Tuesday morning will see the 12th edition of Australia’s flagship T20 competition, the Big Bash get underway as the Sydney Thunder take on the Melbourne Stars at the Manuka Oval with England’s Alex Hales set to feature.
There is plenty of representation from former Gloucestershire stars both past and present with some stalwarts of the competition returning for another crack at the trophy. Here are the former Gloucestershire players involved this year.
Marcus Harris
The Australian opening bat joined Gloucestershire for the 2022 season and had individual success across all formats, especially in the County Championship where he scored 723 runs with three centuries in what was a difficult campaign for the county.
He has plenty of experience in the Big Bash having previously represented the Perth Scorchers and in 48 outings has scored 970 runs at a strike rate of 122.47, but has been unable to play in the tournament since 2020 having had international commitments with Australia.
The Renegades are looking for their second BBL Championship having won the tournament in 2018-19 but will be without overseas marquee player Liam Livingstone who is carrying an injury. They get their campaign underway on Thursday against the Brisbane Heat.
Andrew Tye
Another Australian who made the west country his home, Andrew Tye played for Gloucestershire across two spells. Firstly in 2016 before returning in 2018 and 2019 where he had plenty of success in the Vitality Blast.
Few people have had as much success with the ball as Tye in the BBL, having taken the second most wickets in the history of the competition with 118 wickets across 85 matches. His excellent form has seen him earn 32 caps for Australia in T20 internationals and seven ODI appearances.
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The Perth Scorchers are four time winners of the competition and currently hold the title, the late addition of Englishmen Adam Lyth may push them closer to a fifth title. They get underway against the Sydney Sixers on Saturday.
Dan Christian
A 39-year-old who can be seen in every franchise competition around the world. Dan Christian had a spell with Gloucestershire in 2013 in what was his second spell in England having previously played for Hampshire.
Since then he’s seen plenty in the world of cricket and is even nicknamed “Siri” by his teammates for his expansive knowledge of the game. After spells with the Brisbane Heat, Hobart Hurricanes, Melbourne Renegades, Christian will be spending his third season on the pink side of Sydney with the Sixers.
The Sixers were beaten by the Scorchers in last year’s final, but won the title in both 2019-20 and 2020-21 and have to be considered one of the tournament favourites with the likes of Steve Smith, Chris Jordan and James Vince all set to wear the bright colours at the SCG.
Cameron Bancroft
A cricketer who is no stranger to controversy, Cameron Bancroft’s cricketing career was turned upside down in 2018 when he was spotted rubbing sandpaper on the ball while fielding for Australia. But before any of that, the top-order batsman spent two seasons at the Seat Unique Stadium.
His first was unremarkable, making only one half-century in six games in 2016 and it looked as though his second would be just as forgettable until an impressive 206 not out against Kent sparked him back into form.
Bancroft will be a teammate of Tye in Western Australia and in what’s a big squad it will be interesting to see where the Aussie keeper fits in the plans with both Josh Inglis and Phil Salt looking to take the gloves for the competitions most successful side.
