BBL form watch: Who’s hot and cold heading into BBL14

Who will hit BBL14 in red hot form, who’s out of form – and who’s battling injury? Here’s all the intel you need to know.

Reputations don’t count for much when then first ball is bowled for this year’s Big Bash.

For fans and fantasy players assembling their SuperCoach squads, all that matters is getting points on the board.

So, who’s making runs and taking wickets in the lead-up to BBL14, who’s out of touch, and who’s battling injury?

Scroll down for the latest intel from every team.

ADELAIDE STRIKERS

Hot: Jamie Overton $207,700 BAT-BWL

The English all-rounder says he lost 10kg this year as he recovered from back stress fractures that kept him away from the bowling crease for months. Overton, who was a SuperCoach star last summer taking 16 wickets and averaging over 40 with the bat, has only recently returned to bowling but took a career-best 3-20 for England in a T20 win against the West Indies before getting on a plane to Australia.

Cold: James Bazley $58,500 BAT-BWL

A popular cheap option in SuperCoach, Bazley missed Queensland’s last Sheffield Shield game with a side strain and is no certainty to line up in the Strikers’ opening game against the Thunder, even if he is 100 per cent fit. In his one appearance for the Bulls this season, Bazley took 0-25 in a one-day game against South Australia in October.

Jamie Overton will be hot property for the Strikers’ round 2 double. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

BRISBANE HEAT

Hot: Spencer Johnson $121,800 BWL

Flying under the fantasy radar but enters the tournament in top nick. In his most recent appearance, a Sheffield Shield match for South Australia, the left-arm quick claimed five wickets against Western Australia and added two catches (a handy 20-point SuperCoach bonus!).

Cold: Michael Neser $175,400 BAT-BWL

Hasn’t been seen since hurting his hamstring while bowling for Australia A in early November. Racing the clock to play in round 1 – hopefully he’ll be back in action in time for the Heat’s round 3 double.

HOBART HURRICANES

Hot: Waqar Salamkheil

The Afghan wrist spinner signed on this week for the Canes’ first six matches, replacing Rishad Hossain, who will miss the Big Bash due to commitments in the Bangladesh Premier League. Salamkheil took 15 wickets in 11 matches for the Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League in October.

Cold: Matthew Wade $150,600 BAT/WKP

It’s been a lean run of form for the former Aussie Test keeper, who has a highest score of 21 in his past 10 matches at international and state level. In one appearance in the Abu Dhabi T10 comp, Wade scored five off seven deliveries. The Hurricanes’ schedule – they don’t have a double until round 8 – doesn’t help his cause, either.

It’s hard to find a spot for Matthew Wade in SuperCoach. Picture: Simon Sturzaker/Getty Images

MELBOURNE RENEGADES

Hot: Fergus O’Neill $107,500 BWL

Has a lower profile – and SuperCoach ownership – than some other Gades bowlers, but the paceman was player of the match in Victoria’s Sheffield Shield win over Western Australia, taking 3-43 and 3-56 across WA’s two innings and hitting 44 in a late cameo with the bat. That followed figures of 3-12 in a rain-shortened one-dayer against WA at the MCG. Could be an in-form point of difference for the round 1 double.

Cold: Kane Richardson $97,900 BWL

Underpriced based on what we know he can do, but Richardson has barely played since February. The veteran quick finished with 2-25 for the Renegades Academy in a T20 tournament in Darwin in August, but in his only other top-level matches since February he had combined figures of 0-128 in four appearances for the Dubai Capitals.

MELBOURNE STARS

Hot: Peter Siddle

He’s like some non giving up cricket guy. The 40-year-old will suit up for his 10th season of Big Bash after signing with the Stars this week. Siddle takes wickets wherever he plays (nicluding seven in a recent Sheffield Shield match for Victoria) and comes straight into the frame for the Stars’ round 1 and round 3 doubles as he leads the attack with Tom Curran.

Cold: Usama Mir 4124,600 BWL

One player who won’t be available in those double-game rounds is Mir, who has been cleared to play in the BBL by the Pakistan Cricket Board – but only from December 26, ruling him out of the Stars’ first three matches.

Fergus O’Neill (right) celebrates a scalp for Victoria. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

PERTH SCORCHERS

Hot: Matt Hurst $117,500 WKP-BAT

A close watch for the tricky WKP position if Josh Inglis is still with the Australian Test team. Hurst is likely to bat at the top of the order and is coming off some big scores in The Hundred tournament in the UK – including 78 off 45 balls and 50 off 29 – then hitting 90 and 67 for Lancashire in September. He also took five catches in an innings against Somerset in September, and keeping to Perth’s fast bowling arsenal is a good spot to snare some extra SuperCoach points.

Cold: Ashton Turner $70,400 BAT

The Scorchers skipper has joined Perth’s long injury list, retiring hurt while playing for Fremantle at club level last weekend after suffering a side strain attempting a sweep shot. He doesn’t have long to recover – the Scorchers play the first game of BBL14, against the Stars on December 15.

SYDNEY SIXERS

Hot: Sean Abbott $131,800 BWL

Severely underpriced in SuperCoach after taking just 11 wickets in BBL13. Hopefully we’ll get a figure closer to the 29 he bagged the previous summer (with a best return of 3-9). After strong form in the UK over summer, Abbott is coming off six wickets against Tasmania at Sheffield Shield level. He also chimed in with 30 not out, showcasing his late-order hitting that can net some very handy SuperCoach points.

Cold: Moises Henriques $96,500 BAT-BWL

One of the most dependable players in the Big Bash and a price under $100k catches the eye, but fantasy coaches need Henriques bowling to justify selecting him. His biggest problem is the Sixers have a long list of quality bowlers to choose from. After being thrown the ball for just five overs in BBL13, Henriques’ recent figures aren’t overly encouraging – 0-50 for New South Wales in a draw against Queensland.

Sherfane Rutherford swings for the fences. Picture: Randy Brooks / AFP

SYDNEY THUNDER

Hot: Sherfane Rutherford $152,000 BAT

He isn’t available until late December due to West Indies commitments, but Rutherford will be fun to watch – and own in SuperCoach – when he arrives. Last week he became the first player to hit a century in the Abu Dhabi T10 tournament, smashing a ridiculous 103 off 40 balls after earlier hitting 46 off 17.

Pencil him in for the Thunder’s round 6 double!

Cold: Ollie Davies $78,100 BAT

We’re being picky but the rising star fell for a second-ball duck for the PM’s XI last weekend.

Originally published as BBL form watch: Who’s hot and cold heading into BBL14