Paul Walter could make Aus T20 League return to Brisbane

Lanky all-rounder Paul Walter, who was a significant figure in Brisbane’s title-winning campaign last year, could be in line for a return to the franchise after he was confirmed among the new batch of nominations for the upcoming draft. 

The English became a fan favourite as he impressed all with his all-round prowess. With 17 wickets under his belt, he was amongst the leading wicket-takers last season.  Heat holds retention rights for Walter should they want to bring him back to the squad and another team try to sign him. A crucial factor is he has complete availability including the finals and he would again seem a good fit for the reigning champions after supplementing their diverse attack which includes  Micheal Neser, Xavier Bartlett, and Spencer Johnson besides the spin pair of Matt Kuhnemann and Mitchell Swepson. 

"I think we've got the best bowling unit in the competition," he said during last season's campaign. "I feel like I complement the rest of the attack quite well and we've been good at managing games. Kuhny and Sweppo have bowled so well through the middle that teams have come hard at me, which is probably what you want with my style of bowling.

“I've worked a lot on my defensive bowling, trying to figure out how to get batters off strike and trying to keep the ball away from the shorter pockets. I normally bowl the overs where the right-handers are hitting to the short leg side, so I've had to get quite clever with getting them to hit to the other side of the ground. I do a lot of work off the field figuring out what I'm going to do in different situations."

The nomination list released on Friday by clubs featured a lot of English players despite most of them only being available for between six and nine games. England tours New Zealand for a test series that finishes three days after the start of the latest edition of Aus-T20 League and then play India for a limited-overs leg beginning on January 22, 2025.  

However, a few will likely attract interest including Dan Lawrance, Jordan Cox and Joe Clarke. Leg spinner Rehan Ahmed, who initially was drafted by Sydney Sixers (SIX) last year before pulling out when he was named for the WI tour, has again been nominated. 

Pakistan all-rounder Imad Wasim has full availability and Melbourne Stars (STA) have retention rights for the 35-year-old.  Fast bowler Zaman Khan is also available for the entire season. 

English cricketers also dominated the latest Women’s Aus T20 League nomination list. Dani Gibson, who played a key role in the Hundred final last week and earned heaps of praise from skipper Heather Knight, made an impact for champions Adelaide Strikers (STR) last season striking at 147.43 in the middle order and picking up ten wickets. 

"We saw the game she played at Lord's, a reverse sweep to go and win the game against Australia last year, and that's the sort of mindset that we want in that England side: the willingness to take risks, take the game on and express what your talent and Dani epitomises that," Knight said.

South Africa skipper Laura Wolvaardt, who was named in the initial batch of nominations and has been a regular for Strikers, now has availability of six nine games rather than the complete tournament. 

Strikers are the only club in the Women’s Aus T20 League yet to name a pre-draft signing however they are expected to announce by next week. Each franchise across the Aus T20 League and Women’s-Aus T20 League can sign a player ahead of the draft. A club can use the retention option once and only if they have not already chosen the player in the relevant round.   

Current Aus-T20 League nominations by retention clubs

Adelaide Strikers: Adam Hose, Jamie Overton, David Payne

Brisbane Heat: Paul Walter, Tom Banton

Hobart Hurricanes: Corey Anderson, Sam Hain

Melbourne Renegades: Joe Clarke, Jordan Cox, Mujeeb Ur Rahman

Melbourne Stars: Dan Lawrence, Imad Wasim, Liam Dawson, Olly Stone, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf

Perth Scorchers: Zak Crawley, Stephen Eskinazi, Laurie Evans, Tymal Mills

Sydney Sixers: Izharulhuq Naveed, Rehan Ahmed, James Vince

Sydney Thunder: Alex Hales, Zaman Khan, Tom Kohler-Cadmore

Nominations with no retention club: Jason Roy, Lockie Ferguson, Shadab Khan, Shamar Joseph

Current Women’s Aus-T20 League nominations by retention clubs

Adelaide Strikers: Dani Gibson, Georgia Adams, Laura Wolvaardt

Brisbane Heat: Bess Heath

Hobart Hurricanes: Shabnim Ismail, Bryony Smith

Melbourne Renegades: Eve Jones, Harmanpreet Kaur

Melbourne Stars: Alice Capsey, Sophia Dunkley

Perth Scorchers: Amy Jones, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Danni Wyatt

Sydney Sixers: Suzie Bates, Sophie Ecclestone, Jess Kerr, Chloe Tryon, Linsey Smith

Sydney Thunder: Heather Knight

Nominations with no retention club: Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues