The Phantom has revealed his SuperCoach team ahead of the upcoming Big Bash League season

The Big Bash League is back for a ninth season, and with it comes the return of SuperCoach BBL for another summer. Fantasy guru The Phantom has chosen his starting line-up for 2019/20.

The Phantom

5 min read

December 10, 2019 - 7:30AM

SuperCoach BBL

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With the first SuperCoach BBL lockout fast approaching, it’s time for the tinkering to stop.

And, yes, there has been tinkering, despite little BBL noise heard from The Phantom’s Lair.

Behind closed doors, I’ve been plotting my path to more SuperCoach glory.

At this point, however, it’s a short path.

The fixture is key to SuperCoach success in the Big Bash and, like many, I will be targeting the Round 1 double-game week, while also stockpiling some key men in anticipation for Round 3.

It’s a short path in more ways than one, however, with the inclusion of the second-most-expensive player in the competition D’Arcy Short, who some will overlook given his price.

Will you pay the hefty price tag for Hobart Hurricanes gun D'Arcy Short? Picture: Luke Bowden

The big-hitting left-hander averaged 91 SuperCoach points per game in BBL08 – second-only to Melbourne Stars all-rounder Marcus Stoinis – after clubbing a competition-high 637 runs and taking 10 wickets.

Despite an early century against Tasmania, Short was inconsistent in the recent Marsh Cup but his recent T20 form makes for much better reading.

Playing for Durham in England’s T20 Vitality Blast, Short finished with 483 runs at an average of 43.90, while also playing an important part with the ball, claiming 13 scalps.

He’s in despite no double-game week until Round 12.

Most other selections, however, revolve around the double-up matches.

The team is stacked with stars from the Thunder, Sixers and Heat, with all teams featuring twice in the opening three days of the competition.

Englishman Liam Livingstone is there ahead of Perth’s two games in week three, while Strikers opener Jake Weatherald – at the bargain price of $108k – will be stashed for his back-to-back double game-weeks in Rounds 3 and 4, despite Adelaide’s first-round bye.

BATSMEN

D’Arcy Short (Hurricanes)

$262,800, BWL

As above. When he’s on, Short doesn’t need to play twice to score well and he’s a lock for captain in Round 2, when there’s no double-up games in the fixture.

Callum Ferguson (Thunder)

$134,600

The 35-year-old was out for a six-ball duck against Tasmania this week, but Ferguson made centuries in three of his previous four innings, stretching back to the Marsh Cup where he was the third-highest run-scorer.

Ferguson is likely to bat at first-drop for the Thunder after scoring the most SuperCoach points of all players classified as batsmen-only in BBL08.

Max Bryant (Heat)

$129,500

Bryant failed to capitalise on four starts during the Marsh Cup, with a 64 against WA his highest score of the tournament.

But, with no Brendon McCullum, the 20-year-old looks set to explode at the top of the order for the Heat after recording the highest strike-rate (150.22) of the top-15 run scorers last year.

England batsman Alex Hales. Picture: Randy Brook /AFP

Alex Hales (Thunder)

$125,000

He’s failed to make his mark in recent stints in the BBL, but the English import is in form – and underpriced on his potential.

Hales posted four half-centuries in the Vitality Blast and hit 97 of 55 balls in his most recent T20 innings in the Mzanisi Super League on December 4.

Josh Philippe (Sixers)

$123,000, WKP

Like Ferguson, Bryant and Hales, the Sixers’ up-and-coming keeper-batsmen will get two cracks at it in the opening Round 1.

And then another two chances in Sydney’s second double-up week in Round 3.

Add the price, competition-best strike-rate of 158 in BBL08 and the fact he keeps, too, and Philippe is almost a must-start.

Jake Weatherald is well-priced, but will miss round one. Picture: AAP Image/Richard Wainwright

BENCH

Jake Weatherald (Strikers)

$108,900

After a disappointing Marsh Cup saw him average just 23, the Strikers opener has found form at first-class level, posting a 126 and 198 in South Australia’s three most-recent Shield games.

And it’s easy to forget the 25-year-old was the third-highest run-scorer in BBL07.

He won’t feature in Round 1 but, at that price, stashing Weathered on the bench will help the Round 3 trading strategy significantly.

Cameron Green (Scorchers)

$42,000, BWL

There’s been plenty of hype around the up-and-coming all-rounder recently, and rightly so, after the 20-year-old followed up his maiden first-class century with 126 a month later against South Australia.

Green might not feature prominently with the bat in the middle-order, but he’s a no-brainer on the bench at basement price.

OTHER EXPERT TEAM REVEALS:

Shane Warne’s star-studded SuperCoach team

SuperCoach BBL: Sam Landsberger’s team reveal

Brad reveals Haddin’s Heroes for the new season

Three big risks in Tim Michell’s SuperCoach BBL team

Ben Horne reveals his SuperCoach line-up

England keeper-batsman Tom Banton should be considered. Picture: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

WICKETKEEPERS

Tom Banton (Heat)

$125,000, BAT

In October, Banton was named the Cricket Writers’ Club Young Cricketer of the Year – an award previously won by Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow and Stuart Broad.

So there’s big expectations on the former England under-19 captain who was the second-highest run-scorer in the Vitality Blast.

BENCH

James Pierson (Heat)

$62,500, BAT

Pierson is likely to play – and may even take the gloves over Banton – but, with two keepers already in the side, I’m saving money here.

BOWLERS

Tom Curran (Sixers)

$210,000, BAT

With 20 scalps, the 24-year-old English import was the fifth-leading wicket-taker in BBL08, starring at the death for the Sixers.

But he also had an influence with the bat, finishing with an average of 30.83 and strike-rate of 144, and looms as a terrific Round 1 captain.

Ben Cutting (Heat)

$182,900, BAT

A staple in the Big Bash and SuperCoach teams alike, Cutting is another outstanding T20 all-rounder with a double-game week in Round 1.

Daniel Sams (Thunder)

$170,200, BAT

Hits hard in the middle-order – Sams finished with 175 runs at a strike-rate of 138 last season – and changes the game with the ball in hand.

The 27-year-old took 15 wickets for the Thunder in BBL08 and impressed for NSW in the recent Marsh Cup, claiming 5/46 against Victoria.

Liam Livingstone (Scorchers)

$125,000, BAT

Here’s the point-of-difference.

Livingstone will make his Big Bash debut next Wednesday at the top of the order for the Scorchers.

The 26-year-old, who has played two T20 internationals for England, has 1982 career runs in the shortest form of the game at a strike-rate of 139.

But he’s also a more-than-handy spinner, taking 29 wickets at 17 across his 85-game career.

Moises Henriques (Sixers)

$101,500, BAT

The Sixers captain is back bowling, after injury issues restricted the 32-year-old in recent seasons.

If Henriques can get close to replicating his recent performance against Victoria in the March Cup – 98 of 111 balls batting at No. 3 and 2/37 with the ball – he’s a SuperCoach bargain.

BENCH

Harry Conway (Strikers)

$42,000

With the departure of Ben Laughlin, Conway, who took 10 wickets in NSW’s Shield victory over Queensland in October, will be in the mix early in Adelaide.

Nathan Ellis (Hurricanes)

$42,000

Only Nathan Coulter-Nile and Mark Steketee took more wickets than the 25-year-old Tasmania in the Marsh Cup.