Australia’s Big Bash League starts tomorrow and will provide Twenty20 thrills and spills aplenty through to its final on January 28.
Several England players past and present will play in the tournament. Here, ecb.co.uk’s Will Jackson runs the rule over them.
Andrew Flintoff– Brisbane Heat
Flintoff is perhaps one of the most surprising, yet eye-catching, English signing of the Big Bash.
The iconic England all-rounder had been out of the game since retiring in 2009, but made a shock return in this year’s NatWest T20 Blast for his sole county Lancashire.
The move almost had a fairytale ending, with some familiar fireworks from the bat of Flintoff almost taking the Lightning to a dramatic win in the final.
He is yet to feature in the Australian version, but he came close in 2010 by signing for Queensland before injury ruled him out.
Standing at well over six feet and possessing one of the great yorkers in the game, allied with an ability to clear any boundary rope in world cricket, the 37-year old could prove to be an invaluable addition to the Brisbane Heat side.
Kevin Pietersen– Melbourne Stars
Pietersen was player of the tournament when England won the 2010 World Twenty20 and is one of six members of that team set to feature in this winter’s Big Bash.
The 34-year-old has a plethora of experience in the shortest format and is surprisingly making his first appearance at the Big Bash.
Spells in the Indian Premier League with Delhi Daredevils, Deccan Chargers and Royal Challengers Bangalore mean that the veteran of 277 international appearances across all formats will be one of the eye-catching attractions in the coming weeks.
Pietersen will be hoping to return to his typical high standards after disappointing T20 campaigns for Surrey and St Lucia Zouks this year. 
Luke Wright– Melbourne Stars
Wright has become one of the most sought-after England players in the shortest version of the game, after some explosive performances on both the international and domestic scene.
Having featured throughout the 2010 World T20 triumph, Wright led the way for England two years later at the top of the order and hit a career-best 99 not out in the first game against Afghanistan.
However, it is for Sussex Sharks that the explosive opener has caught the eye most. Consistent performances have developed him a reputation as one of the most destructive batsmen on the circuit, as was seen in his remarkable innings of 153 not out against Essex Eagles in July.
Wright has also sparkled in the Big Bash. He hit a 44-ball century in the inaugural tournament, and has gone on to be a regular for perennial semi-finalists Melbourne Stars since. This year he joins them fresh from helping Auckland Aces come second in New Zealand’s T20 competition.
Eoin Morgan– Sydney Thunder
Like last winter Morgan will represent the Thunder, who have finished bottom in each of the three seasons the competition has been running.
The much-travelled middle-order batsman is an ideal player in the T20 game. His innovative and wide-ranging hitting has seen him feature regularly in the IPL, as well as making him the top-ranked international batsman in the world at one point.
A World T20-winner in 2010, Morgan is a still key member of England’s limited-overs teams, which he has led in the absence of the first-choice captains.
He is therefore unlikely to be available for the latter part of the Big Bash but will be crucial if the Thunder are to improve on past showings.
Alex Hales– Hobart Hurricanes
On his day Hales can bludgeon any attack in the world, as he proved with a blistering 116 not out from 64 balls versus Sri Lanka in this year’s World T20.
Still only 25, the tall right-hander also has two England T20 scores in the nineties and averages 37.92 for his country, whom he could be on duty for in the latter part of the Big Bash.
Hales is a major signing for Hobart Hurricanes, last winter’s runners-up, after previous spells with Melbourne Renegades.
A debut knock of 89 in the 2012-13 edition was followed by a disappointing campaign the following winter, so he has a point to prove.
Tim Bresnan– Hobart Hurricanes
The Yorkshire all-rounder has recently signed for the Hurricanes, for the latter part of the Big Bash, and will be hoping that an impressive showing can lead to an England return.
Yorkshire captain Andrew Gale revealed that county colleague Aaron Finch was interested in bringing Bresnan to Melbourne Renegades, but he will instead join England team-mate Hales.
It will be the first time in an overseas league for Bresnan, yet he has pedigree in the shortest format after playing an integral part in England’s World T20 success in 2010.
Bresnan will offer control with the ball for Hobart, and is more than capable of a few lusty blows towards the end of the innings with the bat.
Michael Carberry– Perth Scorchers
The Hampshire opening batsman has signed for the defending champions for his first taste of the Big Bash.
The 34-year-old has long been one of the most effective players on the county circuit and, after two T20 successes with Hampshire, has finally been given the chance to showcase his talents abroad in a club competition.
Carberry has played Down Under, having featured throughout England’s Ashes campaign last winter.
The explosive left-hander is well-known for getting his side off to a flying start as he demonstrated in 2013 when he hit over 500 runs for Hampshire, including a career-best 100 not out.
Michael Lumb– Sydney Sixers
Lumb is another player who has spent a lot of time featuring in domestic T20 tournaments around the globe in recent years.
A crucial member of England’s triumphant 2010 side, when he often got them off to a swift start, Lumb has played for Sydney Sixers in the previous three tournaments, including the title-winning side of 2011-12.
Although he has not backed up his talent with stats in the tournament, he sparkled briefly in 2012-13 when he averaged over 45 but remains a dangerous player at the top of the order, as highlighted by regular spells with Rajasthan Royals and Deccan Chargers in the IPL.
Riki Wessels– Sydney Sixers
Notts wicketkeeper-batsman Wessels signed on the eve of the Big Bash to be Lumb’s team-mate Down Under as well as in county cricket.
Wessels enjoyed an outstanding 2014 for the Outlaws, striking 470 runs with a best of 95 not out.
The 29-year-old has experience of overseas T20 tournaments, having represented Mid West Rhinos in Zimbabwe and Kulna Royal Bengals in Bangladesh.
