The inaugural Big Bash League draft took place at the end of August and all eight teams now have their three overseas recruits locked in for the BBL 12 campaign.
The new Big Bash season will get underway on 13th December when the Sydney Thunder take on the Melbourne Stars and excitement is starting to build now that the first ever BBL draft has been concluded.
Almost $6million was spent on players, who were split into four different salary bands ahead of selection.
12 platinum ($340,000) players were available for selection in round one, then the platinum and gold ($260,000) in round two, gold and silver ($175,000) in round three and silver and bronze ($100,000) in round four.
Surprisingly the Perth Scorchers who are the current BBL champions, opted to skip the first round and they spent the least out of all eight teams.
The Melbourne Stars, Adelaide Strikers, Sydney Thunder and Hobart Hurricanes splashed out the most cash when spending $775,000.
So let’s take a closer look at each franchise, who they got on board and how much they shelled out.
Perth Scorchers
Starting with the reigning champions who spent just $535,000 on draft night and opted to skip taking a platinum player in round one.
That may have something to do with the fact they snared Aussie international all-rounder Cameron Green before the draft.
The Scorchers used their retention pick to keep hold of Laurie Evans (gold) and also landed Phil Salt (silver) and Tymal Mills (bronze).
Melbourne Renegades
The Renegades spalshed out $700,000 to bring in three top recruits with Liam Livingstone (platinum) being the big one.
Livingstone is a one of the biggest hitters in the game, but can also bowl spin, something the Renegades were keen to strengthen.
Their other two picks Mujeeb ur Rahman (Gold) and Akeal Hosein (Bronze) also bowl spin.
Melbourne Stars
The Stars were one of the top spenders in the draft when splashing out $775,000 to get their three picks on board.
They will be delighted with their business after landing New Zealand left-arm fast bowler Trent Boult (Platinum).
Wicketkeeper-batsman Joe Clarke (Gold) impressed in BBL 11 and the stars were keen to get him back. He will be joined by fellow Englishman Luke Wood (Silver).
Brisbane Heat
The Heat spent $700,000 during the draft and surprised many when splashing out to land English wicketkeeper-batsman Sam Billings as their platinum pick.
Brisbane will now be hoping that Billings does not get a call to the England Test squad.
They already have Jimmy Peirson on their books but must feel they can make it work. Kiwi big hitter Colin Munro (Gold) also arrives along with Ross Whiteley (Bronze).
Sydney Sixers
The Sixers were beaten in last year’s final and will be hoping their $700,000 outlay will take them one step further in BBL 12.
Afghanistan teenage leg-spin sensation Izharulhaq Naveed (Bronze) could be seen as something of a gamble but the Sixers are confident the 18-year-old can shine in the season ahead.
James Vince (Gold) has won two BBL titles and will bring plenty of experience, along with Chris Jordan (Platinum) who returns for another spell.
Adelaide Strikers
The Strikers moved very quickly to use their retention pick to keep hold of Rashid Khan (Platinum) for another season. He has been a revelation in the BBL and should terrorise the opposition once again in BBL 12.
New Zealand ace Colin de Grandhomme (Gold) has also been snapped up along with English middle-order batsman Adam Hose (Silver). The Strikers have spent $775,000.
Sydney Thunder
The Thunder look to have completed some very shrewd business as part of their $775,000 spend on draft night.
Fast bowler David Willey (Platinum) looks set to be available for the whole campaign and he is joined by fellow Englishman Alex Hales (Gold) who has proven his quality with the bat on more than one occasion in the BBL.
They are joined by South African power hitter Rilee Rossouw (Silver).
Hobart Hurricanes
Last but not least, the Hurricanes now have Aussie legend Rickie Ponting on board and he was more than happy to splash out $775,000 in the draft.
Ponting, who is head of strategy, was keen to land three players who would be available for the entire campaign. He has got them in the form of Pakistan trio Shadab Khan (Platinum), Asif Ali (Gold) and Faheem Ashraf (Silver).
