SuperCoach BBL: The 11 best cash cows analysed ahead of round 2
How do you pick a true cash cow from a round 1 tease? We’ve analysed 11 of the best money-making prospects in SuperCoach BBL to help build your team value — fast.
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The opening round of SuperCoach BBL this summer has given coaches a host of great cash cow prospects to consider.
But, as is normally the case in SuperCoach BBL, nothing is as simple as it seems.
Availability, role changes and selection drama could still have a huge impact on which players with negative or low break evens end up being the best money makers.
We’ve assessed the 11 best cash cows and delivered our verdicts on who is the real deal.
11 CASH COWS TO CONSIDER
Hamish McKenzie $56,100 BWL Breakeven: -27
McKenzie starred on debut against the Stars, taking 2-12 and making almost $14k for those who started him in round 1. He was unlucky not to make more money after the Scorchers’ match against the Renegades was abandoned after 41 balls, affecting breakevens as many Perth players – including McKenzie – scored 0. The issue he has is that despite being player of the match against the Stars, McKenzie looks likely to lose his spot for round 2 when Ashton Agar returns. Job security was always the concern and if McKenzie is sidelined now, it’s going to be hard to move him on. He is projected to make about $14k if he plays another game, but would rise by closer to $40k if he replicated his debut score of 77.
VERDICT: Don’t fall into the trap. McKenzie was great in round 1 but Perth’s round 4 and 5 byes and the pending return of Agar are both huge red flags.
Mitch Swepson $103,400 BWL BE: -70
From five wickets in BBL12 to five in round 1 of BBL13. Some were doubting whether Swepson would even make Brisbane’s best team, but he was enormous in the opening two games with 162 SuperCoach points. The leg-spinner has already jumped by more than $30k and is projected to be almost $135k heading into Brisbane’s round 3 bye. He should make at least another $60k for those who jump on now. Just make sure you take a look at how you’re placed for round 3 – when the Heat and Strikers have the bye – before committing to Swepson as you’ll need to hold him for more than one round to get maximum value from your trade.
VERDICT: Only bring him in if you’re not going heavy on Strikers for round 2. If you were trading in 2-3 Strikers and Swepson, you could be in real trouble for round 3. He bowled superbly in round 1 but the projected cash generation probably isn’t worth burning a trade boost for.
Tanveer Sangha $103,300 BWL BE: -35
The most-important buy on this list. Sangha took three wickets in round 1, rose by almost $20k and is projected to be above $140k by the time Sydney Thunder has a double in round 4. A $40k difference might not sound like a lot when you have three trades every round, but how often have SuperCoaches found themselves $5k or less short of their desired trades? By getting Sangha this round you guarantee cash generation and start to boost your stocks for round 4 when the Thunder plays Brisbane Heat and Sydney Sixers. Sangha only started the season at $84k due to injury last summer.
VERDICT: A great buy this round. He might even be worth boosting for if you already have three Strikers in your plans.
Daniel Hughes $78,400 BAT BE: -30
Here we go again. Hughes was supposed to be one of the top cash cows of BBL11 when he started at what appeared a bargain price of $65k. But after four single-digit scores and five below 21 in the opening six rounds, most SuperCoaches had seen enough and moved him on for little profit. Hughes was one of the only batters to master a tricky Launceston pitch last round as he returned to the Sixers team to replace Steve Smith. Hughes made 60 not out off 50 balls, going up by about $16k. He is projected to make another $14k in round 2.
VERDICT: Maybe if the Sixers had another double soon – but they don’t play twice in any round again in BBL13. It’ll take a very forgiving SuperCoach to go back there after the experience a few years ago.
Colin Munro $183,000 BAT BE: -28
Hard to make a strong case for trading Munro in this round and most coaches who wanted the New Zealander and stand-in Heat captain would have started with him for Brisbane’s round 1 double. But if you’re considering Munro this round, there's still a profit to be made. He needs to score about 75 in round 2 to crack $200k, by which point you would be looking to cash Munro in at the round 3 bye. So you need to weigh up whether getting him for one sugar hit in round 2 is worthwhile.
VERDICT: Chasing points rarely works out in SuperCoach and I can see this one coming back to bite those who pay $183k. Invest your money elsewhere, like getting Matt Short.
Corey Anderson $123,600 BAT BE: -26
Think of this as a long-term investment rather than a one-off cash injection. The Hurricanes don’t have a double until round 7 in KFC SuperCoach, so by trading in Anderson now you’re saving yourself money for when that round rolls around. He started at $105k and is already rising quickly after bowling 3.3 overs, taking 2-10 and making 17 against Sydney Sixers in round 1. Watch the Hobart team sheet for round 2 with interest. If it looks like his bowling role is sustainable, Anderson becomes much more relevant in SuperCoach BBL.
VERDICT: Want to see how Hobart replaces the injured Riley Meredith before saying yes. If the Hurricanes go for a batter such as Mac Wright or Sam Heazlett, Anderson should be guaranteed to bowl. He’s projected to be almost $170k by round 7.
Jack Edwards $76,100 BAT BE: -20
Edwards impressed with the ball in Launceston, taking two wickets and bowling four overs on a pitch suited to seamers. What should be noted about that match, however, is that Sean Abbott was managed. If Abbott plays that match, it’s unlikely Edwards is as prominent with the ball as he was. His role isn’t perfect — batting at No. 7 and not being guaranteed to bowl — but he has the talent with bat and bowl to score prodigiously when his opportunity arrives. It’s just a matter of how often that would be.
VERDICT: Sixers don’t have another double, so he’s well down the list of cash cow trade-in targets for round 2.
Cooper Connolly $82,900 BAT-BWL BE: -13
It’s scary to think what Connolly’s price might have been if the Scorchers had bowled in Geelong. The rising star of WA cricket impressed in the second match against the Stars, taking a wicket and passing the all-important 20 mark which KFC SuperCoaches sweat on. The biggest interest for round 2 will be what role he fulfils now Zak Crawley has arrived. The England Ashes hero batted at No. 4 for Hobart Hurricanes, so there is a chance Connolly continues to partner Steve Eskinazi at the top. But it also wouldn’t be a huge shock if Connolly shuffled to seven and Crawley opened with Eskinazi, as the No. 4 spot is filled by Josh Inglis.
VERDICT: I would want to confirm what his role is with Crawley in the team before jumping on. If he’s still opening and bowling a few overs, you can consider him in round 6 once the Scorchers have had their two byes (round 4 and 5). It’s likely he will still be a good price then if the role is right.
Jake Fraser-McGurk $72,400 BAT BE: -9
SuperCoaches were forewarned that a storm was brewing from Fraser-McGurk when he struck a 29-ball Marsh Cup century and his maiden Sheffield Shield hundred in the lead in to the BBL. Batting at No. 3 for the Renegades, he went ballistic in Sydney, hitting 48 from 24 balls and smashed Jack Edwards out of the SCG. On Saturday, he turned out for his club side Richmond and got to 50 in less than 20 balls. There seems to be no doubt he will stay in the Renegades team, even when Shaun Marsh returns. But can he score as well if he’s batting at No. 6?
VERDICT: I’d be prepared to pay more to get him ahead of round 3 and confirm what his role is with Shaun Marsh back. If Marsh doesn’t play round 2, jump on. I will be.
Zaman Khan $112,800 BWL BE: 9
The Pakistan quick has a great role, bowling in the death overs for the Thunder. His accuracy and trickery was on show in Canberra as he took 2-31 and scored 55 KFC SuperCoach points. The issue — though — might be his availability. The PCB only granted Khan a no-objection certificate for four matches, which means he is due to play his last BBL13 game on December 27 — which is game one of the Thunder’s round 4 double. He’s only projected to make another $20k before departing if he averages 40 from this point.
VERDICT: If he was here for the full round 4 double, you’d need to consider him. But the fact he leaves halfway through a double is enough to pass and focus on other Thunder players before that double game round.
Will Sutherland $181,500 BAT-BWL BE: -16
Like Munro, Sutherland is not a cash cow in the traditional bargain sense. But he’s arguably the most-important buy on this list if you missed out in round 1. His price has already jumped by more than $23k and you could be paying more than $200k to bring him in for the Renegades’ round 3 double if you don’t pounce this round. Sutherland will rise by about $17k with a score of 49, which seems very achievable bowling four overs and batting at No.7. He’s a huge talent who looks primed to take the BBL by storm.
VERDICT: If you can’t fit him into your trade plans this round, just make sure you trade Matt Short to him for round 3. He’s a must-have for the next Renegades double.
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Originally published as SuperCoach BBL: The 11 best cash cows analysed ahead of round 2
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