Caribbean Premier League 2015: 5 Players to Watch at the CPL

The Caribbean Premier League is upon us, and without anyone really noticing, it has procured a rather impressive roster of players. From Chris Gayle to Kieron Pollard and even Robin Peterson and Johan Botha, this carnival of cricket is starting to look quite a lot like the Indian Premier League lite.

For those players who do not have any international commitments, or those who have simply decided not to have them, this tournament offers a great supplementary income. For spectators, the tournament should offer plenty of entertainment.

B/R has picked five players to watch this tournament and would like to hear your thoughts. Who are you most looking forward to seeing? Add your thoughts in the comments section.

Rusty Theron (Jamaica)

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Rusty Theron never really cracked it as an international player for South Africa, but he has always been considered one of the best death bowlers in the country.

Theron had a decent season in 2014, taking 14 wickets in 11 matches at an average of 24.50. If he can work on his accuracy, Theron will be a menace. With a World Twenty20 coming up next year, selectors in South Africa might also be keeping a beady eye on him.

Lendl Simmons (Guyana)

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Lendl Simmons finished the 2014 Caribbean Premier League season as top scorer with 446 runs in 11 games at an average of 49.55 and an impressive strike rate of 128.90.

Simmons heads into the tournament on the back of a solid IPL, and he will a key player for his side. Simmons' Test career might not have taken off quite as he had hoped, but as a limited-overs player, he has become very reliable.

Samuel Badree (Trinidad and Tobago)

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Samuel Badree took 11 wickets in the 2014 CPL tournament, but it’s his economy rate and average that really impressed.

His bowling average of 13.63 and an economy rate of 4.41 are almost unheard of statistics in the age of bowlers getting constantly tonked, but with pitches in West Indies assisting the slow bowlers far more these days, and with over 100 Twenty20 games next to his name, Badree could be a real menace.

Kevin Pietersen (St Lucia)

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It's hard to imagine that Kevin Pietersen will ever play international cricket again, but that won't stop him from having a point to prove.

Pietersen remains one of the best players and most destructive batsmen in world cricket, and against pedestrian attacks, he is likely to have a field day.

Shahid Afridi (St Kitts and Nevis)

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Shahid Afridi is always worth watching for sheer entertainment value. Although there is no telling which Afridi is going to show up on the day, when he comes off, he can be immense.

There is always a chance that he will do something silly, but even the silliness can be worth watching.