The best SuperCoach BBL point of difference selections for Round 1

You don’t want to be different for the sake of being different. But if you nail the right unique selections in SuperCoach BBL, you’ll set yourself apart quickly. Here’s the top picks for Round 1.

Sometimes it pays to be different.

Round 1 of SuperCoach BBL has historically been more about playing it safe and staying close to the peloton.

But if you’re determined to give your team a point of difference, there’s no shortage of quality options thanks to three teams — Sydney Sixers, Sydney Thunder and Brisbane Heat — having a double in the first round of BBL09.

Here are 10 players under 10 per cent ownership to consider for your team:

James Vince made a huge impact in eight games for Sydney Sixers last season.

FIVE ROUND 1 DGW PODS

James Vince $139,500 BAT (Sydney Sixers) 7.5% ownership

The English top-order batsman has a strong record in the Big Bash League and amassed 269 runs in eight innings at an average of 44.8 in BBL08. Vince has a Round 1 double and is tipped to bat at No. 3 behind Sixers openers Josh Philippe and Daniel Hughes. Vince also comes into the tournament with a strong form from the Mzansi Super League (226 runs at 37.6) and England’s T20 series against New Zealand (110 runs at 27.5).

Stephen O’Keefe $179,700 BWL (Sydney Sixers) 6.7%

The veteran left-arm tweaker was the leading spinner in BBL08 with 21 wickets, two more than Adelaide’s Rashid Khan. His ownership would be much higher if he was cheaper, however O’Keefe does cost $15,600 less than his teammate Sean Abbott. O’Keefe averaged 62.5 points a game last summer.

Ben Dwarshuis $136,200 BWL (Sydney Sixers) 5.7%

The cheapest of Sydney Sixers’ key trio of quicks. Dwarshuis was an up-and-down scorer last season but still averaged 47.3 points a game. He snared 3-7 in one match and averaged a wicket every 21 balls.

Zahir Khan $169,000 BWL (Brisbane Heat) 5.1%

Legendary leggie Shane Warne has predicted Brisbane Heat’s new mystery spinner will take the BBL by storm. Khan is a left-arm wrist spinner who has been playing in the Caribbean Premier League and T10 league this year. He’ll be with the Heat for the first eight games until Mujeeb Ur Rahman arrives.

Alex Ross $81,200 BAT (Sydney Thunder) 4.3%

One from left-field. Ross is cheap enough you could start him on your BAT bench and loophole his score if he was to go big in the opening match of BBL09. He made 32 batting at No. 4 in a recent trial game against Sydney Sixers to suggest he’s in form.

Alex Ross has switched from Brisbane Heat to Sydney Thunder.

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Ben Dwarshuis has been named in less than six per cent of SuperCoach BBL teams.

FIVE OTHER ROUND 1 PODS

Nathan Ellis $42,000 BWL (Hobart Hurricanes) 8.6%

The breakout bowler of the Marsh Cup’s ownership should skyrocket if he’s named in Hobart’s squad for Round 1. Ellis is known for his unerring accuracy and should get an early chance to fill Jofra Archer’s sizeable boots.

Qais Ahmad $148,600 BWL (Hobart Hurricanes) 5.9%

The leg-spinner announced himself in a three-match stint with the Hurricanes last season, snaring seven wickets. If he had an earlier double he would be one of the must-have players, but Hobart doesn’t play twice until Round 12. He’s set to have a huge impact regardless.

Liam Livingstone $125,000 BAT-BWL (Perth Scorchers) 5.5%

Aggressive English top-order batsman who also bowls handy leg-spin. He’d make a smart Round 1 pick as Perth plays twice in Round 3. Your trades after the first round will likely be used on Adelaide guns such as Rashid Khan so stashing Livingstone makes sense.

Chris Jordan $162,500 BWL (Perth Scorchers) 1.5%

Jordan is the 10th-ranked T20 bowler and second-ranked T20 seamer in the world. He hasn’t set the world on fire in past BBL campaigns with Adelaide Strikers and Sydney Thunder but Perth’s early double brings him into the mix.

Richard Gleeson $85,200 (Melbourne Renegades) 0.5%

The veteran English seamer has signed with the Renegades as a replacement player for Pakistan all-rounder Faheem Ashraf. Gleeson will be with the Renegades for the first eight games of BBL09, including their Round 6 double. You’ll need to get Gleeson before then unless you plan on paying more for him, although he’s largely an unknown quantity.

Originally published as The best SuperCoach BBL point of difference selections for Round 1