KFC SuperCoach BBL champion Tom Aitken reveals his BBL10 team

This is the KFC SuperCoach BBL team everyone is trying to catch. Reigning champion Tom Aitken reveals his side and strategy for BBL10.

For the first time, you can play against the reigning KFC SuperCoach BBL champion this summer.

BBL09 winner Tom Aitken is one of our expert coaches for BBL10 and is leaving no stone unturned as he tries to defend his crown.

The Queenslander is looking to capitalise on Melbourne Stars’ Round 1 double and is forward planning by starting an Adelaide Strikers gun despite their opening round bye.

Here’s the team Tom is hoping will have him in contention for the major prize again.

HAVE YOU ENTERED YOUR KFC SUPERCOACH BBL TEAM YET? HEAD TO SUPERCOACH.COM.AU TODAY!

Josh Philippe is the most-popular wicketkeeping pick for Round 1.

Wicketkeepers

Josh Phillipe (Sydney Sixers) $150,800 WKP-BAT

The most likely wicketkeeper to start in my side. This young star of Australian cricket will open the batting for the Sixers. Last year he made 487 runs at an average of 37.5 with a highest score of 83. The fact he keeps for a Sixers side that has a fantastic bowling line up is appealing too because there is a chance he can regularly get some extra points through catches and stumpings.

Lachy Pfeffer (Brisbane Heat) $42,000 WKP-BAT

The cheapest keeper in the game along with Baxter Holt. I am hoping he doesn’t play a game as he looks like a beautiful VC loophole option for the early rounds.

D’Arcy Short was the first player chosen in KFC SuperCoach BBL champ Tom Aitken’s team.

Batsmen

Darcy Short (Hobart Hurricanes) $245,200 WKP-BAT

The most expensive player available in the tournament. He will opening the batting for the Hurricanes and can bowl some overs of spin when required. Will play lots of early matches in the Tasmanian hub where he knows the local conditions well after playing many seasons with the Hurricanes. Probably the first picked in my side.

Marcus Stoinis (Melbourne Stars) $185,700 BAT-BWL

A logical inclusion in many, many sides. Clearly made the most runs last tournament with a staggering 705 runs at an average of 54.2. He made 147 not out in a game against Sydney Sixers which resulted in an incredible 244 KFC SuperCoach points (and as a sad side note I don’t believe he was in my side that night!) I am hoping he can recover from his injury sustained while playing for Australia recently and lines up for the Stars in Round 1.

Glenn Maxwell (Melbourne Stars) $185,000 BAT-BWL

A hugely talented cricketer that can impact with bat, ball or in the field. Surely he goes and posts a big score in one of the games the Stars have in the first round. He’s looks in good touch plying his trade for Australia against India recently. Leave him out at your own peril!

Will Jacks is a handy off-spinner.

As well as being a destructive top-order batsman.

Will Jacks (Hobart Hurricanes) $148,000 BAT-BWL

Jacks was not someone I was going to start with, but I am warming to the idea of having him from Round 1. He will bat high in the order and can bowl some spin as well. He was very, very good for Surrey in the Vitality Blast tournament taking 13 wickets in 13 games and his best figures were 4-15. He also averaged 34.3 with the bat (highest score 65) at a great strike rate of 149.3.

Dan Christian (Sydney Sixers) $105,000 BAT-BWL

Christian only averaged 32.6 KFC SuperCoach points at the Renegades last season but he will be plying his trade with the Sixers and he looms as an intriguing prospect. He was still a handy contributor in the English T20 tournament and starred in the final with bat and ball. He picked up player of the match taking 4-23 and also made 21 not out.

HAVE YOU ENTERED YOUR KFC SUPERCOACH BBL TEAM YET? HEAD TO SUPERCOACH.COM.AU TODAY!

Jake Weatherald is set to open the batting again for Adelaide Strikers.

Bench

Jake Weatherald (Adelaide Strikers) $122,500 BAT

I am keen to have a Striker sit on my bench ready for rounds 2 and 3 — when the Strikers play twice. As it stands I have Weatherald, who is likely to open the batting and has a proven record of big scores when at his best in the BBL.

Max Bryant (Brisbane Heat) $67,800 BAT

Bryant has a cheap price tag to start with and looks like opening the batting for the Heat. He plays with an aggressive style that can lead to rocks or diamonds. He only averaged 23.7 KFC SuperCoach points last season but he is much more capable than that.

Nathan Coulter-Nile celebrates a wicket for Melbourne Stars last season.

Bowlers

Adam Zampa (Melbourne Stars) $184,100 BWL

The second best spinner in the competition behind Rashid Khan looks to be a great selection in Round 1. He averaged 64.3 in BBL09 and had four scores over 100. I would be very surprised if he isn’t in the wickets at some stage early in the season.

Nathan Coulter-Nile (Melbourne Stars) $138,600 BWL

Coulter-Nile is a player I am warming to picking in my side. He can bowl and pick up wickets, but also can float in the batting order and contribute handy runs.

Andrew Tye is back to cause headaches for BBL batsmen.

Andrew Tye (Perth Scorchers) $134,100 BWL

Didn’t play a game at all last year due to injury but everything seems on track for one of the BBL’s proven wicket-takers to be ready to fire in BBL10. I’m hoping he can continue to pick up wickets later in innings as he has done previously and which will lead to impressive KFC SuperCoach scores.

Dilbar Hussain (Melbourne Stars) $62,500 BWL

Hussain was only recently announced as a Melbourne Stars player. I am hoping he is able to join his teammates and will be named in the Stars side to play in both games during Round 1. He can bowl fast and will feature at important times when wickets will be taken.

Nathan Ellis (Hobart Hurricanes) $113,000 BWL

If only he was as cheap as his starting price last year of $42,000! Ellis’ form in the Sheffield Shield this season has been stellar (12 wickets in three matches) and hopefully the fast bowler can continue his momentum into the shorter format of the game. He will bowl all four overs and looks like bowling at the death for Hobart this season.

Bench

Jack Wildermuth (Brisbane Heat) $62,500 BAT-BWL

Moving back to the Heat this year after a stint with the Renegades. Players such as Ben Cutting and James Pattinson have left the Heat so there should be some overs for him, especially early on. Fingers crossed he can do some damage with the bat at various stages too.

Mitch Owen (Hobart Hurricanes) $42,000 BAT-BWL

Just a placeholder at this stage. I am waiting and hoping an ultra cheapie emerges that could score some points as a bench cash cow. Another cheapie in the Haris Rauf mould would be handy.

Originally published as KFC SuperCoach BBL champion Tom Aitken reveals his BBL10 team