South African champion Jacques Kallis is yet to play but he has already achieved a rare feat after becoming a major signing for what looms as the biggest Big Bash League yet – he has got long-suffering Sydney Thunder fans excited.
However, new faces from England may yet turn the most heads when the six-week BBL starts in Adelaide on December 18.
It seemed only something special would spark the Thunder, who have collected the wooden spoon in all three previous BBL tournaments.
But Kallis’ signing looks set to provide it in a Thunder team who will also boast Aussie quick Pat Cummins and returning veteran captain Mike Hussey.
“It gives us a really good chance so I’m really excited, can’t wait for the start,” said Hussey of the Thunder, who won just one game last tournament.
However, big-hitting Melbourne Stars recruit Kevin Pietersen may provide a hard act to follow when he struts out against the Adelaide Strikers on Thursday night.
Pietersen has made no secret of his desire to use any platform he can to remind England selectors of what they are missing.
Critics could argue the closest the England outcast has come to creating a vacancy in his former team is calling for his national captain Alastair Cook’s sacking from the one-day team leadership ahead of the 2015 World Cup.
Especially after the batsman’s recent autobiography, which slammed England cricket’s set-up and took aim at several of his former international team-mates.
He was jettisoned by England in February, following the disastrous 5-0 Ashes whitewash in Australia.
Maybe Pietersen’s top priority should be ensuring the BBL glamour club that also boasts his compatriot Luke Wright, James Faulkner and IPL MVP Glenn Maxwell finally clears the semi-final hurdle that proved a stumbling block in the first three seasons.
One man who believed he “got off lightly” in Pietersen’s book will start a new chapter of his career when he debuts for 2012-13 champions Brisbane Heat in the tournament’s latter stages – Andrew Flintoff.
Others who may be circling a fixture against Pietersen’s Stars will be England’s Eoin Morgan (Thunder), Michael Carberry (Perth) and fellow BBL newcomer Tim Bresnan (Hobart).
But it seems rivals will still find it hard to stop last season’s champions and three-time grand finalists Perth Scorchers and the team they beat for the 2013-14 title, Hobart Hurricanes.
Perth welcome Carberry and Michael Klinger to a roster featuring the evergreen Brad Hogg.
And Hobart have new faces Darren Sammy, Bresnan and big-hitting countryman Alex Hales backed by the likes of spin twins Cameron Boyce and Xavier Doherty.
Sammy heads a healthy West Indian BBL contingent that features Kieron Pollard (Adelaide), world T20 No.1 spinner Samuel Badree (Heat), Dwayne Bravo, Andre Russell (both Renegades) and Dwayne Smith (Sixers).
Adelaide Strikers may be a surprise packet with veteran Brad Hodge, last season’s revelation Craig Simmons and Pollard.
Inaugural champions Sydney Sixers will hope to send out ex-Test quick Brett Lee a winner in his BBL swansong.
