Can BBL08 finalists Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades deliver for SuperCoaches?

They played off in last season’s Big Bash League decider, but will the success of Melbourne’s Renegades and Stars translate to SuperCoach BBL? These are the five best starting picks from the finalists.

Will Big Bash League success translate to SuperCoach BBL gold?

Melbourne Renegades trumped cross-town rival Melbourne Stars in an all-Victorian BBL08 decider, thanks largely to the heroics of the third-ranked player in SuperCoach BBL Dan Christian.

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But the success of the Melbourne franchises means you’ll be paying top dollar for their biggest stars in SuperCoach BBL this season.

There are 29 players worth more than $165,000, including 10 from the BBL08 finalists such as Marcus Stoinis ($278,900 BAT-BWL), Glenn Maxwell ($175,100, BAT-BWL), Kane Richardson ($214,300, BWL) and Aaron Finch ($167,000, BAT).

Player prices are largely determined by performances from previous seasons and Stoinis (533 runs, 14 wickets) and Richardson (24 wickets) were two of the most dominant players in BBL08.

If you manage your $2 million budget wisely, you’ll be able to squeeze the premium-priced Stars and Renegades into your squad when they shared a double in Round 5.

Here’s the top-five options from the Melbourne clubs:

Marcus Stoinis was a revelation at the top of the order for the Stars.

Marcus Stoinis (Melbourne Stars) $278,900, BAT-BWL 2018-19 avg: 96.9

The most-expensive player in SuperCoach BBL — with good reason. Considering Stoinis peaked at $346,500 last season, there’s a strong argument he’s underpriced for a player with his monstrous scoring potential.

Aaron Finch has had a couple of lean summers in the BBL by his lofty standards. Picture. Phil Hillyard

Aaron Finch (Melbourne Renegades) $167,000 BAT 2018-19 avg: 41.4

The Renegades skipper hasn’t been at his best in the past two BBL campaigns, but still managed 220 runs and averaged more than 40 SuperCoach points a game in BBL08. Worth remembering in BBL06 he plundered 354 runs with a strike rate of 160.9.

Shaun Marsh (Melbourne Renegades) $147,700 BAT 2018-19 avg: 51.3

One of the recruits of the off-season, veteran Marsh will enter BBL08 as one of the hottest batsmen in the country. He ranked in the top-five batsmen in the Marsh Cup with 389 runs at 55 and is the leading run scorer in the Sheffield Shield with 600 runs at 66.6.

Peter Handscomb will have a point to prove in the BBL this summer.

Peter Handscomb (Melbourne Stars) $119,600 WKP-BAT 2018-19 avg: 41.6

Handscomb has juggled international duties with his Stars commitments in recent seasons.

Currently on the outer from the Test team, he’s guaranteed to start the BBL and will have a point to prove. Handscomb blazed 70 from 35 balls in the BBL when he was dropped from the Test side last summer.

Marcus Harris hooks a boundary for the Renegades during BBL08. Picture: Michael Klein

Marcus Harris (Melbourne Renegades) $62,500 BAT 2018-19 avg: 18

Harris is a much better player than his output of 74 runs from seven innings last season suggested. While T20 isn’t the top-order batsman’s favoured format, there’s few players at his price with the potential to generate bench value.

Originally published as Can BBL08 finalists Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades deliver for SuperCoaches?