Travis Head
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What a summer it has been for the young Redbacks captain so far. Beginning the year without a century to his name in domestic cricket, Head stepped up to secure a maiden century in all three formats of the game in the 2015/16 season.
But despite scoring a double ton in the opening match of the Matador Cup, one could argue that the explosive batsman saved the best for last, producing an absolute batting master class on New Year’s Eve to secure victory for the Strikers and bring up his third century of the year. His final 56-runs coming off just 15 balls.
Named the KFC BBL|05 Young Gun of the tournament, Head finished the series with 299 runs in his nine matches at a strike rate of 154.92 and was rewarded with a call-up to Australia’s T20I squad against India.
Jake Lehmann
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Cometh the moment, cometh the man. Despite not getting an opportunity with the bat in his opening two games, Lehmann was thrust into the spotlight this year in one of the moments of the Big Bash and made a name for himself as a crunch-time player.
Needing four for the win on the final ball of the game and facing his first ball ever in the Big Bash, Lehmann launched one over extra cover, clearing the rope to secure a famous victory for the Strikers over the Hurricanes in front of a roaring Adelaide Oval crowd.
It’s yet another example of how the son of Boof has seized the moment when given the opportunity this year after being named man-of-the-match in his first Matador Cup game this season and securing a famous double-ton in his opening Sheffield Shield match for the year.
Kane Richardson
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Considered one of Australia’s finest short format bowlers, Richardson’s early-season form in BBL|05 for the Adelaide Strikers certainly did nothing to damage that reputation.
Taking figures of 3/22 and 2/21 against the Stars and Scorchers respectively, the young quick showcased just how lethal he is when on-song by creating a host of opportunities for the Strikers with his variation bowling.
His good form in the game’s short formats led to him being re-called in the Australian ODI and T20I squads to face India, rewarding selectors for their faith in his second match by producing a game winning 5/68 in Canberra to take home man-of-the-match honours and career-best figures.
Alex Ross
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After saving the Redbacks twice during the Matador Cup, Ross wasted no time applying his resurrection skills to the Strikers in an impressive opening display against the Stars.
With the Adelaide side languishing on 4/64, Ross combined with Brad Hodge to add 115-runs for the fifth wicket, his 65-runs coming off just 31-balls to earn him man-of-the-match honours.
His opening night heroics combined with his efforts in the Strikers’ semi-final loss to the Thunder confirmed his reputation as one of the domestic cricket’s rising stars, confirmed by winning Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year Award as voted by his peers at the Allan Border Medal night.
Daniel Worrall
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Despite only featuring in the Stars final four matches, Worrall was one of the standout bowlers for the Melbourne side in the latter stages of this year’s Big Bash.
The young pace-bowler was integral in securing a home final for the Stars, claiming figures of 3/10 in their trip to Perth and bowling 20 dot balls out of a possible 24 in the process to limit the Scorchers to a total of 94. He then backed it up in the semi-final with another good display against the Scorchers, taking 3/25 to help lead the Stars to their first Big Final.
Worrall’s late BBL form continues on from a standout summer for the Redbacks quick who continues to deliver after some impressive performances in the Sheffield Shield.
Adam Zampa
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Zampa didn’t take long to adapt to his new environment this year after making the move to the Melbourne Stars from the Adelaide Strikers, with the young leg spinner often called upon by Stars skipper David Hussey when in search for an important breakthrough.
Securing 12 wickets in his ten matches, Zampa finished the tournament as the Stars’ leading wicket-taker, as well as pulling off one of the more remarkable run-outs in BBL history when he dismissed Nevill with his nose after the ball deflected off the wicket-keepers’ bat.
His strong efforts in the Matador Cup and T20 tournament put the talented youngster on the radar of Australian selectors as well, with Zampa included in Australia’s ODI squad touring New Zealand in February.