SuperCoach BBL: Tom Sangster’s team revealed

Tom Sangster has totally overhauled his SuperCoach BBL side, making nine changes. SIGN UP TO SUPERCOACH BBL FOR FREE!

Tom Sangster has totally overhauled his team in the two months since the launch of SuperCoach BBL, making nine changes. Check out his final side.

CHANGES

1 D’Arcy Short to Joe Denly

Short is the most expensive player and also the second most popular following a breakout BBL season. But recent form doesn’t back the price tag. Short scored just 115 runs at 16.42 in the IPL and 16 runs at 5.33 in the UAE for Australia. I’m therefore treating his record-breaking 257 off 148 balls in the JLT Cup — at the miniature Hurstville Oval — as an outlier.

Denly is a proven T20 batsman across the world and has room for price improvement following the dramatic recent emergence of his right-arm leggies. The Englishman is $70,000 cheaper than Short, has a crucial double in round three and is only owned by four per cent compared to Short’s 38 per cent. POD.

Tom Sangster has made nine changes to his SuperCoach side.

2 Brendon McCullum to Ashton Turner

Tough call on McCullum, but I had too many Heat players and had to punt someone. Although the Heat have the double in the opening week, they have two byes to follow, which spells danger unless you plan ahead. Turner is a proven matchwinner with the bat at this level and was already on my radar. I’m now fully convinced after former Scorcher Mike Hussey revealed Turner is back bowling following shoulder surgery and could sneak in a few early overs.

3 George Bailey to Michael Klinger

Pretty simple. Klinger has two games in the opening round. Bailey has just one. Oh, and there’s the minor detail that Klinger has scored the most runs in BBL history.

4 Shaun Marsh to Nathan Coulter-Nile

Marsh was my POD pick a few months ago when he appeared almost certain to cop the Test axe. However, although he may play the opening game, Marsh will miss most of the Big Bash and I’ve therefore plumped for his Scorchers teammate. Coulter-Nile was the best player for Australia in recent T20s, taking wickets with the new ball and slamming plenty of late boundaries.

5 Ashton Agar to Ben Cutting

I’m still into Agar but Cutting is almost $70,000 cheaper, yet more credentialed in the T20 format.

6 Jake Lehmann to Jhye Richardson

The money saved by selling Short and Agar has allowed a serious upgrade here. Richardson is the form bowler in the Sheffield Shield, has the double in round one and returns to his favourite format in the Big Bash.

Jhye Richardson is in brilliant Sheffield Shield form.

7 Mackenzie Harvey to Max Bryant

If Bryant is on the final team sheet for tonight’s game, he’s in. The Heat stand-and-deliver man is set to open with either Chris Lynn or Brendon McCullum. The fact the Heat are prepared to split the Bash Brothers shows just how highly Bryant is regarded. He is a former NRL prodigy who hits them miles and has the double in round one. I still rate Harvey, who could open the batting for the Renegades. But he doesn’t have a double until round six.

8 Josh Inglis to Josh Philippe

No-one seems to know who will don the gloves at the Scorchers with Inglis, Sam Whiteman and Cameron Bancroft (after 29 Dec) all in contention. So I’ve gone for the keeper they let go, Philippe, who smoked Dale Steyn and Kagiso Rabada to all parts in the PM’s XI game to emerge as one of the hottest youngsters in the country. Shane Warne reckons Philippe could play for Australia in all three formats within 12 months.

9 Cameron Green to Michael Neser

Again, the cash created by selling Short and Agar facilitated a big upgrade. I still rate Green as one of the best rookies in the country (he averages a freakish 19 for bowling in first class cricket). But I’m happy with the upgrade to Neser as I prepare Sangster’s Paradise for the Strikers’ double in round two.

Michael Neser has the bye in round two. Picture: Sarah Reed

BATSMEN

Chris Lynn, Heat, $202,000

The Heat have the double in round one and Lynn will therefore be the most popular captain (but not mine, I’m going for a POD). Lynn is regarded as one of the most damaging T20 batsmen in the world, yet starts underpriced following a BBL07 season interrupted by injury and a national call-up.

David Willey, Scorchers, $194,000

Willey has the double in the opening round and produces points with both bat and ball — the perfect combination for SuperCoach BBL. The Englishman has forged a decorated career across the globe as a T20 gun-for-hire, averaging 24.91 with the bat despite sliding up and down batting orders. Further, his noted record as a boundary hitter is appealing for SuperCoach as sixes (two points) and fours (one point) attract bonuses. Willey also takes a wicket every 17.4 balls with his left-arm hoopers.

Michael Klinger, Scorchers, $79,300

The veteran West Australian has scored the most runs ever in BBL history yet starts almost in the cheapie range following a poor season by his standards. Has the double in round one and is set to open the batting for the Scorchers.

Michael Klinger has scored the most runs in BBL history.

Joe Denly, Sixers, $186,800

The Englishman proved his batting credentials last year and his leg-spin has improved dramatically.

Ashton Turner, Scorchers, $106,300

A brilliant hitter in this format and should return to the bowling crease this year following surgery.

Bench:

Max Bryant, Heat, $42,000

If he’s on the final team sheet for tonight’s game, he’s in. Set to open with either Chris Lynn or Brendon McCullum.

Jack Edwards, Sixers, $42,000

The NSW 18-year-old is a genuine chance to open the batting for the Sixers. Edwards was the breakout star of the JLT Cup, scoring 273 at 54.6, including a stunning hundred. He also notched a maiden ton in the Sheffield Shield. Keep him up your sleeve for the Sixers’ double in round three, by which time he should have made a heap of money.

WICKETKEEPERS

Alex Carey, Strikers, $199,600

Alex Carey scored the second most runs of any player last season.

My initial plan was to avoid Carey as he’s overpriced following a stunning season where he scored the second most runs of any player (443 at 49.22) and topped the dismissals (14). But after a quick look at the schedule, Sangster’s Paradise are convinced Carey is the wicketkeeper to start with. He begins the season with a good match-up at the Gabba, where the bouncy deck could see plenty of nicks. And that’s followed by a double in round two. He’ll then be traded to Matthew Wade or Ben McDermott for the Hurricanes’ double in round three, then to Jos Buttler for Thunder’s double in round four.

Josh Philippe, Sixers, $42,000

One of the most hyped youngsters in the country and should get ample opportunity in a weak roster.

BOWLERS

Rashid Khan, Strikers, $198,800

Currently ranked the best T20 bowler in the world. The Afghani spinner will be THE player to target in round two when the Strikers have the double, so get in early and save a trade. Rashid was the standout bowler of BBL07, topping the wickets with 18 at 13.83. He kept form going in the IPL by notching the second most wickets (21 at 21.80).

Nathan Coulter-Nile, Scorchers, $125,000

Form player for Australia in the recent T20s and has the double in round one.

Jhye Richardson, Scorchers, $116,700

Simply brilliant in the Sheffield Shield this year. If he’s not hitting batsmen in the head, he’s hitting the stumps.

Ben Cutting, Heat, $130,000

All-rounder with the double in round one. Underpriced compared to his past output in this format.

Usman Qadir, Scorchers, $93,800

Big things are expected from the son of Pakistan great Abdul Qadir. A leg-spinner with a wicked wrong ‘un, Qadir appears underpriced based on career T20 statistics — he averages 21 with an impressive economy rate of 5.77. The bouncy WACA deck should suit Qadir’s height, bounce and top spin. Burst to Australian prominence with an impressive 3/50 in the JLT Cup for Western Australia.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman (L) starred in the IPL.

Bench:

Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Heat, $93,800

Like Qadir, Mujeeb is a cheap and highly-rated international spinner with the double in round one. In the IPL, Mujeeb notched the second best average (20.64) of any bowler with more than 26 overs (Australia’s Andrew Tye was first). And he finished 13th on the wickets list despite playing only 11 of a possible 17 games. The Afghani leggy, only 17, averages a barely-believable 19.01 in ODIs.

Michael Neser, Strikers, $130,500

Getting prepared for the Strikers’ double in round two.

MORE SUPERCOACH BBL CONTENT

Cheapie Bible / Schedule analysis / L-plate guide / Batsmen prices revealed / Bowlers prices revealed / Top 100 players in BBL / SuperCoach scoring system revealed / 10 commandments / Best batsmen / Best all rounders / Best bowlers / Best wicket keepers / 10 fearless predictions / BBL’s international onslaught / Poms set to dominate Big Bash / West Indian guns-for-hire / Full squad list

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