How do you solve a problem like Rashid Khan? Jason Gillespie's biggest task during 2023-24 is finding a way to cover for the absence of the Afghanistan leg-spinner. Without one it could be a long season
New looks are so often are accompanied by fresh enthusiasm - but Adelaide Strikers followers may wait before toasting their remodelled group.
Five successive defeats in January asked for changes but losing Peter Siddle to Melbourne Renegades and Rashid Khan's back injury would not have been top of the list of requests.
Consequently, Strikers look short at the start of the campaign. They come no more assured and measured than Jason Gillespie and it will take all his skills to ensure this term doesn't start like the last ended.
Coach: Jason Gillespie
The former Australia seamer is carving out a fine reputation as a coach and a considered voice on the global game. Has led the Strikers since 2015, and three years ago he returned to South Australia permanently after stints in England. Guided the team to their only title in 2017-18 but tilts at glory have been rare since.
His right-hand man will be former Test captain Tim Paine, who having retired from first-class cricket has joined as assistant coach. "The experience he will bring is sure to help our players in all facets of the game and bring more positive elements to the way we play," said Gillespie.
Captain: Travis Head
Led the Strikers to their single title but five seasons have passed without much joy. Appearances have been sporadic in recent years and that is set to continue in 2023/24 with Pakistan and West Indies in town for back-to-back Test tours. Nevertheless, the left-hander is in spectacular form having recently led Australia to ODI World Cup glory just last month and is a heavy-handed opener.
How strong is the batting?
Matthew Short and Chris Lynn put on four second-wicket partnerships worth 72 or more, each passing 400 runs and striking in the 140s. Only Brisbane Heat returned a better powerplay run rate of 8.35, underpinned by 105 singles and 28 twos during the fielding restrictions.
Short was spectacular during the first two-thirds of the competition, becoming the first Strikers player to win the player of the tournament prize, but went cold with the bat during the last four games, failing to pass 40, and his teammates couldn't take up the slack.
Adam Hose was among the top 40 men's T20 run-scorers in 2022 and can certainly feel like he did himself justice on his BBL debut. But the reality is the trio lacked support, only one other (Colin de Grandhomme) passing 200 runs and none at a particularly effective strike rate.
Ultimately, there will be plenty of pressure on new arrival D'Arcy Short, the BBL's fourth-highest run-scorer, to recapture the form which saw him break 1,100 runs across two seasons in 2017/18 and 2018/19, winning back-to-back player of the tournament prizes.
He added just 153 at 17 in his final campaign at Hobart Hurricanes but can new surroundings spark a change in fortunes? You worry for the Strikers if it doesn't.
Picking up the pieces from the end of last season is Gillespie's biggest challenge (Steve Bell/Getty Images)
How strong is the bowling?
The elephant in the room for the Strikers is the absence of Rashid Khan, retained by the Strikers during the first round of the draft, who has withdrawn from the competition to have back surgery. No overseas player has more wickets than the 98 he has accrued since 2017 and he leaves a gaping chasm in the attack.
Ben Manenti and Cameron Boyce are the senior spinners so attention will be on the pace attack. Jamie Overton's game is ideally built for Australian conditions, assuming his body holds up, and the manner Henry Thornton and Wes Agar tore Sydney Thunder apart is a reminder of what this attack is capable of on song.
Losing Peter Siddle is a blow but they have a new-ball option in David Payne who will take advantage of any movement on offer while Brendon Doggett combines pace and sharp bounce.
Perhaps the biggest area of improvement could come at the death where they conceded runs at nearly 11 an over, a tournament worst, and claimed the fewest wickets (21).
Why should the fans be excited?
Though the India series could have worked out better, the start Short has made to the Australian domestic season has laid the platform for another exciting BBL campaign. Centuries in the Shield and The Marsh Cup against Queensland, coupled with a match-winning 81 against Tasmania means he couldn't arrive in better touch. A three-dimensional cricketer, his off-spin and prowess in the field makes him one of the players to watch.
Unlike many of their rivals, the Strikers' overseas roster shouldn't be a constantly rolling carousel. English trio Hose, Payne and Overton will be available for the duration of the competition, which makes Gillespie's task of managing the whole campaign much easier.
Can D'Arcy Short roll back the years? (Steve Bell/Getty Images)
Why fans should be worried?
Head and Alex Carey only contributed in fits and starts last season and they'll have a limited impact due to Australia's Test schedule.
The uncomfortable truth for Strikers is a squad which lost their last five games of last term and made poor runs of results a habit, looks decidedly weaker than 11 months ago. The greatest challenge will be finding a way to replace the gravitas and success of Rashid and Siddle, who between them have taken 57 per cent of the Strikers' entire BBL wicket haul.
Squad: Wes Agar, James Bazley, Cameron Boyce, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Travis Head, Henry Hunt, Thomas Kelly, Chris Lynn, Ben Manenti, D'Arcy Short, Matt Short, Henry Thornton, Rashid Khan (withdrawn), Jamie Overton, Adam Hose, Jake Weatherald, Harry Nielsen, David Payne (overseas replacement for Rashid Khan)
Fixtures: December 9 – Brisbane Heat (h, 8.15am), December 19 – Sydney Thunder (h, 8.15am), December 22 – Sydney Sixers (a, 8.15am), December 29 - Melbourne Renegades (a, 8.15am), December 31 - Melbourne Stars (h, 8.15am), January 3 - Perth Scorchers (a, 10.15am), January 5 - Perth Scorchers (h, 8.15am), January 9 - Hobart Hurricanes (h, 8.40am), January 11 - Hobart Hurricanes (a, 8.15am), January 14 - Sydney Thunder (a, 8.15am)
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