But who would be on yours? Tweet us your selections @SkyCricket #BBL04
Monday 26 January 2015 15:50, UK
It’s smash and grab time in the Big Bash League as Perth Scorchers and Sydney Sixers clash in Wednesday's final.
It’s been a cracking competition so far but what, in your view, has been the most entertaining innings?
Tipping our caps to Jordan Silk’s audacious 69no and Nic Maddinson’s semi-final salvo, not to mention James Faulkner’s Super Over pyrotechnics, plus countless other notable knocks. Here are our six of the best…
Read on and see if you agree with our selection, then tweet us your view @SkyCricket #BBL04
Tim Ludeman 92no v Melbourne Stars, December 18
The fourth edition of the Big Bash League exploded into life as Ludeman struck the fastest 50 in the competition’s history off just 18 balls – beating Ben Dunk’s 20-ball effort for the Hobart Hurricanes against the Brisbane Heat in BBL03. The opener’s knock of 92no off 44 balls featured nine fours and five sixes and powered the Adelaide Strikers to an eight-wicket win in the first match of the competition. As Ludeman’s stock rose, so did that of Leicestershire’s new coach Andrew MacDonald, who spent time working with the 27-year-old earlier in the winter.
Klinger 105no v Melbourne Renegades, December 12
Christmas celebrations continued into Boxing Day for Michael Klinger, who struck the first century of the Big Bash season to steer the Perth Scorchers to their opening win of the campaign. The opener once again proved his T20 pedigree by crunching seven fours and four sixes in a pulsating innings of 105no off 60 balls, plundering 55 runs off his final 22 balls with an array of shots around the ground en route to accruing the eighth ton in Big Bash history. Lightning quick between the wickets, it’s no surprise he’s right up there with the tournament’s leading run-scorers.
Kevin Pietersen 67 v Sydney Thunder, January 17
Pietersen gave England a taste of what they’ll be missing in the World Cup by thumping a fifty off just 27 balls, making light work of overhauling the Thunder’s paltry 106-8 to secure an eight-wicket win for his franchise. The 34-year-old’s flamboyance yielded 10 fours – more than the Thunder line-up managed collectively – and one six, and his unbeaten 67 off 42 balls was his highest score since parting ways with England. Speaking afterwards, Pietersen revealed he is playing pain-free for the first time since 2013 when he injured his knee, insisting he was having the best time of his life.
Ben Stokes 77 v Hobart Hurricanes, January 7
Stokes announced himself on the Big Bash stage in grand fashion, smashing 77 off just 37 balls on debut to help the Melbourne Renegades to a 37-run win over the Hurricanes. Batting with a freedom so frustratingly lacking in his more recent England performances, Stokes relished the responsibility of batting at three and smote seven fours and five sixes in an innings that begged the question why the national selectors had overlooked him for the World Cup. Meanwhile, Alex Hales made just seven in his final innings for the Hurricanes before joining up with England.
Andrew Flintoff 46 v Sydney Sixers, January 11
Plenty of players scored more runs, but few performed quite so entertainingly as Flintoff who struck his highest score since the 2009 Ashes while chatting to Sir Vivian Richards and Adam Gilchrist in the commentary box. The former England all-rounder contributed 46 off 32 balls to a record fifth-wicket stand for the Heat of 93 with Peter Forrest (62no) to help his side recover from 33-4 to 147-6. Although it wasn’t enough to save the Heat from a defeat that ended their semi-final hopes, it was a knock that epitomised all that is compelling about Twenty20 cricket.
Peter Handscomb 103no v Perth Scorchers, January 21
Handscomb repaid the Stars’ faith in him with a match-winning century, reaching his first Twenty20 hundred with a six that also secured a three-wicket victory in the final over of a thrilling match. The 23-year-old, who hadn’t scored over 30 in the BBL before, walked to the wicket to face a hat-trick ball after Yasir Arafat (4-27) had sent back Luke Wright and Kevin Pietersen in quick succession. After reaching his maiden BBL fifty off 45 balls, Handscomb turned on the style to score 103no off 64 deliveries – chalking up his seventh not out in as many innings in the process.
Watch Perth Scorchers take on Sydney Sixers in the final of this year’s Big Bash live on Sky Sports 1 from 8am on Wednesday.