Who to trade in and out of your SuperCoach BBL team after Round Two

As Round Two of SuperCoach BBL draws to a close the trade window is about to open for a limited time before Round Three lockout - and it’s time to punt a premium pick.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 19: Alex Carey of the Strikers dives during the Big Bash League match between the Brisbane Heat and the Adelaide Strikers at The Gabba on December 19, 2018 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Last round it was the most-popular starting selection in Supercoach BBL on the chopping block – Chris Lynn.

Preparing for Round 3, it’s time to punt another premium pick, Adelaide Strikers keeper Alex Carey.

The Strikers and Brisbane Heat have byes in Round 3, putting Carey on the sidelines alongside Lynn.

It’s time to farewell Alex Carey of the Strikers. Picture: Getty Images

The opener was brilliant in the opening round, blazing 70 from 46 balls to push his value above $200,000.

There’s little sense having a player worth that much sitting on your bench, especially when he’ll be in the Australian one-day side by the time Adelaide has another double game week in Round 7.

The silver lining is Carey presents an easy swap with D’Arcy Short, the must-have player in Round 3 if you’re among the 60 per cent of sides who chose not to start the powerful opening batsman from Hobart.

Sydney Sixers and Hobart Hurricanes are the teams with the Round 3 double, however your trades should keep in mind Sydney Thunder’s Round 4 DGW.

The Thunder and Sixers are both safe teams to load up on as they don’t have a bye at any stage of the tournament.

Sixers' Jack Edwards can score with bat and ball. Picture. Phil Hillyard

Moises Henriques, Jack Edwards and Josh Phillipe were popular starting selections from the Sixers as coaches prepared for their Round 3 double. Hopefully that foresight pays off in spades next round.

Joe Denly, Sean Abbott, Daniel Hughes and Jordan Silk lead the top trade-in options from Sydney Sixers, while Abbott’s new-ball partner Ben Dwarshuis could provide a point of difference.

Coaches will be clamouring to add Short, Jofra Archer and Matthew Wade to their sides, but it’s important to remember Hobart Hurricanes have byes in Round 4 and 7.

One of the biggest lessons from rounds 1 and 2 of the BBL season has been the unpredictability of performances.

In AFL Supercoach, you can lock in the likes of Tom Mitchell, Patrick Cripps and Patrick Dangerfield for scores above 100 most weeks.

As we learned in Round 1, even the double game week isn’t a guarantee of monster scores.

Of the 12 players who tallied 100-plus, only four were from Brisbane Heat or Perth Scorchers.

Joe Denly of the Sixers.

TOP TRADE TARGETS

1. JOE DENLY

The Englishman only bowled one over in his opening game of BBL08, a disappointing result for those who backed him to replicate the form he showed in the most recent Vitality Blast with the ball. He’s guaranteed to bat twice during his double game week and if he can deliver two overs in both matches to obtain an economy rate bonus, he’ll be a must-have.

2. D’ARCY SHORT

The star Hobart Hurricanes opener made a flying start to BBL08 and naming your side without him for Round 3 could be fraught with danger. News of Tymal Mills being sidelined for the entire tournament due to injury might increase his bowling load as well.

3. JOFRA ARCHER

A lethal quick in the death overs, Archer bowls at the right time of each innings to be among the wickets. He took 16 wickets from 12 matches last season and has only built on his Twenty20 experience since. It’s a bonus he can be deployed in a batting role.

Jofra Archer (right) is a quality pick up for Round Three. Picture: AAP Image

POD MOVES

1. JORDAN SILK

Silk might be the most underrated Twenty20 performer in Australia. He’s never attracted the plaudits of some bigger hitters but he is the linchpin of the Sixers’ middle order. He only batted four times for 156 runs in BBL07 but is a man in form who has scored more than 450 Sheffield Shield runs in 2018-19.

2. JAMES FAULKNER

While his stocks have dipped in recent seasons, Faulkner looms as a key addition to the Hurricanes’ team and has been entrusted with new-ball duties. Bowling in the power play and at the end of innings increases the likelihood he’ll be a wicket-taker and accumulate points. He’s been batting at seven, so don’t bank on batting points.

3. DANIEL HUGHES

One of the leading scorers in this summer’s Sheffield Shield, Hughes is in fine form and batting in the top four for the Sixers. That guarantees he’ll spend plenty of time at the crease in most games and after Round 1 he was in less than five per cent of teams. He could be a player you keep in your side beyond Round 3.

SUGGESTED TRADES

1. Carey to Short or Archer

2. Stanlake to Faulkner or Abbott

3. Weatherald to Hughes or Silk

Originally published as Who to trade in and out of your SuperCoach BBL team after Round Two