The BBL|15 season runs from December 14 to January 25, but the annual SuperCoach question prior to every campaign is who’ll be unavailable for the season start.
There’s always clashes with international games and rival T20 leagues, with this summer’s schedule alongside the Ashes and the ILT20 comp, which has been shuffled to a December 2 to January 4 fixture.
The Ashes – Australia vs England – Nov 21 to Jan 8
Likely: Alex Carey, Travis Head (Adelaide Strikers), Michael Neser, Marnus Labuschagne, Usman Khawaja (Brisbane Heat), Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster (Hobart Hurricanes), Nathan Lyon, Brendan Doggett (Melbourne Renegades), Scott Boland (Melbourne Stars), Josh Inglis (Perth Scorchers), Steve Smith (Sydney Sixers)
Possible: Sean Abbott (Sydney Sixers), Jhye Richardson (Perth Scorchers)
The third Ashes Test squad has been named, with Doggett, Webster and Inglis among that group and Jhye Richardson linking up with them in Adelaide. With Pat Cummins set to return, someone like Doggett and/or Neser could be released from the squad in time for BBL Round 1.
England Lions – tour games – Nov 13 to Dec 8
Selected: Rehan Ahmed (Hobart Hurricanes)
This won’t clash with BBL. However, Rehan has flown home after a leg strain. Watch this space on his injury status.
Nepal Premier League – Nov 17 to Dec 13
Contracted: Josh Brown (Melbourne Renegades), Chris Lynn (Adelaide Strikers), D’Arcy Short, Sam Heazlett (both unattached to BBL clubs)
This won’t technically clash with BBL, but it will pull players away from their BBL club’s pre-season training and warm-up games.
ILT20 – UAE T20 competition – Dec 2 to Jan 4
Contracted: David Payne (Perth Scorchers), Lockie Ferguson (Sydney Thunder), Sam Curran (Sydney Sixers), Tim David (Hobart Hurricanes), Tabraiz Shamsi (Adelaide Strikers)
Payne, Ferguson, Shamsi and Curran will all miss the start of BBL|15, while David will prioritise the BBL and cut short his time in the ILT20, landing back in Hobart on Friday. The last round-robin games are just after Christmas, so expect the other trio to arrive around then, or once their finals campaigns end.
SA20 – South Africa T20 competition – Dec 26 to Jan 25
Contracted: Reece Topley (Sydney Thunder)
Topley’s Joburg Super Kings have signed cover for him until December 31, so he’s likely available to the Thunder until that date, when Ferguson is due back.
Pakistan T20Is – Sri Lanka vs Pakistan – Jan 7 to Jan 11
Possible: Babar Azam (Sydney Sixers), Shaheen Afridi (Brisbane Heat), Mohammad Rizwan (Melbourne Renegades), Shadab Khan (Sydney Thunder), Haris Rauf (Melbourne Stars)
This three-game series, which is an important tune-up for the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka, would likely see selected players exit BBL around Round 4-5. Babar and Shaheen will likely be locks for selection.
NZ ODIs/T20Is – India vs New Zealand – Jan 11 to Jan 31
Possible: Finn Allen (Perth Scorchers), Tim Seifert (Melbourne Renegades), Lockie Ferguson (Sydney Thunder)
Keep an eye on this squad, as it’ll be a critical warm-up series for the Black Caps prior to the T20 World Cup. All three have had recent injury issues too, limiting their time in the national set-up.
England ODIs/T20Is – Sri Lanka vs England series – Jan 22 onwards
Possible: Jamie Overton, Luke Wood (Adelaide Strikers), Rehan Ahmed (Hobart Hurricanes), Sam Curran (Sydney Sixers)
Another pre-T20 World Cup warm-up which is likely to rip players out of sides around the final BBL round and finals time.
Let us know if any series / comps pop up on Twitter @HoneyballBBL
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