Test legend and former Hurricane dons his selector's hat and picks the team of the Big Bash League season
Ponting picks his best team of BBL|07
D’Arcy Short (Hurricanes)
Matches: 10 | Runs: 504 | Ave: 56.00 | SR: 147.80 | HS: 122no | 100s: 1 | 50s: 3
The powerful left-hander earned a place in Australia's T20 squad with an eye-catching tournament in which he punched out more runs than anyone else in a BBL season, eclipsing the previous record held by Test batsman Shaun Marsh. Short smashed a rapid 122 not out from 69 balls against the Brisbane Heat and has also made contributions of 97 against Sydney Thunder and 96 against Adelaide Strikers, before departing for the tri-series.
Alex Carey (Strikers)
Matches: 10 | Runs: 425 | Ave: 53.12 | SR: 143.09 | HS: 100 | 100s: 1 | 50s: 2
Carey hammered his maiden BBL century against the Hobart Hurricanes – from only 54 balls – franking his status as one of the leading wicketkeeper-batsmen in the country. Carey’s ton came after an impressive run of form highlighted by contributions of 83no, 59no and two 44s for the Strikers this summer. It also secured his call-up for the Australian T20I team, where he is due to make his international debut against New Zealand in Sydney on Saturday.
Shane Watson (Thunder)
Matches: 10 | Runs: 331 | Ave: 36.77 | SR: 139.07 | HS: 77 | 100s: 0 | 50s: 2 | Wkts: 3 | Ave: 56.00 | SR: 35.3 | RPO: 9.5 | BB: 1-13
The Thunder skipper’s experience and class shone through during the early stages of the season, the 36-year-old posting half-centuries against the Sixers and the Heat. Watson entered the BBL campaign in fine form after belting an unbeaten 114, including 16 sixes, for Sutherland in a Twenty20 clash last month, having also knocked up a mammoth 184 off 151 balls in a grade match in October, but his campaign petered out somewhat in the New Year, with an unbeaten 49 against the Stars the highlight.
Tom Cooper (Renegades)
Matches: 11 | Runs: 298 | Ave: 49.66 | SR: 141.23 | HS: 65* | 100s: 0 | 50s: 3
Cooper wasn't even required to bat in two of the Renegades' regular season matches, but when he was called upon he tended to deliver. He started pre-Christmas with an unbeaten 52 against the Heat, and followed up in the new year with 57 against the Scorchers at the WACA and 65no, again against the Heat, when a semi-final berth was on the line.
Ben McDermott (Hurricanes)
Matches: 11 | Runs: 316 | Ave: 39.50 | SR: 142.34 | HS: 67* | 100s: 0 | 50s: 1
McDermott has just one half-century to his name for BBL|07, the vital 67no he blasted in the semi-final win over the Scorchers, but the big-hitting batsman has produced several crunch knocks for the Hobart team this season. The right-hander was simply brilliant with his clean hitting at the new Optus Stadium on Thursday night, while he also struck an unbeaten 49 against the Thunder in Sydney, 32no against the Heat and 45 against the Strikers in Adelaide during the regular season.
Ashton Agar (Scorchers)
Matches: 9 | Runs: 149 | Ave: 49.66 | SR: 128.44 | HS: 33* | 100s: 0 | 50s: 0 | Wkts: 8 | Ave: 25.12 | SR: 26.2 | RPO: 5.74 | BB: 3-19
Agar produced another impressive season in the Scorchers orange, producing key performances with the ball and some clutch hitting with the bat before departing to join Australia's T20I side at the end of the regular season. His best was his 3-19 against the Strikers in Alice Springs, picking up the wickets of Colin Ingram, Jono Dean and Jake Lehmann, while he struck 33no from 21 against the Stars at the WACA Ground.
Dwayne Bravo (Renegades)
Matches: 11 | Wkts: 18 | Ave: 20.16 | SR: 14.2 | RPO: 8.47 | BB: 5-28
The West Indian allrounder continues to excel on the T20 circuit around the world and his 17 wickets – including a match-winning haul of 5-28 against the Hobart Hurricanes – showed the 34-year-old was still a force to be reckoned with, while his 3-25 against the Heat helped secure the Renegades' semi-final berth.
Rahid Khan (Strikers)
Matches: 11 | Wkts: 18 | Ave: 13.83 | SR: 14.6 | RPO: 5.65 | BB: 3-20
The Afghanistan leg-spinner has gone from strength to strength in his first season at the Strikers, claiming cult figure status in Adelaide in the process. Teenager Rashid, who has played a total of 59 ODIs and T20Is, has gone wicketless in just one of his outings in blue and boasts the brilliant average of 13.83. His economy rate of 5.65 is also outstanding, while his performances helped him secure a mighty windfall in the Indian Premier League auction.
Jofra Archer (Hurricanes)
Matches: 11 | Wkts: 15 | Ave: 21.53 | SR: 16.9 | RPO: 7.62 | BB: 3-15
Jofra Archer entered the BBL and a bit of an unknown, but he is anything but after his first year in purple. The 22-year-old, who was born in Barbados but who has ambitions to represent England, has been outstanding for Hobart - so much so, they've already locked him in for another two seasons. His pace and bounce has troubled batsmen around the compeittion and successful so far and he's played no small part in the Hurricanes making the final for the first time.
Andrew Tye (Scorchers)
Matches: 6 | Wkts: 16 | Ave: 12.00 | SR: 8.8 | RPO: 8.11 | BB: 5-23
Tye has been rewarded for his stellar form with a promotion to Australia’s ODI squad, having previously represented his country in the T20 format. He was the competition’s second-highest wicket-taker at the end of the regular season, despite playing only six matches. Tye, who has represented Australia seven times at T20 level and who is part of the squad for the tri-series, started his tournament with a hat-trick against the Sydney Sixers and never looked back.
Billy Stanlake (Strikers)
Matches: 10 | Wkts: 11 | Ave: 22.36 | SR: 20.7 | RPO: 6.47 | BB: 2-22
Big, towering quick has only enhanced his reputation in BBL|07, earning a place in Australia's T20 squad for the tri-series after picking up 11 wickets in 10 matches. He collected wickets in all but two of the Strikers' regular season games and kept a tidy economy rate, with his best the 2-22 he took against the Renegades at Etihad Stadium.