The top 5 wicket-takers in Big Bash League history

The 10th edition of the BBL began on Thursday at the Bellerive Oval when defending champions, the Sydney Sixers, took on the Hobart Hurricanes.

Over the years, fans have witnessed splendid bowling performances in BBL. Bowling is a physically and mentally more taxing as compared to batting, especially in white-ball cricket. The rules and playing conditions have tilted the balance in favor of the batsmen today. Bowlers have adapted to these situations and evolved accordingly and leveled the playing field.

2020 means this season will look a little different. Whether you're on the couch, or in stadium... we can't wait to share another EPIC summer of Big Bash with you. Bring it on! @BupaAustralia #BBL10 pic.twitter.com/uCJhVIcuwj

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) December 9, 2020

Bowlers in BBL have also embraced many new-age crafts to control the free-flowing runs of batsmen in the powerplay and the death overs. Through their inspired performances, bowlers demonstrated that they are not inferior to their counterparts.

In this article, we will look at five bowlers who displayed brilliant consistency levels and performed well for their franchises till now. The top 5 leading wicket-takers in Big Bash League history are -

---

#5 Andrew Tye - 72 wickets

Andrew Tye

Andrew Tye has been a star T20 bowler across the globe. He made his BBL debut in 2013-14 and played for Sydney Thunders. After a decent run, he signed up with the Perth Scorchers in the next season and has stayed with them till date.

Andrew Tye has been an asset to the Perth Scorchers and has played a crucial role in the team's trophy-winning campaigns in 2014-15 and 2016-17. He picked up 14 and 10 wickets respectively during those seasons.

Tye formed a lethal partnership with Coulter-Nile and Behrendorff to make the Scorchers one of the most consistent performers in the league. Over the years, he has mastered the art of bowling deceptive slower balls, knuckleball, and wide yorkers in the death overs. These deliveries have been his best wicket-taking weapons in BBL.

In his BBL career, he picked up 72 wickets from 52 matches until now with best bowling figures of 5-23 in 2017-18. He also has four 4-wicket hauls to his name. Also, Andrew Tye is the only bowler to have two hat-tricks in BBL's history.

Click here to see who scored the most runs in BBL 2020-21.

the first and only Australian to win the purple cap (24 wickets) in the IPL. He achieved that feat in 2018 while playing for the Kings XI Punjab. Over the years, Tye has been a part of various teams in IPL like Chennai Super Kings, Gujarat Lions, and Rajasthan Royals.

#4 Cameron Boyce - 79 wickets

Cameron Boyce

Cameron Boyce is the lone spinner on this list. He made his BBL debut in 2012 for the Adelaide Strikers. The leggie remained with them for two seasons and performed decently.

Boyce's performances impressed the Hobart Hurricanes, who subsequently signed him for the 2014-15 BBL season. He did not disappoint as he became the leading wicket-taker for Hobart Hurricanes in BBL's history. He picked up 43 wickets for Hurricanes across 41 matches. After a 4-year stint with Hobart Hurricanes, Boyce moved to Melbourne Renegades in 2018 and has remained with them since.

Cameron Boyce is the fourth-highest wicket-taker in the BBL with 79 scalps across 76 matches. His best figures 4-15 came against Brisbane Heat earlier this year in January.

Over the years, his decent performances in BBL have sporadically fetched him a spot in Australia's T20I line-up. But luck has not been on his side as he didn't get a longer rope despite being economical (6.60) in the 7 T20I's he played. Adam Zampa has established himself as Australia's lead spinner in white-ball cricket, so a return for Boyce looks improbable.

#3 Kane Richardson - 83 wickets

Kane Richardson

Kane Richardson has been one of the mainstays and a regular fixture in BBL. He joined the Adelaide Strikers team in the inaugural season and served as one of their leading pacers for several years. He went on to pick 36 wickets for Strikers in BBL. Richardson then ended his 6-year stint with Strikers in 2017 and moved to Melbourne Renegades for the 2017-18 season and remained with them to date. Richardson is the highest wicket-taker for the Melbourne Renegades team in BBL. In 32 matches, he picked up 46 wickets while representing Renegades.

Overall, Kane Richardson has picked up 83 wickets from 68 matches while representing Adelaide Strikers and Melbourne Renegades in BBL. 4/22, which came against Perth Scorchers last season, are his bowling figures in BBL.

He has been a successful wicket-taking bowler in the Australian T20 league but has failed to replicate the same kind of form while playing for Australia. He has been in and out of the Australian ODI and T20I sides on numerous occasions until now. He will be hoping to have a great season with Melbourne Renegades this year, which will help him to get in contention for a spot in Australia's T20I squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup next year. In IPL, he has represented Pune Warriors, Rajasthan Royals, and RCB sides over the years.

#2 Sean Abbott - 99 wickets

Sean Abbott

Sean Abbott is among the select current players to play in all the BBL seasons. He was a part of Sydney Thunders during the first two seasons. He didn't have a great time at this franchise as he picked only ten wickets in 14 matches.

Before the 2013-14 season began, Abbott signed with the Sydney Sixers. That decision turned out great for both parties as Abbott performed magnificently and became the Sixers' leading wicket-taker. He scalped 89 wickets for Sydney Sixers in just 62 matches, which include two 4-wicket hauls and one 5-wicket haul.

Sean Abbott was part of the Sydney Sixers when they won the BBL trophy last season . He will lead their bowling attack this season as his team will look to defend their crown.

Sean Abbott is the second-highest wicket-taker in the BBL with 99 scalps across 76 matches. His best figures 5-16 came against Adelaide Strikers in 2016. He has two four-wicket hauls to his name in BBL. His domestic exploits, coupled with good BBL seasons, have earned him a national call-up in ODI and T20I series against India.

#1 Ben Laughlin - 110 wickets

Ben Laughlin

Laughlin has been a regular fixture in BBL since it began in 2011. He was a part of Hobart Hurricanes from 2011 to 2014 and is their second-highest wicket-taker as he picked 39 wickets in 30 matches for them. His consistent run with the Hurricanes helped him sign a better deal with the Adelaide Strikers in 2014.

Laughlin enjoyed a prosperous stay at Adelaide Strikers and became their spearhead fast bowler. He picked up 16 wickets in Adelaide Strikers' trophy-winning campaign in 2017-18. Also, Laughlin is the highest wicket-taker for Adelaide Strikers in BBL. He picked 60 wickets in 50 matches he played for the side. In the previous season, he signed a two-year deal with Brisbane Heat and ended his five-year association with Strikers.

The fast bowler hailing from Victoria has been the most prolific wicket-taker BBL as he picked up 110 wickets from 88 matches. 4-26 are his best bowling figures, which came against the Sydney Sixers in 2017-18. The wily veteran bowler's arsenal is replete with slow deliveries and he has many star batsmen's defenses in BBL until now.

Laughlin has been a T20 specialist who has participated in various leagues across the world. He was even part of Rajasthan Royals and Sun Risers Hyderabad franchises in IPL during the past. Despite his success in BBL and other leagues, Laughlin failed to nail down a spot in the Australian T20I side due to a lack of consistency. 38-year old pacer will play for Brisbane Heat in this year's BBL and will spearhead his side's bowling attack.