With that third spot finish, the Adelaide Strikers made the knockouts for only the 4th time in their storied history, and the Travis Head-led side had a clear path ahead - three more wins and they could lay their hands on the silverware.

However, all their harbored hopes were squashed by the Sydney Thunder, who restricted the Adelaide Strikers to within eight runs of their 152-run target, despite the latter needing just 37 in their last five overs with six wickets in hand.

A little over 10 months since that gut-wrenching loss, the Adelaide Strikers gear up for another challenge, with BBL 10 beginning on December 10.

And despite that loss back in February still a painful memory for Adelaide Strikers head coach Jason Gillespie, the former Australian pacer is optimistic of what is to come this season.

The ’learnings’ that Gillespie refers to divided social media recently, with plenty of big names such as Shane Watson, Usman Khawaja among others handing out their two cents on the three new rules that will be implemented in Big Bash League 2020-21.

The three new introductions, namely the X-factor, Power Surge and Bash Boost have brought with them a whole lot of confusion, and might prove to produce a couple of sleepless nights for the coaches and players.

Also read - BBL 2020-21: 3 rule changes that we will see this season

But for Gillespie, it’s an opportunity to explore new avenues, and he believes that this will open up opportunities for his players and the Adelaide Strikers management to tackle new challenges.

While Gillespie seemed open to the idea of these three rules having a significant say in the outcome of a game, the Adelaide Strikers head coach did voice out his concerns as well.

Adelaide Strikers have re-signed Rashid Khan, Philip Salt for Big Bash League 2020-21

Ahead of the commencement of Big Bash League 2020-21, the Adelaide Strikers have managed to retain a massive chunk of their squad from last season, while making a few new signings.

The Adelaide Strikers have traded in Daniel Worrall for Billy Stanlake with the Melbourne Stars, while they’ve also lured in the services of Matt Renshaw from the Brisbane Heat on a three-year deal.

Apart from ace spinner Rashid Khan and opening batsman Philip Salt penning new contracts, the Adelaide Strikers have beefed up their spin contingent with the addition of the Natwest T20 Blast’s highest wicket-taker, off-spinner Danny Briggs to their roster.

Click here to see Big bash fixtures for 2020-21.

Gillespie shed light on the composition of the Adelaide Strikers’ squad for Big Bash League 2020-21 and also heaped some extra praise on Rashid, who he feels is the ‘best spinner on the planet in T20 cricket’.

Yet, despite the star presence among the Adelaide Strikers’ ranks, they will miss the services of Alex Carey and skipper Travis Head, the latter for a major chunk of the season.

Also read - BBL 2020-21: Alex Carey locks in new deal to stay with Adelaide Strikers

While Carey might join the Adelaide Strikers for their second match against the Hobart Hurricanes on December 15, Head will only link up with the Adelaide Strikers post Australia’s four-match Test series against India, which culminates on January 19.

And while Gillespie acknowledges Adelaide Strikers’ captain Head’s absence during the league stages, he reckons that the squad depth will make up for his unavailability.

Jason Gillespie backs David Warner’s decision to opt out of BBL for the foreseeable future

Towards the last week of November, David Warner made his intentions about wanting to spend more time with his family clear - even if it came at the cost of needing to relinquish a fat contract with a BBL team.

Highlighting the need to make time for family within the off-time him or his teammates get amidst the taxing international schedule, Warner made it clear that he doesn’t intend to take part in the BBL, at least until he hangs up his boots at the national level.

Gillespie backed Warner’s decision to opt out of participating in the BBL, and added that the Australian players can decide to skip taking part in the T20 League if they choose to do so in order to remain fresh for national duty.

Warner last turned out for the Sydney Sixers in the 2013-14 edition of the Big Bash League, a match in which he scored a 31-ball 50 against the Sydney Thunder.

And while Warner’s absence in Big Bash League 2020-21 will be felt, this season promises to produce fireworks, with the new rule changes set to bring in myriad strategies and freshness into the league.

And with Adelaide Strikers’ head coach Gillespie welcoming the developments with open arms and formulating his plans with every passing day, we might just see the BBL 07 champions put up quite a show this season.

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