Bash Boost Point, Power Surge, X-Factor, and COVID Bubble – Australia’s T20 summer was different when Australia T20 League become 10 years strong. Few international starts missed out due to bubble, and few were busy in national duty. During this classic T20 drama in Australia, fans witness some outstanding performances. Sydney-S defeated Perth to defend its title in 2020-21. This season has impactful moments, from Daniel Sams’ carnage against Brisbane to James Vince-Tye's drama in the qualifier game. Few players can catch the attention of national selectors for the upcoming T20 WC, and few can find the buyers in Indian T20 League 2021.
In this special segment, we pick five standout players of season 2020-21:
Alex Hales (Sydney-T)
Alex Hales shut all the trolls from England to deliver his best performance in the Australia T20 League 2020-21. After losing the spot from the white-ball squad, Hales finally had a season that can help him to earn the national call-up. Hales finished the season as the top-scorer with 543 runs at an average of 38.78 and a strike rate of 161.60. Alex Hales set an aggressive attitude for the Sydney-T in the opening slot. He entered into the elite club of scoring two centuries in the Australia T20 League. Alex Hales scored one hundred and three half-centuries. He smashed 54 sixes in the edition, the second-highest in the tournament. He scored 110 off 56 balls against the defending champions to post 232 on board, the highest score in the tournament's history.
Top performance: 110 (56) vs. Sydney-S
Josh Philippe (Sydney-S)
Josh Philippe was the second player who scored more than 500 runs in season 2020-21. He was also announced as the player of the tournament. He beat all the hard-hitters to smash most sixes (55) in this edition. The wicket-keeper batsman scored 508 runs at an average of 31.75 and a strike rate of 149.41. He scored three half-centuries this edition, and the most vital knock came in the reverse derby clash against the Sydney-T. Philippe scored 64 off just 36 balls to help his side chase down the revised target of 129 in 12.4 overs. He also scored crucial 45 runs in the qualifier game against Perth to ensure successive titles.
Top performance: 84 (52) against Perth
Jhye Richardson (Perth)
Jhye Richardson was the best bowler of the Australia T20 League 2020-21, and he can get the chance in an upcoming edition of the Indian T20 League 2021. Richardson was the shining star for Perth throughout the season. The 24-years old pacer bagged 29 wickets at an average of 16.31. His best spell was recorded against Sydney-T. After putting 185 on board, Richardson picked Usman Khawaja to draw first blood. Sam Billings stood high in the chase, and Richardson scalped two wickets in his final spell to script a hard-fought 17 runs victory.
Top performance: 4-0-24-4 vs. Sydney-T
Mark Steketee (Brisbane)
Mark Steketee has been the finest pacer of the season, and his best performance rewarded him the national call-up. In the second half of the tournament, Steketee revived Brisbane, where Chris Lynn’s troops outplayed all the oppositions to get the place in the finals. Steketee bagged 24 wickets at an average of 21.75. The right-armer was pretty useful in both spells, with the new ball, and in death-overs. His best spell came against the defending champions when he picked a 4-wicket haul to restrict them to 168. Brisbane won this match by 6 wickets to continue the winning streak.
Top performance: 4-0-33-4 vs. Sydney-S
Daniel Christian (Sydney-S)
Daniel Christian defeated all the odds to deliver the finest performances this season and helped his side to defend its title. He was the best all-rounder of the Australia T20 League 2020-21. The 37-years old player aggregated 252 runs at an average of 36 and a strike rate of 186.66. He also picked up 13 wickets at an average of 28.69. He played two match-winning knocks for his side. The best knock came against Brisbane when he smashed unbeaten 61 off just 38 balls to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. He scored 23-balls 49 to script another fine chase in the Sydney derby.
Top performance: 61 (38) vs. Brisbane
