IT is just under a month until the 2022/23 season of the Big Bash League kicks off, with the conclusion of international white-ball series arriving just before the season’s commencement date on December 13th.

With some of the world’s biggest cricketing names set to participate for BBL|12, there is plenty of reasons to tune in on a nightly basis over the course of the next few months.

Today marks the beginning of our club preview series, where we take a look at each club on the eve of the upcoming fixture. First on the cards are the Adelaide Strikers, who are coming in with a bit of promise given their surprise run in the finals last season.

Adelaide Strikers

2021/22 record – 6-8 (4th)

Despite having a negative record, the Strikers managed to sneak into the finals thanks to a league-high 10 bonus points. It emphasised how damaging Adelaide could be when on song, dominating in many of its wins. However, its record was largely due to a six-game losing streak between rounds three and eight, which saw the Strikers slide down the standings.

The team was able to turn things around after the return of skipper Travis Head, who combined well at the crease with Jonathan Wells (now a Renegade), who registered 501 runs for the season. Experienced fast bowler Peter Siddle was at his blitzing best throughout the season too, ending the campaign with 30 wickets, the most of anyone on the side. The team snuck into the finals, and managed to win two knockout matches on the trot, after upsetting the Thunder in the second bracket of the postseason. Adelaide eventually fell to the Sixers, but the effort to make it as far was terrific.

In terms of changes, the Strikers added some established talents over the course of the offseason. Cameron Boyce joined Adelaide from the Renegades, in the hopes of creating a formidable spin duo with superstar Rashid Khan, who was retained in the first ever BBL Draft. The Strikers also acquired the services of veteran batsman Chris Lynn, who will add some power-hitting in the top order. Their second pick in the draft in Liam Hose will do something similar in the middle order of the batting lineup, with the Warwickshire native enjoying some good form in the Hundred this year, and should look to do the same for the Strikers.

BBL|12 Squad

Wes Agar, Cameron Boyce, Alex Carey, Harry Conway, Colin de Grandhomme, Ryan Gibson, Travis Head, Adam Hose, Henry Hunt, Thomas Kelly, Rashid Khan, Chris Lynn, Harry Nielsen, Liam O’Connor, Liam Scott, Matt Short, Peter Siddle, Henry Thorton, Jake Weatherald