Expert verdict on 20 most popular players in SuperCoach BBL

As BBL approaches see who is being selected in the most SuperCoach teams plus expert analysis on every player. Are coaches getting it right?

Not sure who to pick in your SuperCoach BBL team?

Checking out who other coaches are picking is a good place to start. If a player is appearing in thousands of squads, there is probably a good reason for it.

Here are the 20 most selected players with less than two weeks to go until the first match of BBL14 – and some experts advice on each player.

1. MARCUS STOINIS (STARS) $84,200 BAT-BWL

Selected by 59.6 per cent of teams

WE SAY: Slogging 61 off 27 balls against Pakistan showed what Stoinis can do, and he even bowled a few overs in the ODI series, although that might be rarer in the BBL. Regardless, he’s incredible value if he can find any kind of form especially with the Stars’ fantastic early schedule.

2. ADAM ZAMPA (RENEGADES) $80,100 BWL

Selected by 47.2 per cent of teams

WE SAY: Way too cheap for a player of his quality, despite taking just six wickets in BBL13. For context, he took 65 over the four seasons before that. The Renegades play twice in round 1 – lock him in.

Marcus Stoinis can post big scores fast when he’s on song. Picture: Steve Bell/Getty Images

3. MATT SHORT (STRIKERS) $304,200 BAT-BWL

Selected by 43.9 per cent of teams

WE SAY: The great divide in SuperCoach this year could be between coaches willing to fork out more than 15 per cent of the salary cap on one player, and those who aren’t. That sky-high price tag is due to Short’s insane average of 103 points per game last summer, scoring 173 more points than any other player. Can he repeat that form in BBL14? His role is perfect, opening the batting and bowling four overs most games. He will likely drop in value but if he goes off in round 2 when the Strikers have a double, it will be a long season of catching up for non-owners.

4. GLENN MAXWELL (STARS) $247,400 BAT-BWL

Selected by 43.7 per cent of teams

WE SAY: Has the highest ceiling in the game – he smashed 154 not out off 64 deliveries against the Hurricanes in BBL12 – and will be a popular choice for captain in round 1 when the Stars play twice – if he recovers from a hamstring injury in time. Watch this space!

5. WILL SUTHERLAND (RENEGADES) $132,600 BAT-BWL

Selected by 42.4 per cent of teams

WE SAY: “The Chief” is another player under an injury cloud for round 1 after suffering a side strain playing for Victoria that forced him out of the Pakistan ODI series. He’s hopeful of playing in round 1 but will he bowl? Might be safer options elsewhere.

6. JAKE FRASER-McGURK (RENEGADES) $128,600 BAT

Selected by 42.4 per cent of teams

WE SAY: Flopped against Pakistan but blitzed the IPL earlier in the year, smashing 330 runs at a strike rate of 234 for the Delhi Capitals, including an action-packed 84 off 27 balls. Picking BAT only players in SuperCoach is a risk but does the new Flex position give us the freedom to take a swing on one of Australia’s most exciting young talents?

Jake Fraser-McGurk sends one into the stands. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

7. SAM HARPER (STARS) $58,500 WKP-BAT

Selected by 36.4 per cent of teams

WE SAY: Very cheap after a horror BBL13 but will find it hard to crack into the Stars’ starting XI – and if he does it’s likely to be as a batter only with Joe Clarke jetting in to take the gloves in round 1 before the arrival of Ben Duckett. A bench option if he’s picked for round 1.

8. BEAU WEBSTER (STARS) $164,700 BAT-BWL

Selected by 35.5 per cent of teams

WE SAY: Quality all-rounder who is one of the top Stars targets to take advantage of their two doubles in the opening three rounds. Only hurdle is his call-up to the Test squad to cover for a sore Mitch Marsh – make sure he’s available before locking him in.

9. AARON HARDIE (SCORCHERS) $177,800 BAT-BWL

Selected by 35 per cent of teams

WE SAY: Hits the ball as hard as anyone in the BBL and could challenge the top scorers in the game if he can get more of a go with the ball – which is a chance with the Scorchers’ long injury list. Everyone will want him for Perth’s round 2 double, why not just pick him now?

10. JAKE DORAN (HURRICANES) $39,500 WKP-BAT

Selected by 31.9 per cent of teams

WE SAY: Perfect pick for coaches who want to throw away their bench wicketkeeper slot. Unlikely to feature but as the only $39k keeper, he’s perfect for the vice-captain loophole.

11. JOSH PHILIPPE (SIXERS) $132,600 WKP-BAT

Selected by 30.9 per cent of teams

WE SAY: If Josh Inglis is still with the Test squad for the start of the BBL, the wicketkeeper position is wide open. Points from catches or stumpings are a bonus, the real damage in SuperCoach is done with the bat, and Philippe has a great role opening for Sydney. Blitzed the Big Bash from BBL08-BBL but his last two summers have been less productive, although his strike rate is always up there. Could prove a shrewd selection when the Sixers have a double in round 3.

Josh Philippe is one of the top choices in the wicketkeeper position. Picture: Phil Hillyard

12. TOM CURRAN (STARS) $152,000 BAT-BWL

Selected by 29.8 per cent of teams

WE SAY: Should be higher on this list after crossing from the Sixers to the team with the best early schedule in SuperCoach. Likely to bowl the death overs – when most wickets fall in BBL – and can swing the bat at No.7.

13. WILL SALZMANN (THUNDER) $39,500 BAT-BWL

Selected by 29 per cent of teams

WE SAY: Bowling all-rounder has impressed for New South Wales, but is yet to make his debut for the Thunder and it’s not clear when that will happen as he seems to be stuck behind front-liners Daniel Sams and Nathan McAndrew. Can provide a handy swing between batting and bowling lines, let’s hope selectors give him a chance.

14. JAMES BAZLEY (STRIKERS) $58,500 BAT-BWL

Selected by 29 per cent of teams

WE SAY: Similar issues for Bazley, who has fallen out of favour since playing a starring role in BBL12, when he took 16 wickets at an economy rate of 8.07 and smashed 120 runs. Last summer it was two wickets, a strike rate over 12 and just 25 runs in five innings. Will he be part of the Strikers’ starting XI? He’s likely behind all-rounders Matt Short, Jamie Overton and Fabian Allen to start with.

Josh Inglis goes whack. Picture: Trevor Collens / AFP

15. JOSH INGLIS (SCORCHERS) $140,600 WKP-BAT

Selected by 27.4 per cent of teams

WE SAY: See comments for Josh Philippe above about the Inglis conundrum. If he’s released from the Test squad to play BBL, he’s the No.1 WKP pick especially with that juicy round 2 double just around the corner. Unfortunately, right now the Aussies need all the help they can get.

16. SAM KONSTAS (THUNDER) $39,500 BAT

Selected by 26.4 per cent of teams

WE SAY: Nineteen-year-old prodigy just keeps scoring runs, most recently a 90-ball century for the Prime Minister’s XI. The red-ball star is probably in a three-way race for the No.3 batting spot at the Thunder with Nic Maddinson and Matthew Gilkes. Maddinson seems the man most likely but if Konstas is picked for round 1, he will be a fun ride.

17. JORDAN BUCKINGHAM (STRIKERS) $39,500 BWL

Selected by 25 per cent of teams

WE SAY: There is a spot available for a pace bowler in the Strikers’ line-up and Buckingham looked likely to fill it, making him one of the best cheapie picks in SuperCoach BBL ... until he suffered a side strain bowling for Australia A. Monitor his fitness – if he doesn’t play in the early rounds he could be a downgrade option during the season.

18. COOPER CONNOLLY (SCORCHERS) $118,700 BAT-BWL

Selected by 21.4 per cent of teams

WE SAY: Injury alert! Connolly is set to miss round 1 with a fractured left hand. Fortunately, there are plenty of good players around his price who can replace him.

Hobart big hitter Tim David. Picture: Steve Bell/Getty Images

19. TIM DAVID (HURRICANES) $72,400 BAT

Selected by 21.2 per cent of teams

WE SAY: Earns millions playing in India but batting well down the order for Hobart isn’t the easiest spot to post big SuperCoach scores (last summer his best was 27). Faced only 83 balls in nine innings last summer, which caps his fantasy potential. Doesn’t cost a whole lot, though.

20. JHYE RICHARDSON (SCORCHERS) $130,000 BWL

Selected by 19.5 per cent of teams

WE SAY: Two summers ago Richardson was one of the stars of SuperCoach BBL, taking 4-9 in one game against the Sydney Sixers. The year before he took a tournament-high 29 wickets in 17 matches. Things didn’t go to plan in BBL13, though, as Richardson finished with just six wickets in seven games. That has resulted in a vastly reduced price tag this year – a discount of almost $120,000 on his BBL13 starting price. SuperCoach is all about value and Jhye is just that.

Originally published as Expert verdict on 20 most popular players in SuperCoach BBL