SuperCoach BBL: Your guide to the top bowling picks of BBL09
From Rashid Khan to Dale Steyn, some of the world’s best bowlers will feature in the BBL this summer. We’ve identified 10 you should consider for your SuperCoach BBL team.
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Picking the bowlers for your SuperCoach BBL team is as much about quantity as it is about quality.
While one successful over can be a source of points, targeting players who regularly bowl four overs increases your chances of scoring maximum points.
Sydney Sixers had three bowlers in the top-10 scorers of BBL08 — Tom Curran, Sean Abbott and Stephen O’Keefe.
The consistency of the Sixers’ bowling line-up made them the team to target last summer as Curran, Abbott, O’Keefe and Ben Dwarshuis were guaranteed four overs most games.
Adelaide Strikers spin dynamo Rashid Khan was the only player to deliver his full allotment in every match, while Melbourne Stars’ signing Nathan Coulter-Nile bowled four overs 12 times.
Curran (11 times), O’Keefe (10), Dwarshuis (nine) and Abbott (eight) were the most used quartet from any BBL team.
A side blessed with bowling options might be a godsend for a captain but it can be a nightmare for SuperCoaches.
The Sixers had eight bowlers who delivered four overs last summer and regularly called on only five bowlers in games.
Finalist Melbourne Stars used 11, with Dwayne Bravo (seven times) their most prominent.
Reliability is an underrated commodity in SuperCoach BBL, which is as much about limiting your margin for error as it is increasing your chances of success.
If you choose a bowler in a team flush with options, one bad over could cost them another chance.
If you prioritise a key member of a limited bowling arsenal, their chances of accumulating the economy rate bonus and snaring wickets will be greatly increased.
SuperCoach BBL doesn’t provide many guarantees.
But by choosing the wicket-takers most likely to bowl four overs, you’ll boost your hopes of big returns.
10 bowlers to consider
1. Sandeep Lamichhane (Melbourne Stars) 2018 SCBBL average: 61.4 $176,600
The Nepalese leg-spinner was a revelation for the Stars last season, taking 11 wickets in seven games while conceding less than seven runs per over. His first three games were between 68-109, but he only scored above 36 once in his other four matches.
VERDICT: His price might be too prohibitive to start him. But if you can spare the money, he’s unlikely to let you down. He’ll be a top target for his Round 5 double.
2. Dale Steyn (Melbourne Stars) debut season $169,000
One of the big-name imports for BBL09, South African speedster Steyn boasts a career T20 average of 21.2 from 209 games with an economy rate of just 6.7. He could take the BBL by storm.
VERDICT: Steyn would have been one of the top starting picks if he was $20,000 cheaper. Hard to justify spending $169,000 on a player who doesn’t have a double game week until Round 5 despite his obvious appeal.
3. Harry Gurney (Melbourne Renegades) 2018 SCBBL average: 45.2 $130,100
The tricky Englishman renowned for his slower balls has had a successful year in England’s Vitality Blast and the Caribbean Premier League. He’ll score plenty of points on the sticky Marvel Stadium pitch.
VERDICT: He bowls at the death in every match when most wickets are taken. Strongly consider.
4. Stephen O’Keefe (Sydney Sixers) 2018 SCBBL average: 62.5 $179,700
The former Test spinner enjoyed a superb tournament for the Sixers in BBL08 with 21 wickets, an economy rate of 6.6 and a wicket every 16 balls bowled. He’s one of the many Sixers you need to consider for their five-game stretch in the opening three rounds. You can probably only start one of O’Keefe and Sean Abbott, which is a tough call.
VERDICT: He’s a real point of difference selection with most coaches favouring Tom Curran and Sean Abbott. O’Keefe ticks a lot of boxes to score prolifically in SuperCoach.
5. Rashid Khan (Adelaide Strikers) 2018 SCBBL average: 70.6 $203,300
The Afghani spin wizard has incredibly conceded less than a-run-a-ball in his 25 BBL matches and has a strike rate of a wicket every 16 balls. With those numbers, you‘ll struggle without him.
VERDICT: A must-have by Adelaide Strikers’ consecutive double game weeks in rounds 3 and 4. Ensure you plan to bring him in after his Round 1 bye.
6. Qais Ahmad (Hobart Hurricanes) 2018 SCBBL average: 82 $148,600
With seven wickets from three games during a brief cameo for the Hurricanes last season, leg-spinner Ahmad made a huge impression. Now he’s back full-time to wreak havoc.
VERDICT: The combination of Khan and Ahmad will put a large dent in your budget, but the point returns would be worthwhile. Although he doesn’t have a double until Round 12, he also doesn’t have a bye.
7. Zahir Khan (Brisbane Heat) 2018 SCBBL average: N/A $169,000
Shane Warne says he can take the BBL by storm and if anyone would know, it would be the greatest leg-spinner of all time. Left-arm leg-spinners have been rare in the BBL and Khan will start as the Heat’s first-choice spinner. He’s due to play the first eight games before being replaced by Mujeeb Ur Rahman.
VERDICT: Khan’s selection depends on how many other Heat bowlers you’re planning to start. James Pattinson, Mark Steketee and Mitch Swepson are much cheaper, but Khan could be the pick of the bunch.
8. Riley Meredith (Hobart Hurricanes) 2018 SCBBL average: 48.3 $139,000
One of the breakout bowlers of 2018-19, Hobart quick Meredith snared 16 wickets to earmark himself as a star of the future. Don’t bank on economy bonus if you choose him as he allowed 8.58 runs per over in BBL08.
VERDICT: He’s an exciting prospect but you’ll get as many SuperCoach points from cheaper bowlers.
9. Cameron Boyce (Melbourne Renegades) 2018 SCBBL average: 59.4 $171,000
One of the unsung heroes of Melbourne Renegades’ title win last year, leg-spinner Boyce averages better than a-wicket-per-game from 62 BBL matches.
VERDICT: He went under the radar in BBL08 but is too expensive this season.
10. Kane Richardson (Melbourne Renegades) 2018 SCBBL average: 74.5 $214,300
Richardson was one of the standout bowlers of last season with 24 wickets in 13 games. He averaged two wickets per game at Docklands and took three wickets in four of his seven matches at the venue.
VERDICT: Wait for his price to drop before jumping on. His record at Marvel Stadium makes him a must-have if the Renegades have a run of home fixtures.
MORE SUPERCOACH BBL CONTENT
Star-studded squad lists / Top 10 young guns / Everything you need to know / Key dates to shape your season / Gun imports set to explode / New faces to target / How players earn points
Originally published as SuperCoach BBL: Your guide to the top bowling picks of BBL09