Caribbean Premier League: Dummies Guide

What is it?

The West Indian version of the KFC T20 Big Bash League, basically. Six teams fighting it out over 30 matches for a little over a month, with the top four playing off in the semi-finals. Minor premiers go straight through to the grand final, while second plays the winner of the first knockout match, between third and fourth. The victor there meets the minor premiers to decide the champs.

When is it?

Begins this Friday, July 11, with the final on Saturday, August 16.

Who are the teams?

Antigua Hawksbills: Marlon Samuels (c), Justin Athanaze, Carlos Brathwaite, Rahkeem Cornwall, Sheldon Cottrell, Miguel Cummins, Ben Dunk, David Hussey, Danza Hyatt, Ben Laughlin, Orlando Peters, Kieran Powell, Saeed Ajmal, Devon Thomas, Gavin Tonge. Coach: Tim Nielsen.

Barbados Tridents: Kieron Pollard (c), Jonathan Carter, Shane Dowrich, Rayad Emrit, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Imran Nazir, Neil McKenzie, Kyle Mayers, Ashley Nurse, Ravi Rampaul, Raymon Reifer, Shoaib Malik, Dwayne Smith. Coach: Robin Singh.

Guyana Amazon Warriors: Sunil Narine (c), Robin Bacchus, Christopher Barnwell, Ronsford Beaton, Trevon Griffith, Martin Guptill, Steven Jacobs, Leon Johnson, Mohammad Hafeez, Jimmy Neesham, Veerasammy Permaul, Denesh Ramdin, Krishmar Santokie, Lendl Simmons, Navin Stewart. Coach: Roger Harper.

Jamaica Tallawahs: Chris Gayle (c), Ahmed Shehzad, Carlton Baugh, David Bernard, Jermaine Blackwood, Nkrumah Bonner, Odean Brown, Nikita Miller, Andrew Richardson, Andre Russell, Jerome Taylor, Rusty Theron, Daniel Vettori, Adam Voges, Chadwick Walton. Coach: Mickey Arthur.

St Lucia Zouks: Darren Sammy (c), Sunil Ambris, Tino Best, Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher, Brad Hodge, Keddy Lesporis, Mervin Mathew, Garey Mathurin, Kevin Pietersen, Liam Sebastien, Shane Shillingford, Sohail Tanvir, Roelof van der Merwe, Tonito Willett. Coach: Matthew Maynard.

Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel: Dwayne Bravo (c), Samuel Badree, Sulieman Benn, Darren Bravo, Kevon Cooper, Fidel Edwards, Shannon Gabriel, Delorn Johnson, Kennar Lewis, Evin Lewis, Jason Mohammed, Nasir Jamshed, Kevin O'Brien, Nicolas Pooran, Ross Taylor. Coach: Simon Helmot.

Who are the stars?

Plenty on show. The biggest names would be maverick pair Chris Gayle (Tallawahs) and Kevin Pietersen (Zouks), while West Indian stars Darren Sammy (Zouks), Sunil Narine (Warriors), Marlon Samuels (Hawksbills) Kieron Pollard (Barbados) and Dwayne Bravo (Red Steel) captain their respective sides. You’ve also got big-name Kiwis Ross Taylor (Red Steel), Martin Guptill (Warriors) and Daniel Vettori (Tallawahs) – and Pakistanis – Saeed Ajmal (Hawksbills) and Mohammad Hafeez (Warriors), with those two countries well represented in general.

Who are the Aussies?

Highlighted in bold, above. But in case you missed them:

- Ben Dunk (Hawksbills): Ben Dunk will trade one small island for another, making the move from Tasmania to Antigua after making an appearance in IPL 7 earlier this year. Called up as a replacement for Thisara Perera, the BBL player of the tournament will join Hobart Hurricanes teammate Ben Laughlin at the Hawksbills.

- David Hussey (Hawksbills): At 36, Hussey is fast sliding into that ‘T20 veteran for hire’ category. But hey, if the cap fits … and the naturalised Victorian is doing a capable job of wearing it at the moment, still plundering runs for Melbourne Stars, Chennai Super Kings, and potentially, the Hawksbills.

- Ben Laughlin (Hawksbills): A Hobart Hurricane last season in the KFC T20 Big Bash League, Laughlin’s outstanding death bowling and wicket-taking (he took 18 in all) has made him a prime target in T20 competitions, and he shapes as an excellent signing for the Hawksbills (and the Adelaide Strikers).

- Tim Nielsen (coach, Hawksbills): Nielsen’s clipboard role ensures Antigua enjoy the greatest Australian flavour in the CPL. The national coach between 2007 and 2011, he oversaw a difficult era in Australian cricket, emerging with his reputation in tact after his share of highs and lows.

- Adam Voges (Tallawahs): Another seasoned first-class campaigner, Voges, like Hussey, has enjoyed plenty of international experience in the limited-overs formats. Had a disappointing BBL|03 campaign by his standards in a championship-winning Perth Scorchers outfit, but adds plenty to the reigning premiers here.

- Brad Hodge (Zouks): The second-leading T20 run-scorer of all time (behind Tallawahs skipper Chris Gayle) has found himself another outlet through which to demonstrate his Twenty20 wares. The Zouks (and the Adelaide Strikers for that matter) have taken a calculated gamble that the 39-year-old still has what it takes to dominate in the game’s shortest format.

- Simon Helmot (coach, Red Steel): The Victoria Bushrangers’ one-day coach and the man also in charge of the Melbourne Renegades spreads his wings with a new challenge here. Red Steel only won three of seven matches last season, and were bundled out at the first hurdle after sneaking into the finals in fourth. They’ll be expecting a better result in 2014.

Who are the reigning champs? 

Jamaica Tallawahs, who finished second in the regular season before going on to beat Guyana Amazon Warriors (who had finished first) in the final.

What else happened last season? 

The 2013 season was the inaugural CPL campaign. Krishmar Santokie (Guyana Amazon Warriors) was the leading wicket-taker with 16 scalps, an effort that also earned him player of the series, while Barbados Tridents’ Pakistani import Shoaib Malik was the leading run-scorer, with 272 runs.

What is the big BBL talking point?

It’s been eighteen months since an altercation between David Hussey and Marlon Samuels sparked an on-field tirade from spin-king Shane Warne. Has that time healed old wounds? We’ll definitely find out, with Samuels to captain the younger Hussey in Hawksbills colours this tournament.

Where can I watch?

Fox Sports is broadcasting the tournament in Australia – check local guides for further info.