BBL10 preview: Adelaide Strikers squad, KFC SuperCoach BBL best buys
Boasting one of the BBL’s best batting line-ups and a bowling attack led by Rashid Khan, Adelaide Strikers will always be dangerous. Check out their best KFC SuperCoach picks.
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Yes we Khan.
It’s been a monumental year for US politics and Barack Obama’s famous election slogan should apply to Adelaide Strikers — with an obvious tweak.
Rashid Khan has been the BBL’s best bowler in the past three seasons and Adelaide ensured it would be a finals threat again when it re-signed the Afghani spin wizard.
The recent signature of Alex Carey on a long-term deal was a huge boost, while English tweaker Danny Briggs arrives as the leading wicket-taker in Vitality Blast history.
The Strikers haven’t lost any key members of their BBL09 squad and have added Briggs, Dan Worrall and Matthew Renshaw — who should all be First XI contenders.
Renshaw’s role will be of plenty of interest to KFC SuperCoaches.
If he’s bowling, then he becomes a top trade target for Round 2 after Adelaide’s bye.
With Michael Neser and Carey likely to be away on Australia A duties, KFC SuperCoaches should sense the chance to find a bargain or two in the Strikers squad for BBL10.
HAVE YOU ENTERED YOUR KFC SUPERCOACH BBL TEAM YET? HEAD TO SUPERCOACH.COM.AU TODAY!
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BBL10 squad
Wes Agar, Danny Briggs (Eng), Alex Carey, Harry Conway, Travis Head (c), Spencer Johnson, Rashid Khan, Michael Neser, Harry Nielsen, Liam O’Connor Matthew Renshaw, Phil Salt, Liam Scott, Matt Short, Peter Siddle, Cameron Valente, Jake Weatherald, Jon Wells, Daniel Worrall.
In: Daniel Worrall (Melbourne Stars), Matthew Renshaw (Brisbane Heat), Danny Briggs (Eng), Liam Scott, Spencer Johnson
Out: Billy Stanlake (Melbourne Stars), Nick Winter (Hobart Hurricanes), Jake Lehmann, Cameron White.
Internationals: Rashid Khan (Afg), Danny Briggs (Eng), Phil Salt (Eng)
KEY SUPERCOACH BBL PLAYERS
Jake Weatherald BAT BBL09 avg: 42.8
Perhaps the greatest example of a hit-and-miss KFC SuperCoach pick last season. The powerful opener started BBL09 with a flourish, peeling off SuperCoach scores of 58, 135, 41 and 83. Weatherald was averaging 79 points a game. In the remaining Strikers matches, he averaged 36 points with five scores of 25 or less. Opening batsmen are the ultimate risk-reward proposition in KFC SuperCoach. They’re guaranteed to bat, barring weather intervention, but a cheap dismissal will spell disaster. Despite an up-and-down campaign he still compiled 407 runs in BBL09.
Rashid Khan BWL BBL09 avg: 67.2
While Adam Zampa (20 wickets in 12 matches) claimed the mantle of the BBL’s premier spinner last season, the Afghanistan international has been the competition’s most consistent slow bowler with 56 wickets in the past three campaigns. Khan has taken 18, 19 and 19 scalps in successive seasons with the Strikers, giving BBL batsmen a torrid time. He showed his class in the recent IPL tournament, which was largely dominated by batsmen, conceding less than six runs an over. Khan is a player to consider in KFC SuperCoach regardless of whether Adelaide has a double.
Peter Siddle BWL BBL09 avg: 57.1
Only five bowlers took more wickets than the experienced seamer last season as he made a huge impact in 14 matches for the Strikers. Siddle finished with 19 wickets and an economy rate of 7.18 — one of the best among the tournament’s top-10 wicket-takers. The former Test quick averaged a wicket every 15.2 balls in BBL09 and posted four SuperCoach tons, including a season-best 153 in Round 12 (121 and 32) when the Strikers had a double.
Danny Briggs BWL
The leading wicket-taker in the history of England’s Vitality Blast, left-arm spinner Briggs joins Adelaide to renew his partnership with Rashid Khan. The spin pair has played together in England for Sussex. Briggs has snared 172 wickets in 151 matches in England’s T20 competition with an impressive economy rate of 7.17. Expect him to be an important bowler for the Strikers, especially early in BBL10 when Michael Neser will be with Australia A. His experience will be crucial and he could bowl in the power play to complement Peter Siddle.
Alex Carey WKP-BAT BBL09 avg: 57.9
The Australian one-day and T20 wicketkeeper could miss Adelaide’s first game of BBL10 in Round 2 of KFC SuperCoach BBL due to Australia A’s game against India. If he’s not named for that clash, he’ll rival Rashid Khan as the most popular trade of Round 2. Carey averaged 35.5 from 11 innings for the Strikers last season and didn’t score less than 19 in any innings. Seven of his 11 knocks resulted in scores of 32 or better and that consistency is gold in KFC SuperCoach. He’s the sort of player you could hold as your wicketkeeper even after Adelaide’s second double in Round 3.
KFC SuperCoach doubles: Round 2, Round 3
KFC SuperCoach byes: Round 1
PREDICTIONS
Finishing position
Tim Michell: Eighth — Sorry Phantom! I wonder whether the Strikers might suffer from some key players being unavailable. They won’t see much of Travis Head, Rashid Khan could be dragged away to play Ireland late in the tournament and Michael Neser and Alex Carey might miss early games.
The Phantom: Fourth – Have to get the order right but there is plenty of batting depth to go with a strong bowling attack.
Top KFC SuperCoach scorer
Tim Michell: Rashid Khan — has to be doesn’t it? Can’t wait to add him to my team ahead of that Round 2 double.
The Phantom: Rashid Khan – Batsmen seem no closer to figuring out the world’s best T20 bowler.
HAVE YOU ENTERED YOUR KFC SUPERCOACH BBL TEAM YET? HEAD TO SUPERCOACH.COM.AU TODAY!
BEST LINE-UP
Phil Salt
Jake Weatherald
Travis Head
Alex Carey
Jon Wells
Matthew Short
Rashid Khan
Michael Neser
Peter Siddle
Wes Agar
Danny Briggs
BURNING QUESTIONS
Where does Matt Renshaw bat?
He was an opener at Test level but Renshaw featured more regularly at No. 4 or No. 5 with Brisbane Heat. His move to the Strikers will mean he’s not stuck behind the power trio of Tom Banton, Chris Lynn and Max Bryant. Strikers captain Travis Head is almost certain to be with the Test side until early January too, leaving the No. 3 spot available. It presents a great opportunity for Renshaw to stamp himself at the Strikers and cement a spot in his new club’s top three. He’ll also bowl a few overs too and should be in the mix for your team.
🤯 @rashidkhan_19's most recent NYE innings for the @strikersBBL featured some of the weirdest, and most remarkable shots we've EVER seen
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) October 22, 2020
ICYMI: https://t.co/oHePlgPwpB #BBL10 pic.twitter.com/w0ylpp80Ra
How much impact can Rashid Khan have with the bat?
Khan, who is rightfully regarded as one of the BBL’s most dangerous bowlers, showed last season he can be a game changer with the bat as well. The Strikers talisman averaged 15.5 from 12 innings, clubbing 124 runs with a strike rate of 153. His standout performance was against Sydney Thunder when he whacked 40 from 18 balls to almost get the Strikers home in a New Year’s Eve thriller. Any SuperCoach points from Khan’s batting are essentially a bonus considering his impact with the ball.
Will Michael Neser miss due to Test duties?
Neser almost played in last year’s Boxing Day Test and reminded selectors why they were so keen on him with 121 and 5-32 in Queensland’s opening Sheffield Shield victory over Tasmania. If he’s pulled away from the Strikers to be part of the Test squad for the India series, it will have flow-on effects for Adelaide. It would likely mean Rashid Khan bats a spot higher, while a depth bowler will have to come into the team and could present a KFC SuperCoach cheapie. He’s also been named in the Australia A squad to take on India before the Test series starts. Those games are on December 6-8 and 11-13, with the second fixture taking in Round 1 and 2 of KFC SuperCoach BBL. This will almost certainly affect Alex Carey too.
MORE KFC SUPERCOACH BBL:
SuperCoach Plus Article: The Phantom’s KFC SuperCoach BBL power rankings
Sascha Greening, BBL Legends creator, reveals KFC SuperCoach BBL team
KFC SuperCoach BBL: The Phantom’s team revealed
Al Paton’s KFC SuperCoach BBL beginner’s guide and expert team
KFC SuperCoach BBL champion Tom Aitken reveals his hints for BBL10
Tom Sangster reveals his KFC SuperCoach BBL team for BBL10
Originally published as BBL10 preview: Adelaide Strikers squad, KFC SuperCoach BBL best buys
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