Round one SuperCoach Big Bash Bible

Ben Cutting tops the point scoring charts, while Glenn Maxwell delivers a duck egg. Here’s what we learned from the opening round of SuperCoach Big Bash and what to look for in round two.

The opening round of SuperCoach Big Bash came and went in a flash.

Ben Cutting blasted his way to the top of the point scoring charts with assistance from the double game, while the likes of Glenn Maxwell and Brendon McCullum failed to deliver for their owners.

Here’s what we learned from round one and where we should be looking for the upcoming fixtures.

Ben Cutting was the highest scorer in round one. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

STUDS

Ben Cutting ($149,100)

The powerhouse Brisbane Heat allrounder took the honours of top scoring in the opening round with 180 points across two games.

Cutting benefited from the demise of the Heat’s star-studded top order, hitting 58 off 32 against the Hurricanes while managing just eight against the Strikers.

Cutting showed his ability to accumulate points with ease despite taking just one wicket in his seven overs.

The fact he bats at six puts a question mark over his buy credentials, however, when given the opportunity with the willow he’s able to fill the stat sheet.

Daniel Sams ($154,700)

The Sydney Thunder allrounder delivered the highest single game score of the opening round. Batting at six, Sams (168) blasted 34 off 21 balls and recorded the stunning figures of 3/5 off two overs.

Rain in Canberra reduced the Stars’ innings to just eight overs, with Sams benefiting enormously from a few erratic shot choices.

Glenn Maxwell flopped for owners. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)

DUDS

Glenn Maxwell (160,100) and Marcus Stoinis ($209,000)

Maxwell (0) and Stoinis (2) were victims of the rain affected clash in the nation’s capital, with both falling cheaply with the bat.

Maxwell, the third most owned player in SuperCoach, delivered a duck egg and bowled just the one over on the night. Stoinis, the 13th most owned player, scored two runs but more concerningly failed to bowl an over.

Brendon McCullum ($98,800)

The fourth most owned player in SuperCoach failed to capitalise on the double round, only managing a pair of fours to start his campaign.

McCullum (21) was arguably the biggest disappointment and will be one of the most sold players this week with the Heat not playing again until round four.

Cheapie watch

Jason Sangha ($63,700)

Compared by Kerry O’Keeffe as the next Ricky Ponting, the teen prodigy delivered on the hype in his first Big Bash game for the Sydney Thunder.

Sangha (112) blasted an unbeaten 63 at Manuka Oval that included four sixes. Sangha rose $21.7k in price but looms as a potentially risky purchase due to the fact he’s batting at five for the Thunder.

Max Bryant ($52,700)

Jagging the opening spot for Brisbane Heat, Bryant (79) produced two quality knocks of 22 and 30 for a respectable SuperCoach return.

With plenty of money to be made at the bargain price, Bryant may be worth holding onto for sides looking to offload swarms of Heat players this week.

Jack Edwards ($45,200)

Edwards (30) failed to capitalise on his promotion to the top of the Sixers batting order, however a pair of boundaries and a catch gave him a respectable SuperCoach output.

With the Sixers on the double game in round three, Edwards looms as a fantastic pick up at the price.

Rashid Khan will be a popular purchase this week. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

Double trouble

The Adelaide Strikers are on the double game round this week, with the convincing first up winners flooded with SuperCoach talent.

Rashid Khan (129) and Alex Carey (132) are near must haves but both will cost in excess of $200k. Find the cash and reap the rewards of two of the competition’s stars.

Khan is regarded by Shane Warne as the best Twenty20 bowler in the world, while Carey is by some lengths the best wicketkeeping option in the game.

Matt Short (89) looks an astute purchase given he bats at four and will bowl for the Strikers, expect his ownership to surge this week.

You can literally make a strong case for the entire side, with Ben Laughlin (44), Billy Stanlake (57), Peter Siddle (56), Jake Weatherald (43), Michael Neser (41) and Colin Ingram (1) all boasting plenty of upside. Jake Lehmann (31) is a safe purchase for coaches struggling for cap space.

The Sixers and Hurricanes are on the double in round three, so don’t be afraid to go a week early on players from either side.

Be wary, the Strikers have the bye next round along with the Heat. Sides will be stacked with players from both sides, so plan ahead to ensure you’re not left short next week.

Captain my captain

Khan and Carey are the obvious options to be handed the armband by coaches, but who to pick is the dilemma for coaches.

With Carey largely relying on runs, he’s probably the slightly riskier option of the two. Khan was tremendous in the opening week and is arguably the safer pick.

While for those players looking for a point of difference skipper, allrounder Matt Short could be the left-field option with a greater range of scoring.

POD hunter

Jason Behrendorff ($138,700)

Behrendorff (154) continues to show that when fit he’s one of the best short form bowlers in the Australian ranks.

The left-arm quick benefitted from the double round to record the third highest score in the game.

Behrendorff picked up 2/17 against the Renegades and 2/28 against the Sixers, but he was unlucky not to jag a few extra wickets.

Surprisingly, Behrendorff is owned by just under 11 per cent of the competition. With his first double round finished, his ownership numbers may not rise too significantly, making him a quality purchase for those interested.

MORE SUPERCOACH BBL CONTENT

Cheapie Bible / Schedule analysis / L-plate guide / Batsmen prices revealed / Bowlers prices revealed / Top 100 players in BBL / SuperCoach scoring system revealed / 10 commandments / Best batsmen / Best all rounders / Best bowlers / Best wicket keepers / 10 fearless predictions / BBL’s international onslaught / Poms set to dominate Big Bash / West Indian guns-for-hire / Full squad list

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Originally published as Round one SuperCoach Big Bash Bible