The 2014/15 Big Bash league in Australia is being invaded by English players, yes, all of a sudden the English are in demand.
With England not having any Test matches over the Christmas/New Year period this year, all of English cricket’s big hitters (yes, remarkably, there are some) are available and free to participate in some or all of this season’s Big Bash in Australia.
The recent full availability of former ODI Skipper Alastair Cook hasn’t sent the Big Bash franchises frantically searching around for their cheque books, but there are quite a few past and present England stars competing this year.
The list so far is as follows……….
English players in 2014/15 Big Bash
Michael Carberry – Perth Scorchers
Alex Hales – Hobart Hurricanes
Andrew Flintoff – Brisbane Heat
Michael Lumb – Sydney Sixers
Eoin Morgan – Sydney Thunder
Kevin Pietersen – Melbourne Stars
Riki Wessels – Sydney Sixers
Luke Wright – Melbourne Stars
Eoin Morgan and Alex Hales are the only two England players in the Big Bash who are part of the England squad due to play a tri series in Australia starting on 16th January (also involving India, and running until 1st Feb). Meaning they will both miss the latter half of the Big Bash to join up with England.
Eoin Morgan’s England side are now currently a best price of 10/1 to win the 2015 Cricket World Cup.
Does this sudden surge in England players going to franchise tournaments mean England might be in with a chance of winning the world cup? Who knows.
It could simply be the case that the English players are more readily available at this time of the year. As opposed to all of a sudden they’re in demand for their skills.
Either way, the Big Bash sides wouldn’t be signing them if they were rubbish. So even if they’re not top draw, they still will offer something.