MAJOR announcements are expected for key international players to join BBL|08 in the coming weeks, and they could be choice picks for astute SuperCoach BBL players.

Many players are set to align themselves for the season ahead, and won’t have international duties calling them away in the middle of the season.

A handful of international players already have alighted upon their alignments, and whilst some may be high-priced choices for coaches, they’re also perfect choices considering their form in previous seasons and potential as ‘set-and-forget’ choices.

They are the sort of players you can pick at the start of the season and be comfortable they will, fitness and form dependent, appear in every game for their respective sides.

1. Brendon McCullum (Brisbane Heat)
The former Kiwi captain has made a habit of hitting out or getting out – in 10 innings last Big Bash season he only managed two half centuries with a high score of 61, yet his strike rate was 135.52. And yet, he seems a logical fit to pick for SuperCoach BBL sides as he’s a consistent performer for the Brisbane Heat throughout the course of each season since his international retirement. A true star at all levels of the game, his partnership at the top of the order with Chris Lynn will be vital for the Heat this coming season, but the question for SuperCoach players is whether his high strike rate can be converted into big scores. If he suddenly starts smacking bowlers around the park, every coach who has him will be all smiles. As a specialist batsman his consistency of performance will be key in determining his value.

2. Johan Botha (Hobart Hurricanes)
A regular international signing in the Big Bash League, Johan Botha will represent his third team in BBL|08, having previously suited up for Adelaide Strikers and the Sydney Sixers. One of the most competitive players at international level for South Africa in ODIs and T20Is, where he captained his country, he also led the way for the South Australian domestic side following his retirement from internationals. But in terms of his position in your SuperCoach side? His value is a matter of debate and opinion – it may come down to whether he is assigned purely as a bowler, or as an all-rounder, as his average of 35.3 points per game last season was fairly middling, yet his position in the Hurricanes outfit is likely to be guaranteed, as he represented the Sixers in 10 regular season games last season. He’s a watch-and-see to add to your team, depending upon his price and position availability.

3. Rashid Khan (Adelaide Strikers)
Raised in Afghanistan’s deadliest province, Rashid Khan was labelled Indian Premier League’s million dollar baby when Sunrisers Hyderabad shelled out $900,000 for the unheralded leg-spinner. In his debut season for the Adelaide Strikers in BBL|07 he ended as the leading wicket taker alongside all-rounder Dwayne Bravo. So is he worth his undoubted high price? Absolutely! Making the spin-friendly Adelaide Oval his home, he was a huge part of the Strikers claiming their inaugural title. He’s exactly the sort of player worth investing in. He doesn’t exactly have much exposure with the willow, but his feats with the ball make him an astute buy this upcoming SuperCoach BBL season.

4. Jofra Archer (Hobart Hurricanes)
Jofra Archer took the Big Bash League by storm last season, and the Hobart Hurricanes were quick to lock him in for another two seasons in purple. The then 22-year old was a late call-up for BBL|07 following Tom Curran being parachuted into England’s Ashes squad. Whilst he calls Sussex home these days, the Barbados-born Archer will be ineligible to represent his new country until 2022…which means as a likely all-rounder he’s at set-and-forget status for SuperCoach BBL players this season. In 12 games last season he averaged 64.42 SuperCoach BBL points, capturing 16 wickets and hitting at a whopping 137.93 strike rate in a mere six innings. He’s almost a must-buy for every side.

5. Colin Ingram (Adelaide Strikers)
Having appeared in the Indian Premier League, Pakistan Super League, Caribbean Premier League, Afghanistan Premier League and the Big Bash League, the South African-born Ingram is a mainstay in domestic T20 competitions around the world. In 12 innings last season, he finished with an average SuperCoach BBL score of 39.08, regularly hitting out or getting out for the Adelaide Strikers. It’ll be a frustration of SuperCoach BBL players who elect to pick him as a specialist batsman, as he’s a bit like McCullum – as a coach the choice is either to back him in and expect him to score big, if not consistently, or alternatively look at all-rounder options who might not have the highs, but won’t necessarily have the lows either.