Key dates on the international cricket calendar which will shape your SuperCoach BBL trades
Will Jofra Archer feature in the BBL this summer? Which Australian stars will miss games due to Test and one-day commitments? We examine the key international fixtures which will shape your SuperCoach BBL team.
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Jofra Archer’s emergence as an international star with England is set to rob the Big Bash League of one of its major drawcards.
Archer made an instant impression during his first Test series against Australia, snaring 22 wickets from four Tests at an average of 20.3 and sharing a captivating battle with Steve Smith.
His almost certain selection for each of England’s squads to tour South Africa will rule Archer out of duties with Hobart Hurricanes, where he burst onto the scene in spectacular fashion two summers ago.
The 24-year-old is set to become a staple in the English Test, one-day and Twenty20 sides, with England’s first Test against South Africa starting on Boxing Day — nine days after the Big Bash League starts.
England’s short-form teams don’t finish in South Africa until February 16, after the BBL ends.
Thousands of SuperCoaches took advantage of Archer’s availability as a BAT-BWL in 2018-19 after he started with a price tag of $174,400.
He finished with an average of 51.6, but was a largely frustrating selection with scores of 114 and 136 balanced out by games of 11 and six.
While Archer being unavailable is a blow for the BBL and SuperCoaches, the increased availability of other internationals and Australian players will be welcome.
Chris Morris (Sydney Thunder) is the only South African international currently on a BBL list, while Archer, Tom Curran, James Vince (Sydney Sixers), Alex Hales (Thunder) , Harry Gurney (Melbourne Renegades) and Tom Banton (Brisbane Heat) are the Englishmen signed for 2019-20.
Australia plays a Test series against New Zealand during the BBL and its one-day squad will travel to India for three games.
MORE BBL NEWS:
Test star and Perth Scorchers veteran Shaun Marsh joins Melbourne Renegades
Brisbane Heat pull off major coup to sign Proteas star AB de Villiers
Sydney Thunder sign controversial England powerhouse Alex Hales
Here are the key dates you need to know when selecting your team or trading during the BBL campaign.
Big Bash League season
Tuesday, December 17 to Monday, January 27
Big Bash League finals
Thursday, January 30 to Saturday, February 8
KEY INTERNATIONAL SERIES
South Africa v England Test series
Thursday, December 26-Tuesday, January 28
Likely absentee: Jofra Archer (Hobart Hurricanes)
South Africa v England ODI series
Tuesday, February 4-Sunday, February 9
Likely absentees: Jofra Archer (Hobart Hurricanes), Tom Curran (Sydney Sixers), James Vince (Sydney Sixers), Alex Hales (Sydney Thunder)
South Africa v England T20s
Wednesday, February 12-Sunday, February 16
Likely absentees: Jofra Archer (Hobart Hurricanes), Tom Curran (Sydney Sixers), James Vince (Sydney Sixers), Alex Hales (Sydney Thunder)
Australia v New Zealand Test series
Thursday, December 12-Tuesday, January 7
Australian one-day tour of India
Tuesday, January 14-Sunday, January 19, 2020
BBL players who could be selected:
SOUTH AFRICA
Chris Morris — Wasn’t in the Test squad to tour India. Morris didn’t play in the most recent home Test series vs Sri Lanka. Last Test July, 2017. Played T20 against Sri Lanka in March and during World Cup. Most recent ODI in July v Australia.
Verdict: Not completely sold on Morris. I’m more inclined to see what his role is in the opening rounds for the Thunder. His price shouldn’t rise too much unless he goes ballistic.
SUPERCOACH BBL LAUNCHES SOON!!!
ENGLAND
Tom Curran— Don’t expect him to be in the Test squad as he last played for England in January, 2018. However the Sydney Sixers quick played in a one-dayer on May 19, 2019. He was in the English World Cup squad but Jofra Archer, Liam Plunkett, Mark Wood and Chris Woakes were preferred. Curran played a T20 international against Pakistan in May.
Verdict: Listed as an all-rounder in SuperCoach BBL which makes him a ‘must-have’ from the start. His batting points last year were a huge bonus, but it’s his prominent role bowling at the death which is most enticing.
Jofra Archer — Made Test debut during recent Ashes Test series. Played during World Cup, most recent ODI July, 2019. One T20 for England, May 2019.
Verdict: Scrap him from your plans. He’s highly unlikely to feature for Hobart in BBL09.
Alex Hales— The hard-hitting batsman hasn’t featured at Test level since August, 2016. New Thunder batsman played his most recent one-day international in March, 2019, but missed World Cup due to a reported recreational drug ban. His last recent Twenty20 was on March 10, 2019 but he should be in the mix for both short-form squads.
Verdict: Hales has never hit top gear in Australia during three previous stints in the BBL. You’ll want him when the Thunder have a double game round, however it’s a pass otherwise.
James Vince — Sydney Sixers top-order batsman featured in his most recent Test in April, 2018. Vince played during the one-day World Cup and featured in a Twenty20 match as recently as May.
Verdict: Very keen on Vince. His Twenty20 record is impressive and he’s performed in Australia previously. The only sticking point could be his starting price after averaging 48.5 in BBL08.
Harry Gurney— The left-arm seamer hasn’t played a one-day international or Twenty20 match for England since 2014.
Verdict: Who doesn’t love a T20 journeyman? Gurney has become one of the masters of death bowling in Twenty20 cricket and delivered in both England and the Caribbean tournaments this year. He’s very tempting on the traditionally bowler-friendly Docklands pitch.
Tom Banton — Banton’s availability shouldn’t be an issue unless he receives a Test call-up. One of the rising stars of English cricket, he’s due to play the first half of the season before being replaced by AB De Villiers. Even if he’s picked for England’s one-day or T20 series against South Africa, the dates won’t overlap.
Verdict: Comparing Vitality Blast form and BBL form can be fraught, but England’s Young Player of the Year is one of the most exciting young prospects in world cricket. He’ll be in my starting side and will form a lethal combination with Chris Lynn and Max Bryant for Brisbane Heat.
MOST RECENT AUSTRALIAN SQUADS
Test squad vs England
Tim Paine (unavailable), David Warner, Steve Smith, Mitch Starc, Josh Hazlewood (unsigned), Travis Head (Strikers), Cam Bancroft (Scorchers), Pat Cummins (Thunder), Marcus Harris (Renegades), Usman Khawaja (Thunder), Marnus Labuschagne (Heat), Nathan Lyon (Sixers), Mitch Marsh (Scorchers), Michael Neser (Strikers), James Pattinson (Heat), Peter Siddle (Strikers), Matthew Wade (Hurricanes).
World Cup one-day squad
Aaron Finch (Renegades), Jason Behrendorff (Scorchers), Alex Carey (Strikers), Nathan Coulter-Nile (Stars), Pat Cummins (Thunder), Usman Khawaja (Thunder), Nathan Lyon (Sixers), Shaun Marsh (Renegades), Glenn Maxwell (Stars), Jhye Richardson (Scorchers) replaced by Kane Richardson (Renegades), Marcus Stoinis (Stars), Mitch Starc, David Warner, Steve Smith (unsigned), Adam Zampa (Stars).
Australian T20 squad vs Sri Lanka and Pakistan
Aaron Finch (Renegades), Ashton Agar (Scorchers), Alex Carey (Strikers), Pat Cummins (Thunder), Glenn Maxwell (Stars), Ben McDermott (Hurricanes), Kane Richardson (Renegades), Steve Smith (unsigned), Billy Stanlake (Strikers), Mitchell Starc (unsigned), Ashton Turner (Scorchers), Andrew Tye (Scorchers), David Warner (unsigned), Adam Zampa (Stars)
SUPERCOACH BBL ROUNDS
Round 1: Matches 1-5 (Dec 17-Dec 20) (5 matches)
Round 2: Matches 6-9 (Dec 21-Dec 22) (4 matches)
Round 3: Matches 10-14 (Dec 23-Dec 28) (5 matches)
Round 4: Matches 15-18 (Dec 29-Jan 1) (4 matches)
Round 5: Matches 19-22 (Jan 2-Jan 4) (4 matches)
Round 6: Matches 23-26 (Jan 5- Jan 7) (4 matches)
Round 7: Matches 27-30 (Jan 8-Jan 10) (4 matches)
Round 8: Matches 31-34 (Jan 11-Jan 12) (4 matches)
Round 9: Matches 35-38 (Jan 13-Jan 15) (4 matches)
Round 10: Matches 39-42 (Jan 16-Jan 18) (4 matches)
Round 11: Matches 43-46 (Jan 19-Jan 20) (4 matches)
Round 12: Matches 47-51 (Jan 21-Jan 24) (5 matches)
Round 13: Matches 52-56 (Jan 25-Jan 27) (5 matches)
Round 14: Eliminator/Qualifier (Jan 30-Jan 31) (2 matches)
Round 15: The Knockout (Feb 1) (1 match)
Round 16: The Challenger (Feb 6) (1 match)
Round 17: The Final (Feb 8) (1 match)
Originally published as Key dates on the international cricket calendar which will shape your SuperCoach BBL trades