Top moments: England's players in the Big Bash League

As England prepare for the opening match of their ODI and IT20 India tour, captain Eoin Morgan and team-mates Sam Billings, Chris Jordan, Jason Roy and David Willey are ready to hit the ground running following their recent Big Bash League (BBL06) appearances. 

Morgan and company all chalked up five matches in the first half of BBL06 – here are a few of their top moments Down Under.

Morgan on song in final outing

England’s ODI and IT20 captain provided one of the standout moments of the 2016-17 competition so far when he smashed a straight six off the final delivery to hand defending champions Sydney Thunder their first win of the campaign – over Melbourne Stars – and end a four-game losing streak. Morgan’s unbeaten 71 off 50 balls resulted in him signing off his five-match stint, and third term with the team, as Thunder’s top scorer to date with 159 runs at 39.75.

Big Bash bow for Billings

Billings’ Sydney Sixers opened their BBL06 account with a nine-wicket derby win over his skipper Morgan’s Thunder. This was a maiden competition run for the Kent Spitfires wicketkeeper-batsman, who impressed with consistent scores in the 40s – averaging 31.25 across four innings to help the Sixers to third place overall at the mid-season point.

Roy wows in tournament opener

Billings had at least one familiar face in the Sixers changing room in the shape of England team-mate Jason Roy, whose spectacular diving catch at backward point in the Sixers’ derby victory announced his arrival in the competition. Not one to rest on his laurels, Roy followed that moment of magic with another contender for highlight of the match when he swung a mammoth six over wide long-on towards the back of the stand to cap a memorable night for the player and his team.

Willey in among the wickets

With seven to his name, all-rounder David Willey currently sits joint third for most number of wickets taken after setting up temporary home at Perth Scorchers for his five games. The opening bowler delivered early breakthroughs for the Scorchers throughout his appearances, twice taking a brace in the bowling power play to set up a 48-run win over Adelaide Strikers and the 50-run defeat of Sydney Thunder.

Supreme fielding from Jordan

Willey is marginally bested in the stats by England colleague Chris Jordan – the right-arm quick bowler occupies second slot for highest number of wickets taken five matches into the competition. Jordan brought some early New Year’s Eve fireworks with a supreme caught and bowled to see off Sam Billings as Adelaide Strikers defeated the Sixers by 48 runs. Showing impressive reflexes, he added to his growing list of classic catches by clinging on to the ball as Billings attempted to smash the full delivery past him. Instant reaction and a top catch.

Billings, Jordan, Morgan, Roy and Willey aren’t the only English imports in this edition of the BBL. Among others, Stuart Broad is enjoying his first taste of the competition with Hobart Hurricanes while IT20 squad member Tymal Mills will join up with Brisbane Heat ahead of England's three-match Twenty20 series against India, which starts later this month. 

England Down Under

Sam Billings, Jason Roy and Michael Lumb – Sydney Sixers

Eoin Morgan and James Vince – Sydney Thunder

Chris Jordan – Adelaide Strikers

Stuart Broad – Hobart Hurricanes

David Willey, Ian Bell and Tim Bresnan – Perth Scorchers

Tymal Mills – Brisbane Heat

Kevin Pietersen and Luke Wright – Melbourne Stars