With every Big Bash League side allowed only two overseas players on their books each season, each franchise is out to recruit the best players possible, meaning some of the stars of Twenty20 cricket grace Australian shores each summer.

It's more of the same ahead of the BBL06 season, as 16 overseas players make their way down under in search for Big Bash League glory.

Here at Zero Wicket we've decided to break down the list of all the overseas players and select our top five, as we run our eye over the five players who will make the biggest impact during the upcoming tournament.

4Brendon McCullum (New Zealand)

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 20: Brendon McCullum of the Heat bats during the T20 Big Bash League match between the Brisbane Heat and the Melbourne Stars at The Gabba on December 20, 2011 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

The 35-year-old opener has retired from international cricket, but continues to dominate at the T20 level.

Brendon McCullum will captain the Brisbane Heat for BBL06 and has asked his side to play an entertaining brand of cricket, something that he can certainly lead from the front in.

An average of 31.32 and seven centuries in his T20 career make McCullum one of the best at a domestic level, and after missing Brisbane's season last year due to international duty, McCullum will have no such distractions this time around.