KFC SuperCoach Plus article: The Phantom answers the burning BBL questions ahead of the finals

Who are the top targets and POD options? Which Test players are legitimate? How do you make money? The Phantom answers KFC SuperCoach BBL’s big questions.

The race to the KFC SuperCoach BBL finish line is on. But there are still plenty of hurdles to get through.

In this week’s exclusive KFC SuperCoach Plus Article, The Phantom answers the burning questions for the run home.

Aaron Finch is seriously cheap in KFC SuperCoach BBL after a big form slump. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

FINAL TRADES: THE TOP 3 TARGETS FROM EACH CONTENDER

How long is left?

Not long, my friends. Or maybe too long, if you traded in Kane Richardson ahead of Round 11. But more on that later. Rounds 12 and 13 are the final two before all hell breaks loose in KFC SuperCoach for the BBL finals series. It’s unlimited trades for the major round – yep, you get to start from scratch and pick 11 Sixers if you like – so there will be plenty of similar teams. Be aggressive in the final two rounds, and make your move now.

So, who should we consider?

Anyone whose name doesn’t end in Finch. No, just kidding – well, sort of.

With every team playing once in each of the last two rounds, it’s all about form. And that is one word you cannot associate with the Australia limited-overs gun at the moment.

Sure, Chris Lynn could get an unplayable ball from Jhye Richardson first-up in Round 13, but you have to trust the numbers.

Lynn has posted KFC SuperCoach scores of 55, 73, 71, 75 and 62 since returning from injury in Round 7.

He’s expensive but Richardson has scored 47 points more than any other player in the competition – Glenn Maxwell is second. Get there if you can.

Marcus Stoinis or Dan Christian in KFC SuperCoach BBL?

Daniel Sams is injured so forget him but Marcus Stoinis is back bowling – taking 1/22 on Wednesday night – and batting well, making him the best all-rounder target for the next two matches, alongside Sixers’ star veteran Dan Christian, the fourth-ranked player for total points.

D’Arcy Short struggled in Round 10 but he posted scores of 118 and 67 in his previous two matches. The sample size is too small to say with absolute confidence he’s back in form, but we all know how good he can be.

Christian’s teammate Josh Phillippe is hitting the ball betting than anyone in the competition – well, maybe, aside from Hurricanes’ gun Ben McDermott. You should be picking either with confidence.

Wait, hold up, Sams is injured?

Yep. One of the best players in the history of KFC SuperCoach BBL will miss at least three matches after suffering a hand injury against Hurricanes. And if you weren’t one of the unlucky SuperCoaches who traded in Richardson, put down your phone and returned to everyday life, only to find out he will miss the rest of the tournament – announced via tweet right before the first ball - on return, you now know he’s out, too.

Keep Sams in your thinking for the finals reshuffled, though.

But, seriously, what about Finch?

It’s not very often you can trade so far down, make money, and still be left with player with a scoring ceiling like Finch. But, while he appeals to those in need of cash, he shouldn’t be at the top of your trade target list. It’s all about form now — not wild second-ball swings.

Everyone has those players, Phantom, who will set my team apart?

The million-dollar or, in our case $25,000, question.

Big-hitting Thunder opening Alex Hales is in less than 20 per cent of KFC SuperCoach teams, despite averaging 74 KFC SuperCoach points between Rounds 3 and 10. And he smashed the second ton of BBL10 on Friday night. Strikers star Alex Carey (20 per cent) made the first a night earlier and is another to consider given his return to the top of Adelaide’s batting line-up.

The Scorchers’ New Zealand star, Colin Munro, who posted scores of 87, 75, 65, 34 and 122 in the five matches before Round 11, is only in six per cent of KFC SuperCoach sides.

Nathan Coulter-Nile impressed in his BBL return.

Returning Stars bowler Nathan Coulter-Nile took 3/41 – figures which would’ve looked better if it wasn’t for his disastrous final over – on his way to 79 KFC SuperCoach points in his first game back from injury. He’s also in less than 10 per cent.

There are three to consider.

And then there are the players making their way into the BBL from the Test squad. Michael Neser, Travis Head, Matthew Wade, Marnus Labuschange, Tim Paine, Mitch Swepson, Moises Henriques and Sean Abbott are some of the big names are available for selection.

Which Test players are legitimate options, though?

Wade is a great point-of-difference, given his BBL form last summer and the fact he will slot straight back in at the top of Hobart’s order. But he’s expensive.

So, too, is Abbott. The Sixers bowling all-rounder boasts a similar scoring ceiling, however, and, although he hasn’t played a competitive match recently, looms as another terrific unique option if you’re looking to make up ground. It’s a lot to pay if he can’t hit the ground running but you’re not making up ground by playing safe.

Labuschange, however, is cheap and is a great pick as either a downgrade or an on-field value option. You won’t make as much money, but Swepson is in a similar boat.

Neser is the only I really like, though. He’ll set you back $140k, and he hasn’t played since the Australia A clash with India on December 6, but he’s likely to take on a significant role with the bat and ball for the Strikers. He starred with both earlier in the Shield season and took four wickets in that tour match.

I’m not as sure on Henriques, Paine and Head.

And Neser has taken his game to another level since BBL09.

But when are they available?

At this stage, it looks as if Head, Neser, Swepson and Labuschagne will play on Thursday (Round 11), while Hurricanes Paine and Wade have both named for Friday’s clash with the Scorchers. It’s likely to be a similar story when the Sixers squad is named.

Will Abbott’s return affect Christian?

If he replaces a spinner – say, Lloyd Pope – there might be some cause for concern. I’m not saying his role will decrease automatically, it will just mean the Sixers have more options. But if Abbott comes in at the expense of another quick, then we’re all clear SuperCoaches.

Josh Philippe or Alex Hales?

You’ve listed some good names, Phantom, but how do we get the cash?

Loopholes are important for maximising your on-field score but if you need the money, there’s no point leaving cash on your bench.

Or, if you don’t have cash cows ready to be milked, it might be time to cut one your big names for an in-form cheap options.

It sounds risky – and it is – but it’s what some will have to do.

Like me, who traded Adam Zampa for teammate Zahir Khan before the start of play on Wednesday night. So far, I’m 14 points and $100k up.