampa
![](https://themocksports.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/image-46-1024x582.png)
Batting in at 11, Zamps. The rarest bloke in Australian cricket and I love it. Needed a spinner in this team and he is easily the best Australian white ball spinner in the Big Bash. My only worry is if this team plays a game how will his vibe be with out big Papi Stoinis not breaking into the team? Does it affect his performance? Time will tell. 308 overs 98 wickets with an average of 22.74 reads well. Most wickets of any spinner in the Big Bash currently. Economy of 7.22 as a spinner reads well and I’m happy to roll with it. Best bowling figures of 5/17 was huge. I needed this bloke in my team, he will be my off-field vice-captain. Set the tone for the lads’ parties and having some fun. Easy pick.