Your ultimate guide to the BBL 2024 schedule for fantasy cricket success
Here is your ultimate guide to which Big Bash players to target and when, including all the fixture analysis you need to build your best fantasy cricket squad yet.
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SuperCoach BBL is the perfect way to enjoy the summer of cricket, so we’ve taken the stress and planning out of the fast-paced season for you.
With cricket on every day, this is your perfect SuperCoach companion when making your trades during the season.
SuperCoach intel has never been more accessible, and the new Flex position has made it even easier.
Here is our ultimate guide as to which players to target and when, including all the fixture analysis you need to build your best squad yet.
Scroll down to see who has the best and worst schedule, and which players will be available each round due to international commitments.
>> DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO THE BBL SCHEDULE
ROUND 1: December 15-19
Double games: Melbourne Stars, Melbourne Renegades
Your starting side simply cannot go without Stars players. Not only do they start the season on a double, but they have their second soon after in round 3.
There’s plenty to consider at the Stars, and that’s without mentioning Beau Webster, who could be the perfect pick to fill your Flex position.
Glenn Maxwell is the standout option, but he’s very expensive – and is now racing the clock to be fit for round 1 after suffering a hamstring injury. If he plays, he will be very hard to leave out. Tom Curran and Marcus Stoinis are other Stars who could score big on a double.
The Renegades also have two games in round 1, and there’s a host of names available who could become make-or-break picks – bear in mind, they do have a bye in round 3 prior to their second double.
When picking your starting side it’s worth looking a week ahead to consider which Strikers and Scorchers you’ll want to target in round 2, and who you should ensure you already have in your side.
Chloe’s picks: Glenn Maxwell / Josh Brown
Tim’s picks: Tom Curran / Adam Zampa
ROUND 2: December 20-23
Double games: Adelaide Strikers, Perth Scorchers
Hopefully your bench – or even your field – is prepared with Blue and Orange reinforcements for round 2.
And by that I mean it’s time to unleash your Scorchers and Strikers. If you’re disappointed in Renegades selections, you could move them on now prior to the bye if you dare.
Don’t forget to make sure one of these players is entrusted as your captain, too.
The Strikers have the double again in round 4, so many coaches will pay up to start with Matt Short, while Jamie Overton is another great option with news he is bowling again after some injury concerns.
Aaron Hardie might be expensive now, but he was one of the biggest breakout players of BBL13 … will the Scorchers surprise us once more, or will the hidden gems be found in SA?
Hardie, alongside Cooper Connolly, Ashton Agar and now Ashton Turner, are all under injury clouds for Perth. If he’s deemed fit, Turner should still remain a nice cash cow this round, but the injury crisis sees Matthew Spoors emerge as a cheap and valuable option.
Chloe’s picks: Jamie Overton / Ashton Turner
Tim’s picks: Matt Short / Aaron Hardie
ROUND 3: December 26-29
Double games: Melbourne Stars, Brisbane Heat, Sydney Sixers
Bye: Melbourne Renegades
The Scorchers have now had their one and only double, so if you need to flip them to someone from one of the double game sides – the Sixers, Stars and Heat – you have my permission.
You should have some Stars left on both your bench and field from round 1, and someone like Maxwell is the perfect captaincy option.
The Heat are quite literally on a heater, though, and as reigning BBL13 champions they’re sure to produce some huge SuperCoach scores.
Don’t trade out any Strikers if you can avoid it, as they have another double next week – the same goes for your remaining ’Gades.
Chloe’s picks: Colin Munro / Sean Abbott
Tim’s picks: Paul Walter / Tom Curran
ROUND 4: December 30-January 2
Double games: Adelaide Strikers, Melbourne Renegades
Every team coming off the double now has no more, so it’s time to consider who is worth keeping.
A breakout star? A value option who is making bank? Or is it the big hitter you won’t stop hitting sixes?
Either way, rounds 5-9 will focus more heavily on your single game players, so choose wisely.
Now’s the time you could even consider bringing in a Scorcher who is performing well, or a Hurricane in preparation for the latter stages of the season …
Alternatively, save the strategy for next week and target Renegades and Strikers.
I’m hoping you would have stockpiled the latter, but if you don’t currently have Matt Short, he should be in your sights!
There’s a few potential hits and misses in the Renegades line-up, and by now many of these will have come to the fore – making selection calls that little bit easier.
Chloe’s pick: Henry Thornton / Fergus O’Neill
Tim’s pick: Matt Short / Fergus O’Neill
ROUND 5: January 3-5
This week is open slather – no byes, no doubles.
It will be the week that either sets you apart from the crowd, or bring you back down to earth.
Chloe’s pick: Rookie upgrade / downgrade
Tim’s pick: Daniel Sams
ROUND 6: January 6-9
Double game: Sydney Thunder
Bye: Adelaide Strikers
The Strikers have reached their bye – if he’s bleeding cash, could now be the time to part with Matt Short, or will he once again be on the trajectory to claim back-to-back SuperCoach top scorer credentials?
Either way, it’s time to part with a Striker or two.
The Thunder have their one and only double, so it’s time to get some scoring value out of their best players.
Chloe’s pick: Cameron Bancroft
Tim’s pick: Daniel Sams
ROUND 7: January 10-12
Another free-for-all, meaning you have more licence for your trades. No team is preferred – or despised – so pick up a player that will give you a one week rise in rankings, or a Hurricane in preparation for next week.
This is when we should see Australia’s Test stars arrive for the final three rounds of SuperCoach.
Chloe’s pick: Steve Smith*
Tim’s pick: Jack Edwards
ROUND 8: January 13-16
Double game: Hobart Hurricanes
Bye: Melbourne Stars
The Hurricanes are finally on the double this week, but who is worth bringing in? For now, there’s not a huge amount of SuperCoach excitement surrounding any of their players, but that could all change by January 13.
It could come down to which positions need improving in your team.
Alternatively, you could hedge all your bets on getting prepared for the final round … the best part about SuperCoach BBL is its fast-paced nature after all!
Chloe’s pick: Ben McDermott
Tim’s pick: Nikhil Chaudhary
ROUND 9: January 17-19
That was quick! We’ve reached the final roll of the dice … with no doubles or byes look for a favourable match-up here, or a do-or-die clash to reach the BBL finals.
Tim and I are doing the old saying ‘great minds think alike’ justice, and hedging our hypothetical bets on a huge score from Travis Head to win our leagues.
Only time will tell who the best pick will be … but don’t leave a cent in your salary cap as you pursue the ultimate bragging rights.
Chloe and Tim’s pick: Travis Head
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BBL14 PLAYER AVAILABILITY*
(*Subject to change. All lengths listed are the contracts nominated for players who entered the BBL14 draft)
STRIKERS
• Fabian Allen (West Indies): FULL. Pending selection in West Indies ODI/T20 series v Bangladesh. T20 series finishes December 20. Was not selected for ODI series.
• Jamie Overton (England): FULL
• Ollie Pope (England): Misses first 1 or 2. Expected to be available Round 2 after England v New Zealand series, which is scheduled to finish on December 18.
• Alex Carey: 3 games. Could be available from SuperCoach Round 7, January 11 game vs. Heat.
HEAT
• Tom Alsop (England): FULL
• Colin Munro (New Zealand): FULL
• Paul Walter (England): FULL
• Marnus Labuschagne: 3* games
• Usman Khawaja: 3* games
• Nathan McSweeney: 3* games
* All likely available from January 11 game v Strikers for remainder of BBL.
HURRICANES
• Shai Hope (West Indies): 6-9 games. Could be available for Round 2 match against Perth pending T20 selection for Bangladesh series. Likely to leave in January for ILT20.
• Chris Jordan (England): FULL. Availability in January to be determined by length of ILT20 contract with Gulf Giants
• Waqar Salamkheil (Afghanistan): 6 games. Available for first six matches before leaving for ILT20. .
RENEGADES
• Jacob Bethell (England): 4-6 games. Will miss Round 1 after being called into England Test squad for NZ tour.
• Laurie Evans (England): 6-9 games. Available for early rounds but will leave later in BBL for ILT20 in middle east. That tournament starts January 11.
• Tim Seifert (New Zealand): FULL
• Hassan Khan (USA): FULL
• Nathan Lyon: 3 games. Likely available from January 12 Melbourne derby game vs. Stars for remainder of BBL.
STARS
• Tom Curran (England): FULL
• Ben Duckett (England): 6-9 games. Will miss Round 1 due to England Test duties.
• Joe Clarke (England): 2 games. Will be available to play in both games of the Round 1 double as an international replacement player for Ben Duckett
• Usama Mir (Pakistan): 6 games. Available from January 26, when the Stars play the first game of their round 3 double.
• Adam Milne (New Zealand): Signed on three-game replacement contract for rounds 1-2.
• Scott Boland: 3 games. Likely available from January 12 derby, unless released from Test squad earlier.
SCORCHERS
• Finn Allen (New Zealand): FULL
• Keaton Jennings (England): FULL
• Matthew Hurst (England): FULL
• Mitch Marsh: 3 games. Likely available from January 11 game v Sixers
SIXERS
• Akeal Hosein (West Indies): First seven matches. Pending selection for West Indies ODI/T20 games vs. Bangladesh. Expected to leave early-mid January for ILT20.
• Jafer Chohan (England): FULL
• James Vince (England): Available until early-mid January before ILT20.
• Steve Smith: 3 games. Likely available from January 9 game vs. Strikers for remainder of BBL.
THUNDER
• Lockie Ferguson (New Zealand): 6-9 games. Available before ILT20 pending calf injury.
• Sam Billings (England): FULL
• Sherfane Rutherford (West Indies): 6-9 games. Likely to miss round 1-2 due to international games. Due to leave early/mid January for ILT20.
>> DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO THE BBL SCHEDULE
Originally published as Your ultimate guide to the BBL 2024 schedule for fantasy cricket success
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