The Cricketer's in-depth look at Scorchers ahead of the new campaign, including player analysis, strengths, weaknesses, and full squad and fixtures listings
Coach: Adam Voges
The former Perth Scorchers captain led his side to two of their Big Bash titles and last season in his fourth year as coach he won another title for the team. He ended his playing career with the 2017/18 campaign and took over as coach in the following season. His success is undeniable in this competition and will look to add another trophy to his cabinet.
Captain: Ashton Turner
Ashton Turner has long been a fantastic domestic player in Australia and threatened consistently to break through in international cricket. When he scored an unbeaten 84 off 43 balls against India to chase 359 in 2019, that looked to be a turning point. But he then was left out for a period of time and has failed to reach those heights again.
He made over 350 runs at a strike rate of 154 last campaign and was central to his team's victory. As Australia endured a difficult home T20 World Cup, the usual fallout is taking place. Spots are potentially up for grabs and Turner will remain in the conversation, especially if he can propel his team to another successful Big Bash campaign.
Overseas stars
This season marked the inaugural overseas player draft for the Big Bash, and Perth Scorchers initially selected an English trio of Laurie Evans, Tymal Mills and Phil Salt. Since then, however, Evans, who registered a match-winning 76 in the Big Bash final last season, has had his contract terminated after failing a drugs test.
Salt, meanwhile, has withdrawn with a shoulder injury. Faf du Plessis is in as a partial replacement for Evans, with the search ongoing for a substitute for Salt. The Cricketer understands that Ian Cockbain, who impressed last year for Adelaide Strikers, was consideration before Adam Lyth and Stephen Eskinazi were added to fill Salt's void.
In Mills, though, Scorchers have a pacey Englishman with an excellent reputation and a fine record in the T20 Blast. It is safe, though, to say he is yet to dominate an overseas franchise competition in the same way. Having the quick and bouncy Optus Stadium at his disposal, which proved so fruitful for quicks in the T20 World Cup, will undoubtedly suit him.
The concern with Mills is always his fitness, already confined to just the four-over spells in T20 cricket, he was forced out of The Hundred and only appeared in one home T20I for England this summer due to a toe problem. His ability to bowl over 90mph and prominence at the death mean he has all the tools to recapture his form.
The signing of du Plessis as a replacement for Evans is a big addition for the competition, which was left disappointed by the paucity of big names picked up in the initial overseas player draft. He comes with oodles of experience, plenty of success with Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, a previous stint in the Big Bash behind him with Melbourne Renegades and, interestingly, a recent autobiography that might just make him a pantomime villain among Australian fans.
Scorchers hope to have Jhye Richardson available for the whole competition (Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Changes from 2021/22?
For the most part, the team stays the same after a title-winning campaign last year. But they are without their two top run-scorers from last season as Kurtis Patterson moves to Sydney Sixers and Colin Munro leaves for Brisbane Heat, who picked him up in the draft in the draft.
The late withdrawal of Salt – and Mitch Marsh's absence due to ankle surgery – is a significant blow in the context of those two major departures. Evans' unavailability, given how he fared last year, is another blow.
With the ball, they will hope to have their best line-up consistently available, having lost Jhye Richardson at regular intervals to Australian squads in recent seasons.
How did they do in 2021/22?
They topped the group with 11 wins from 14 games before carrying that momentum into the play-offs to defeat Sydney Sixers twice – first in the Qualifier by 48 runs and then again in the final by 79 runs.
Best finish: Champions (BBL03, BBL04, BBL06, BBL11)
BATTING
Power hitters
They have an abundance of power hitters, when international availability allows. Even without Marsh, who is more than capable of clearing any boundary, Cameron Green has impressed at the top of the order for the Australian team in India and has a big tournament coming up as he eyes the IPL.
Allrounder Aaron Hardie will see Marsh's absence as an opportunity to break through, having already excited onlookers in the Sheffield Shield. His T20 record is underwhelming at present, but he is a broad-shouldered 23-year-old – born in Bournemouth – and he figured briefly in last season's T20 Blast for Surrey. Josh Inglis is part of Australia's plans and is one of the better batters on the domestic circuit.
Anchor
Du Plessis' arrival – he will be available for the first half of the campaign – might be a happy accident in that sense. The veteran South African will provide someone to bat around, with more than 8,000 T20 runs to his name. Cameron Bancroft is another with the game to anchor an innings for the bigger hitters.
Finisher
That role will most likely fall to captain Turner, who has 74 Big Bash sixes and a strike rate of 142.47 in 87 innings. His role in the middle to lower order looks to be very important for Scorchers and how they finish the innings. It is a role he is experienced in and has consistently led his team to victory with successful heists from uncomfortable situations.
Problem areas
Their heavy run-scorers from last year have all departed, while there is uncertainty over how much they will see of Green. Marsh's injury – there are few better in the world at what he does – is a major shame. The late exits of two overseas players is another issue, while even du Plessis' signing only covers half a season.
Finding a quality alternative during the second half of the campaign, when the ILT20 and SA20 are getting underway, might be a significant challenge, though Eskinazi's availability through the whole competition is a bonus. He has an exceptional record in English white-ball cricket.
Stephen Eskinazi has a fine T20 record (Alex Davidson/Getty Images)
BOWLING
Speed merchants
This is a seam attack that has been there and done it in the Big Bash. A model that won them their first three titles was a bowling attack that could defend almost any total. With the loss of some key batters, this might be their role again.
Jason Behrendorff and Andrew Tye are full of experience and have 204 Big Bash wickets between them. Behrendorff is potent with the swinging new ball and has the advantage of a left-arm angle, and Tye has an abundance of variations which means they complement each other well.
Mix in the youth and pace of Richardson, who has been tipped for a great international career for years, and Lance Morris, nicknamed the "wild thing" for his ability to bowl very quickly and they have the best seam attack in the competition. Morris was called up to Australia's Test squad recently and is believed to be the sharpest fast bowler in the country. Few will fancy facing him at Optus.
Matthew Kelly is yet another seam option who enjoyed his best wicket-taking season last year with 14 wickets in just six matches, while Hardie is a handy option.
Variation
Peter Hatzoglou has earnt cult-hero status for his unique action and style but is quietly very effective. His meteoric rise from club cricket to the Big Bash means he now has experience all around the world. He represented Oval Invincibles in The Hundred and recently competed in the Abu Dhabi T10 tournament.
Ashton Agar is another important spin option for Perth; he has been around the white-ball squads for Australia for a while and when he gets his chance rather than playing second fiddle to Adam Zampa, he always does a solid job. The allrounder has 51 Big Bash wickets.
Problem areas
The problem will be keeping the bowlers on the field. Their depth allows them to rotate and rest when required but all the bowling options have had injury clouds at some point in their careers. When they are all fit and firing, you would struggle to find more balance, experience or depth in any other Big Bash squad.
Andrew Tye is a Big Bash veteran (Kelly Defina/Getty Images)
Who takes the gloves?
Inglis is a solid gloveman who has competed with Alex Carey for the Test wicketkeeper role. When he was not available at points last year, Evans took the gloves. Salt would have been another alternative to inglis.
Squad: Ashton Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Jason Behrendorff, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green, Laurie Evans (contract terminated), Aaron Hardie, Peter Hatzoglou, Nick Hobson, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kelly, Mitch Marsh (injured), Tymal Mills, Lance Morris, Jhye Richardson, Phil Salt (injured), Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, Faf du Plessis (replacing Laurie Evans, first seven matches only), Adam Lyth (replacing Phil Salt, first half only), Stephen Eskinazi, Hamish McKenzie
Fixtures: December 17 - Sydney Sixers (Optus Stadium, 8.05am GMT), December 19 - Hobart Hurricanes (UTAS, 8.15am), December 23 - Melbourne Stars (CitiPower Centre, 4.30am), December 26 - Adelaide Strikers (Optus Stadium, 10.15am), December 29 - Melbourne Stars (Optus Stadium, 10.15am), January 1 - Melbourne Renegades (Marvel Stadium, 2.40am), January 4 - Sydney Thunder (Optus Stadium, 10.15am), January 7 - Brisbane Heat (Optus Stadium, 10.15am), January 11 - Brisbane Heat (The Gabba, 8.40am), January 13 - Sydney Thunder (Sydney Showground, 7.30am), January 15 - Sydney Sixers (SCG, 8.15am), January 18 - Hobart Hurricanes (Optus Stadium, 8.40am), January 20 - Adelaide Strikers (Adelaide Oval, 5.30am), January 22 - Melbourne Renegades (Optus Stadium, 8.15am)
Possible starting XI: Faf du Plessis, Adam Lyth, Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Ashton Turner, Ashton Agar, Andrew Tye, Lance Morris, Jason Behrendorff, Peter Hatzoglou
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