Every team’s dream BBL draft picks: Full squads, current best XI’s before the draft

What does your club need to recruit tonight?

Published by
Scott Pryde
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The inaugural BBL draft is here, set to take place on Sunday evening.

Every team will be able to recruit up to three international players and at least two international players. They will also have the option to retain players who were with them last season.

The first round of the draft will see teams only able to select platinum rated players, of which there are 12.

SEE ALSO: Platinum player list - BBL draft

The second round of the draft will then move to the remaining platinum players and gold players, before gold and silver players are able to be taken in Round 3.

Silver and bronze players will then be allowed to be taken in Round 4, with each team required to pass at least once during the draft.

Most players not rated as platinum ($340,000) have made themselves available at both gold ($260,000) and silver ($175,000) valuations.

RELATED: Every player nominated for the BBL draft

Use the drop down below to select your club and see their current squad, best XI before the draft and analysis on which players they need to select.

Adelaide Strikers

Squad
Wes Agar, Cameron Boyce, Alex Carey, Harry Conway, Ryan Gibson, Travis Head, Henry Hunt, Thomas Kelly, Chris Lynn, Harry Nielsen, Matt Short, Henry Thorton, Jake Weatherald.

Best XI
1. Jake Weatherald
2. Matt Short
3. Chris Lynn
4. Travis Head (c)
5. Alex Carey (wk)
6. Ryan Gibson
7. Harry Nielsen
8. Wes Agar
9. Harry Conway
10. Cameron Boyce
11. TBC

Analysis
The Strikers have already made it clear that they will match any offer for Rashid Khan during the platinum round, meaning you can slot him straight into this side where he will form a spin duo with Cameron Boyce.

Adelaide have a strong top and middle order with Jake Weatherald now a seasoned Big Bash competitor, while Chris Lynn, Travis Head and Alex Carey will all slot into the team, although Head and Carey may not be there for the first half of the season with Test commitments, while Lynn will be heading to the UAE at the end of the season.

The quick bowling department looks a little skinny however with only Wes Agar and Harry Conway selected, and so the Strikers could well look to add one batter and one bowler beyond Khan.

The Strikers are unlikely to be able to pick two from the platinum list with the fifth pick in Round 2, meaning they will need to go away from the top 12 rated players after Khan.

Dream picks
Pick 1: Rashid Khan - platinum, retention pick (Afghanistan)
Pick 2: Tom Curran (England)
Pick 3: Alex Hales (England)

Brisbane Heat

Squad
Xavier Bartlett, James Bazley, Max Bryant, Sam Heazlett, Usman Khawaja, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Michael Neser, Jimmy Peirson, Matt Renshaw, Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson, Jack Wildermuth.

Best XI
1. Max Bryant
2. Usman Khawaja
3. Marnus Labuschagne
4. Sam Heazlett
5. Jimmy Peirson (c), (wk)
6. Matt Renshaw
7. Jack Wildermuth
8. Mark Steketee
9. Michael Neser
10. Mitchell Swepson
11. Matthew Kuhnemann

Analysis
The Heat's squad at this early stage looks fairly well balanced, if a little short on big-hitting ability down the order.

Their bowling attack features two fringe Australian-level spin bowlers in Mitchell Swepson and Matthew Kuhnemann, as well as Michael Neser who is on the fringes of the Australian team.

Sam Heazlett and Jimmy Peirson have both proven themselves as more than capable, while Matt Renshaw will be able to move up the order early in the season when Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne are unavailable.

That in itself is an issue though and one problem they might look to correct in the draft with a player who will only be around for the first half of the season before departing to either the United Arab Emirates or South Africa. In saying that, a player like Faf du Plessis who could be around for the whole season would give the Heat a batting dream team once Khawaja and Labuschagne return.

One more quick bowler and a big hitter in the middle order who can also add something with the ball are the only other two points of possible correction for the Bulls, who will continue to look at the growth of Max Bryant this summer as the potential to hand them plenty of X-Factor.

Dream picks
Pick 1: Faf du Plessis - platinum (South Africa)
Pick 2: Tom Curran (England)
Pick 3: Chris Jordan (England)

Hobart Hurricanes

Squad
Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Caleb Jewell, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Mitch Owen, Joel Paris, Wil Parker, D'Arcy Short, Matthew Wade.

Best XI
1. Matthew Wade (wk, c)
2. D'Arcy Short
3. Ben McDermott
4. Tim David
5. Caleb Jewell
6. Mitch Owen
7. TBC
8. Nathan Ellis
9. Riley Meredith
10. Joel Paris
11. Wil Parker

Analysis
The Hurricanes only have ten players signed heading into the draft, handing them plenty of flexibility over what they can really hope to achieve out of the evening.

Unfortunately, they have the last pick in the first round, and so listing their "dream picks" could ultimately prove to be pie in the sky stuff if those players aren't available.

Still, their needs are different to other teams and there are 12 excellent players in the platinum round.

What the Hurricanes don't need is a quick bowler - Nathan Ellis, Riley Meredith and Joel Paris form an excellent triple spearhead for the bowling attack.

Their top order too is superb with Matthew Wade, D'Arcy Short, Ben McDermott and six-hitting phenomenon Tim David all in the side, although David could shuffle down a spot.

What the Hurricanes do undoubtedly need is more middle order batting (and potentially an all-rounder) and a top-line spin bowler, and that is exactly what they should be hoping to pick up with their three picks.

Dream picks
Pick 1: David Willey - platinum (England)
Pick 2: Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Afghanistan)
Pick 3: Ross Taylor (New Zealand)

Melbourne Renegades

Squad
Zak Evans, Aaron Finch, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Sam Harper, Mackenzie Harvey, Nic Maddinson (c), Shaun Marsh, Kane Richardson, Tom Rogers, Jono Wells.

Best XI
1. Aaron Finch
2. Shaun Marsh
3. Nic Maddinson (c)
4. Sam Harper
5. Jono Wells
6. Mackenzie Harvey
7. Jake Fraser-McGurk
8. Tom Rogers
9. Kane Richardson
10. Zak Evans
11. TBC

Analysis
With no limited overs cricket after the BBL starts, the Renegades will be one of the most unimpacted teams by international cricket.

With Shaun Marsh's international career seemingly over and Aaron Finch no chance of playing Test cricket, they should be more or less at full strength for the entire tournament.

That gives them excellent freedom to go out and sign virtually whoever they want, and on the surface, there are some gaping holes in the line up.

Moving Nic Maddison down a spot and signing a top order batsman - potentially even an opener with Shaun Marsh - at number three is a priority, as will be an all-rounder in the middle order.

Tom Rogers and Kane Richardson mean the pace bowling department isn't overly pressing, however, among their ten players they are yet to sign a specialist spinner, and that must be on the radar during the draft.

Dream picks
Pick 1: Liam Livingstone - platinum (England)
Pick 2: Sandeep Lamichanne (Nepal)
Pick 3: James Neesham (New Zealand)

Melbourne Stars

Squad
Joe Burns, Hilton Cartwright, Brody Couch, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Liam Hatcher, Clint Hinchliffe, Nick Larkin, Glenn Maxwell (c), Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Beau Webster, Adam Zampa.

Best XI
1. Joe Burns
2. Nick Larkin
3. Marcus Stoinis
4. Glenn Maxwell (c)
5. Hilton Cartwright
6. Beau Webster
7. Clint Hinchcliffe
8. Liam Hatcher
9. Nathan Coulter-Nile
10. Adam Zampa
11. Billy Stanlake

Analysis
The Stars squad has built nicely, and they have some of the biggest hitters in the game in Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell, while Hilton Cartwright also brings plenty with both bat and ball.

A bowling attack led by Nathan Coulter-Nile and Billy Stanlake, with Australian ODI and T20I star Adam Zampa also will give the Stars a significant leg up.

There are certainly gaps though. The top of the batting order looks skinny, while spots six and seven could do with re-enforcements, even if the Stars don't need another all-rounder.

Another quick bowler is also a necessity for the side, although working out the exact order of who they need to target is a tricky one.

With a high draft pick, they could be one of the sides able to use two platinum picks, and that could be the exact direction they ultimately steer in.

Dram picks
Pick 1: Trent Boult - platinum (New Zealand)
Pick 2: Jason Roy - platinum (England)
Pick 3: James Neesham (New Zealand)

Perth Scorchers

Squad
Ashton Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Jason Behrendorff, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Peter Hatzoglou, Nick Hobson, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kelly, Mitch Marsh, Lance Morris, Jhye Richardson, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye.

Best XI
1. Josh Inglis (wk)
2. Cameron Bancroft
3. Mitch Marsh (c)
4. Ashton Turner
5. Cooper Connolly
6. Cameron Green
7. Ashton Agar
8. Andrew Tye
9. Matthew Kelly
10. Jhye Richardson
11. Jason Behrendorff

Analysis
With 15 players already contracted, the Scorchers can fill their entire 18-man squad at the draft with three picks.

What's more impressive is that out of their 15 players, none appear to be a chance of missing much game time thanks to the South African Test tour, with only Jhye Richardson in genuine contention for a call up to the red ball outfit.

It means the Scorchers can go into the season undisturbed and looking to wreak plenty of havoc as they defend the championship they won last year.

The only areas of contention are whether they need an extra spin bowler, how to get some extra help in the middle order and whether an extra big-hitter at the top of the pile could be of use.

The answer to all three of those questions is to use the draft and become the best team on paper in the BBL - something they are already very close to having.

The number of six pick is unlikely to leave them with the best of options however.

Dram picks
Pick 1: Andre Russell - platinum (West Indies)
Pick 2: Colin Munro - retention pick (New Zealand)
Pick 3: Qais Ahmed (Afghanistan)

Sydney Sixers

Squad
Sean Abbott, Jackson Bird, Dan Christian, Ben Dwarshuis, Moises Henriques (c), Daniel Hughes, Hayden Kerr, Nathan Lyon, Steve O'Keefe, Kurtis Patterson, Josh Philippe, Jordan Silk.

Best XI
1. Josh Philippe (wk)
2. Daniel Hughes
3. Hayden Kerr
4. Kurtis Patterson
5. Jordan Silk
6. Moises Henriques (c)
7. Dan Christian
8. Steve O'Keefe
9. Sean Abbott
10. Ben Dwarshuis
11. Nathan Lyon

Analysis
The Sixers - who made the final of last year's tournament before ultimately being rolled for 92 in pursuit of 171 - have an incredibly balanced squad with most of last year's side back in the fold.

They are joined by Kurtis Patterson, who returns to the club after a stint playing BBL in Western Australia.

Experience is the name of the game for the Sixers, with Moises Henriques and Dan Christian joined by the likes of Steve O'Keefe, Sean Abbott and Nathan Lyon later in the season.

The absence of Lyon early in the season makes for an intriguing situation, although they may simply go with one spinning option for the first half of the season.

They are slightly light on in the pace department though, so that will be a key hole to fill, while a big-hitting top order or opening batsmen should be a priority.

Their third pick could go any which way, with a pass even a likely option, whoever, another experienced batsmen could do the trick for the men in magenta.

Dram picks
Pick 1: Chris Jordan (England)
Pick 2: Colin Munro (New Zealand)
Pick 3: Dinesh Chandimal (Sri Lanka)

Sydney Thunder

Squad
Oliver Davies, Brendan Doggett, Matthew Gilkes, Chris Green, Baxter Holt, Nathan McAndrew, Alex Ross, Daniel Sams, Jason Sangha, Tanveer Sangha, David Warner.

Best XI
1. David Warner
2. TBC
3. Oliver Davies
4. Alex Ross
5. Jason Sangha
6. Matthew Gilkes (wk)
7. Daniel Sams
8. Nathan McAndrew
9. Tanveer Sangha
10. Brendan Doggett
11. TBC

Analysis
On paper, the Thunder currently have the weakest squad heading into the BBL.

They have signed David Warner and he will add enormous star power during the second half of the season, and also have some of the best young players in the game in Oliver Davies, Jason Sangha and Tanveer Sangha, but they are struggling to field a team that looks competitive at this stage.

The draft will be huge for the Western Sydney team to add some serious talent to their XI in the hopes of joining the ranks of those competitive sides.

Pick seven is going to make that a tougher mission, but with gaps everywhere, they have no shortage of options available that would fit with the team.

An opening batter alongside Warner and another quick bowler are potentially the most pressing, but they need plenty more through the middle order as well with Daniel Sams and Jason Sangha providing the all-round ability for now and covering that role to an extent which makes it a non-pressing need.

Dram picks
Pick 1: Andre Russell - platinum (West Indies)
Pick 2: Sam Billings - retention pick, platinum (England)
Pick 3: Tymal Mills (England)

Published by
Scott Pryde