A taste of Tom Sangster's SuperCoach BBL team – his three first-picked players per position

Here’s a look at the top player in each position that Tom has picked; the single biggest key isn’t necessarily picking the best players, it’s working the schedule to your advantage.

Usman Khawaja of the Thunder hits out during last season’s Big Bash League

Forget everything you know about SuperCoach — and cricket for that matter — because SuperCoach BBL is a different beast.

The single biggest key isn’t necessarily picking the best players, it’s working the schedule to your advantage.

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For example, the stop-start nature of the BBL draw means teams often play twice in a particular SuperCoach round — and scores from BOTH games count for SuperCoach.

It doesn’t take Pythagoras to work out that a player who plays two games is likely to outscore a player who plays one.

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The team to target from round one this season is the Sydney Sixers, who have two doubles in the first three rounds and don’t have a bye until round nine.

This means the Sixers play FIVE games in the first three rounds when most other sides play just three times.

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The Heat and Thunder are also key teams to target because they have the double in round one. But don’t go too hard because they have byes soon afterwards in rounds three and four respectively.

Here’s a look at the top player in each position that Tom has picked; for the full story you’ll need to read it here (News+ login required)

Tom Sangster is set for another big SuperCoach BBL season

BATSMAN: Usman Khawaja ($198,500) Thunder

This selection hinges on whether he is recalled to the Test side, but Khawaja has an incredible Big Bash record. He averages 49.60 over his domestic T20 career and plays twice in round one.

WICKETKEEPER: Josh Philippe ($123,000) Sixers

Must-have. One of the brightest young talents in the country and has a juicy schedule to match (five games in the first three rounds).

Tom Curran of the Sixers looms as a first-pick choice for the opening of the SuperCoach BBL season

BOWLER: Tom Curran ($210,000) Sixers

Bowls at the death (plenty of wickets), bats better than most (averages 20 in T20s) and has a dream schedule.

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Originally published as A taste of Tom Sangster's SuperCoach BBL team – his three first-picked players per position