KFC SuperCoach BBL: 11 mid-season bargains rated

KFC SuperCoaches are in for a New Year’s bargain, with some of the BBL’s premier players available cheaply. These are the best 11 fallen premiums for your team.

Andrew Tye celebrates a wicket with Scorchers teammate Mitch Marsh.

Forget the Boxing Day sales — it’s time to go KFC SuperCoach shopping.

There’s no feeling in SuperCoach like picking a premium scorer up for a bargain just before their price starts to surge.

Englishman Alex Hales was the prime example in BBL09, bottoming out at about $80k before he went on a scoring rampage and finished close to $200,000.

Getting your mid-season downgrades right is just as important as nailing your cash cows for building your bank.

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The buy low, sell high theory which applies in SuperCoach AFL is just as important in SuperCoach BBL.

Timing your trades is crucial.

Jumping on a player just before their form turns not only gives your team an extra premium, but also generates money for other trades.

There’s no shortage of players available for much less than their starting price in BBL10 who could replicate Hales in the second half of the tournament.

These are the 11 most-likely players to prove a KFC SuperCoach steal.

Andrew Tye (Perth Scorchers)

Tye has bowled without luck for much of the tournament, but has the perfect role to storm home and reward KFC SuperCoaches who take advantage of him being available for less than $100k. The Australian T20 quick was averaging 25 points a game after five rounds despite struggling for wickets. If his output improves during a series of home matches at Optus Stadium, his price will surge.

Marnus Labuschagne will feature in the last 2-3 games of the regular season.

Marnus Labuschagne (Brisbane Heat)

Labuschagne hasn’t played a game for the Heat this summer and won’t feature until their match against Adelaide on January 21 at the earliest. If you need a player listed as a BAT-BWL to use for captaincy loopholes until then, Labuschagne appeals. Chris Lynn should have returned by the time he slots into the Brisbane team which would leave Labuschagne to bat at No. 4 or No.5. Those aren’t great roles for KFC SuperCoach scoring, although the Heat have been prone to losing early wickets. Labuschagne only costs $64,400.

All-rounder Cameron Green will rejoin Perth after the Test series.

Cameron Green (Perth Scorchers)

Like Labuschagne, the new Test all-rounder won’t be available until much later in the tournament. Considering the power-packed top-order the Scorchers boast, he’s likely to slot in at No. 6 or No. 7 — roles not suited to KFC SuperCoach scoring. But if Green takes the overs currently on offer to emerging all-rounder Aaron Hardie, any batting points might end up being a bonus. Ashton Agar being ruled out of the regular season only increases the likelihood he bowls when he returns to the Scorchers.

Fawad Ahmed will enjoy a clear run as Perth’s first-choice spinner.

Fawad Ahmed (Perth Scorchers)

What is it about the Scorchers and KFC SuperCoach bargains? If you want a point of difference from Perth’s bowlers, Fawad is your man. He was available for only $90k in Round 6 due to wash out against Melbourne Stars when he scored 0. Otherwise, the veteran leg-spinner posted scores of 38, 29, four and 54 to Round 5. Agar’s extended absence means Ahmed’s position won’t come under any pressure, although the knock on him is he doesn’t pick up fielding or batting points many other bowlers do.

Usman Khawaja has found form in recent matches.

Usman Khawaja (Sydney Thunder)

The Thunder opener is hurtling back towards his starting price of $115k after getting as cheap as $87k. Khawaja hasn’t scored less than 31 in the past four rounds, producing KFC SuperCoach totals of 31, 59, 37 and 63. He might not have been as destructive as his opening partner Alex Hales but Khawaja will be almost $100k less than the Englishman in SuperCoach. With a double on the horizon in Round 8, Khawaja looks a smart buy.

Kiwi Colin Munro has dropped below $100,000.

Colin Munro (Perth Scorchers)

The New Zealander made a promising start to life in Perth with scores of 49 and 25 in his opening three innings, but has also been out for less than 10 three times. That’s caused his price to plummet from $160,000 to less than $100,000. He’s likely to get cheaper than his Round 6 price of $96,900 too due to a break even of 89. Few internationals fire from their first innings in the BBL and Munro has the quality to produce a form resurgence like Hales did last season.

Marcus Stoinis is expected to resume bowling soon for the Stars.

Marcus Stoinis (Melboune Stars)

The second most-expensive player on this list, Stoinis’ price has dropped due to not bowling yet in BBL10. The Stars all-rounder should be a priority trade target as soon as there’s an inkling he’s over the side strain he suffered in the ODI series against India. Stoinis was set to drop to about $140,000 after a score of seven in Round 6 and will only get cheaper in coming rounds. With the Stars’ Round 10 double in mind, he’d be a perfect acquisition for Round 9 when he should almost be ready to resume bowling.

D’Arcy Short is much cheaper than his starting price.

D’Arcy Short (Hobart Hurricanes)

The Hurricanes star hasn’t hit his usual BBL heights in BBL10, only reaching 20 twice in his first seven innings of the tournament. His one big knock was a score of 72 against Adelaide and to Round 7, Short’s next best score was 27. He’d otherwise produced scores of 0, 1, 2, 0 and 12. A player of his quality won’t stay down for long, although his price is still dropping. Short was set to be about $185,000 in Round 7 but a high break even will likely ensure he comes much cheaper during the run home. Even at $185k, he’s $65k cheaper than his starting price.

Sam Rainbird was drafted into the Stars squad after Nathan Coulter-Nile’s injury.

Sam Rainbird (Melbourne Stars)

A left-field signing to cover injuries to Nathan Coulter-Nile and Dilbar Hussain, Rainbird might be on borrowed time with Haris Rauf to soon be unleashed. But if you’re desperate for a quick cash grab and have an extra trade to use in Round 7, he’s worth consideration. The left-arm quick is cheap and will bowl 3-4 overs until Rauf arrives. There’s better cheapies on this list but as a mid-season signing he’s one of the ultimate POD picks.

Matt Renshaw has had a tough start to life with the Strikers.

Matt Renshaw (Adelaide Strikers)

The former Test opener has struggled in his first campaign for the Strikers with three single-figure scores in his first six innings. The promising thing is Renshaw scored 19-33 in his other three games, which suggests a breakthrough is coming at some point. His strike rate to Round 6 was only 108, well down on his career average of 126 in the BBL. But with Rashid Khan to soon depart for the UAE and the prospect of more bowling opportunities, Renshaw could be a shrewd pick at close to $75k.

Josh Inglis is one of the best fallen premiums from Perth.

Josh Inglis (Perth Scorchers)

One of the breakthrough players of BBL09, Inglis’ highest score in his opening four knocks of BBL10 was 16. But the hard-hitting gloveman showed signs of a turnaround when he made an unbeaten 44 against Adelaide batting at No.4. Perth’s Round 10 double still seems a while off, but stashing players such as Inglis and Tye while they are cheap could pay dividends in a few weeks. Inglis started the campaign at more than $160k but was only $103k in Round 6.

Originally published as KFC SuperCoach BBL: 11 mid-season bargains rated