BBL: Matt Short Leading Runs Scorer in BBL|12 with 418 Runs 

Adelaide Strikers player Matt Short has been chosen to open the batting for the league’s team of the tournament, just days after winning the BBL’s highest honour.

Short and Sydney Sixers star Steve Smith are both on the team, which was announced on Wednesday and chosen by the eight BBL club coaches

Smith only played four games during the voting period but still managed to score 328 runs and register two centuries, which serves as another evidence of how devastating he was with the bat for the Sixers.

The 33-year-old, who was not chosen for Australia’s starting XI for the T20 World Cup last year, has made quite a statement.

Aaron Hardie, meanwhile, has made his first appearance in the tournament team after a good season with the Perth Scorchers.

The Test hopeful scored 434 runs in a breakout season that also featured four half-centuries and who Kerry O’Keeffe floated as a left-field option for the most recent series at the SCG.

The roster also includes Aaron Finch, who has been elected captain following a string of outstanding at-bats with the Renegades during which he scored 418 runs.

Josh Inglis, the competition’s leading wickettaker with 16 dismissals, is the wicketkeeper. Michael Neser (22 wickets) and Sean Abbott (24) have also been chosen for the team.

The team also includes the all-time leading wicket-taker for the Perth Scorchers, Andrew Tye, who this season played in his 100th BBL game, as well as Tom Rogers and Paddy Dooley, two players who are rapidly developing.

Chris Lynn, the league’s all-time leading run scorer who added 416 runs this season for the Adelaide Strikers, completes the lineup.

According to Alistair Dobson, general manager of Cricket Australia’s Big Bash Leagues, “With more than 2600 runs and 120 wickets between them this season, it is a powerful team that would be competitive against any side in the globe.”

It is definitely a joy to see the excitement and delight of the audience seeing these guys give amazing moments. We have seen some world-class cricket.

Team of the Year for the 2012 BBL

Matt Short of the Adelaide Strikers (eight votes)

Steve Smith of the Sydney Sixers (eight)

3. Perth Scorchers’ Aaron Hardie (eight)

4. Melbourne Renegades’ Aaron Finch (c) (six)

5. Perth Scorchers pitcher Josh Inglis (seven)

Tim David of the Hobart Hurricanes (five)

Michael Neser of the Brisbane Heat 7. (five)

Sean Abbott of the Sydney Sixers (eight)

9. Perth Scorchers’ Andrew Tye

Tom Rogers of the Melbourne Renegades 10. (six)

Hobart Hurricanes’ Paddy Dooley, number eleven (five)

Adelaide Strikers’ Chris Lynn, number 12 (three)