SuperCoach Plus article: Daniel Sams, D’Arcy Short and key BBL11 stats analysis

No double, no worries? In this week’s SuperCoach Plus article, we identify several ‘set-and-forget’ options who are worth owning for every round of KFC SuperCoach BBL.

Double or not, KFC SuperCoaches are fast learning going without Daniel Sams is asking for trouble.

Sams scored a game-high 107 points from bowling alone against Brisbane Heat in Round 1, finishing with 3-22 from four overs.

He was listed next to bat but wasn’t needed as Alex Ross and Sam Billings took the score from 3-32 to 3-141.

That provided some relief for the 67.5 per cent of coaches without Sams, although their worries might soon be compounded.

Find out why, plus the stats that matter for rounds 2 and 3 of KFC SuperCoach, in this week’s SuperCoach Plus article.

*All stats used are available in SuperCoach Plus

Daniel Sams has a dominant record against the Stars.

1. SAMS RIPE FOR STARS AFTER RECORD LOSS

KFC SuperCoaches who were priced out of Thunder all-rounder Daniel Sams face another nervous watch in Round 2 when he takes on Melbourne Stars. While the Stars are expected to be boosted by the return of Marcus Stoinis, Sams’ record against Melbourne’s green team makes for ominous reading. Sams has a career average of 83.6 against the Stars which includes scores of 63, 63 and 144 in his last three games against them. Sams only averages more points against the Sixers (88.6) and Strikers (87.2).

Aaron Finch doesn’t have a great record in Adelaide.

2. FINCH’S ADELAIDE OVAL WORRIES

Australian skipper Aaron Finch might be one of the leading runscorers in BBL history, but Adelaide has rarely been a happy hunting ground. Finch only averages 14.3 points a game in Adelaide and scored 0 and 14 in the City of Churches last season. All those who picked him at the bargain basement price of $62k will be hoping this is the summer he comes out of his SA funk. Finch missed the first game due to injury and is no certainty for Round 2. Follow our late mail to stay up to date.

D'Arcy Short has enjoyed his rare outings at the SCG.

3. SHORT’S IMPOSING SCG AVERAGE

He’s a West Australian who plays for Hobart but there’s something about D’Arcy Short and the SCG — where the Hurricanes play in Round 2. Short has a career average of 93 at the SCG, the best of any player at the venues they are scheduled for in the second round of BBL11. Short hasn’t played at the SCG in the BBL for a few seasons but has scores of 43 and 143 at the venue against the Sixers.

4. KFC SUPERCOACHES GET CAPTAIN CALL RIGHT

Who needs the captaincy loophole? See the video below if you don’t know what it is. The most-popular captain of Round 1 in KFC SuperCoach was Josh Philippe at 16 per cent, followed by Glenn Maxwell (11.8 per cent) and Mujeeb Ur Rahman (11.8 per cent). Philippe rewarded coaches who trusted him with the captaincy by opening the season with a score of 153, getting his campaign and that of those KFC SuperCoaches off to a flyer.

5. DOUBLES AREN’T EVERYTHING

Often it pays just to have the big guns in KFC SuperCoach, double game round or not. Daniel Sams and Matthew Short’s scores of 107 eclipsed a host of the popular picks from the Sixers and Heat who had a double in Round 1 — and Sams’ score would have been much higher had another wicket fallen and he batted. There aren’t many bankers in KFC SuperCoach you can rely on each round but Sams and Rashid Khan are two. Many KFC SuperCoach teams learned the hard way in Round 1 that doubles guarantee nothing when Chris Lynn (9), Mujeeb Ur Rahman (21) and Jack Wildermuth (4) scored below expectations in their clash with Sydney Thunder. That certainly made for a nervous few days praying for a game two response.

6. DANGER SIGNS FOR CURRAN OWNERS?

If you’re planning on holding Tom Curran, KFC SuperCoaches should be prepared for a price drop, based on his record against Round 2 opponent Hobart Hurricanes. Curran averages 49.7 points against the Hurricanes, a bit below the lofty standards he has set with Sydney Sixers. If he produces that number in Round 2, he’s likely to cop another big price fall. Although for coaches planning to hold onto Curran anyway, his price will be a non-issue.

Sean Abbott loves playing against the Stars.

7. ABBOTT DECIMATES STARS … AGAIN

Sean Abbott’s Round 1 demolition of Melbourne Stars would have come as no surprise to those who check SuperCoach Plus. Abbott averages 88.7 points against the Stars and snared 3-14 in a dominant Round 1 victory, scoring 111 points. Abbott scored 61 against the Stars last season and also had hauls of 116 and 85 in rounds where he has faced them. Whether by lock or design, it was great news by those who picked him despite the likelihood he would miss game two for family reasons.

8. A CASE FOR HOLDING ONTO CHRIS LYNN

It would be a brave call, and a costly one for your team value, but maybe there’s a case for holding Chris Lynn through his Round 2 bye. Lynn faces the Renegades in Round 3, who he monstered twice last season and has an imposing career average against. Lynn’s BBL10 scores against the Renegades were 75 and 97, while he posted 78 and 58 in BBL09. He clearly likes coming up against the men in red.

Jack Wildermuth hasn’t scored well against the Renegades.

9. WILDERMUTH WORRY AGAINST OLD SIDE

He was once a Renegade, but Jack Wildermuth has not enjoyed his two outings against his old side. In two matches against the Renegades Wildermuth has averaged 12.5 points, with scores of 24 and one. All-rounders are worth trying to hold onto, but this looks to be an easy choice to trade Wildermuth during his Round 2 bye.

10. ROOKIE WATCH

One of the debates for KFC SuperCoaches heading into rounds 2 and 3 will be whether to jump on cash cows to increase their team values or go all out targeting double game week players. If you’re going down the cash-cow path, players such as Brody Couch (Stars), Hayden Kerr (Sixers), Liam Guthrie (Heat) and Matthew Gilkes (Thunder) appeal — assuming you started with the No. 1 pick Matthew Short. It’s important to check the KFC SuperCoach BBL break evens before making your trades each round and to jump on players heading up — rather than down — in value. Increasing your team value is how you load your side with stars.

Liam Guthrie made a strong start to his career with the Heat.

11. LATE OWNERSHIP MOVES SHAPE ROUND 1

There were some big late ownership swings throughout the Round 1 rolling lockout as KFC SuperCoaches jumped off injured duo Aaron Finch and Marcus Stoinis. Stoinis’ unexpected absence was a huge curve ball for many coaches and he was still the seventh most-popular selection in 35.1 per cent of teams. Finch was in 29.8 per cent of teams on Tuesday afternoon as coaches waited for a verdict on his injured knee. That dropped to 28.8 per cent by game time. The only solace for coaches who were stuck with Stoinis is they will save a spare trade in Round 2 or 3. Hurricanes all-rounder Josh Kann ended up being the top cheapie with 43.3 per cent ownership, as of Wednesday.