SuperCoach BBL: Can they go one better? A Study Guide of what’s in store for the Melbourne Stars ahead of BBL|09
So close but yet so far, the Stars gave away what seemed to be a certain maiden Big Bash title with an extraordinary collapse. Most gallingly, it came against their cross-town rival. Will BBL|09 be an opportunity for redemption?
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So close but yet so far, the Stars gave away what seemed to be a certain maiden Big Bash title with an extraordinary collapse. Most gallingly, it came against their cross-town rival.
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Will BBL|09 be an opportunity for redemption?
Despite this cruellest of finishes to a season, to go from last in BBL|07 to second in BBL|08 was quite an achievement, particularly so given that at the middle stage of the season the Stars were missing all of Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Adam Zampa, and Peter Handscomb to the Australian short-form set-up, as well as Nepalese spin sensation Sandeep Lamichhane to the Bangladesh Premier League T20 domestic competition.
They’ve added some serious depth to their squad for the upcoming season, bringing in two of the best short-form cricket bowlers in the world with the addition of ex-Scorcher Nathan Coulter-Nile and South African legend Dale Steyn, who will be available for the first six matches of the Stars’ BBL|09 campaign.
The other big additions to their line-up could be a host of players who will not necessarily be part of Australia’s international plans, with Stoinis and Handscomb seemingly out of favour, plus Maxwell and Maddinson returning from mental health concerns.
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THE STAR: MARCUS STOINIS | BAT / BWL | 96.9 avg. in BBL|08 | $278,900 in BBL|09
Stoinis might not have been picked for the start of the Australian summer, but his white ball form has been outstanding in the Marsh One Day Cup, scoring an undefeated hundred and a score just shy of 50 as well picking up a clutch of wickets. For both Australia and WA he comes in in the middle order, but for the Stars he tends to open proceedings. He’s very highly priced – some $50,000 more than the third-highest priced player in the game – but he could well be worth the investment in SuperCoach BBL once more.
THE BURN MAN: BEN DUNK | WKP / BAT | 35.1 avg. | $100,900
There’s little doubt Ben Dunk enjoyed the second year of his long-term deal with the Stars more than his debut in green in BBL|07. Statistically, it wasn’t much improved. He nearly doubled his average runs per innings, but going from 11.50 to 20.36 is hardly thrilling. His outstanding innings in Moe aside, it was another disappointing season for Dunk last time around. Can he finally deliver the sort of stats expected from him? At his best his position at the top of the order gives him an opportunity to maximise his SuperCoach scoring output – it’s just a matter of him living up to his billing.
THE YOUNG GUN: SANDEEP LAMICHHANE | BWL | 61.4 avg. | $176,600
Sandeep Lamichhane was an incredible find for the Stars, and what they wouldn’t have given to have had him available for the full campaign. At season conclusion he had played seven games, claiming 11 wickets at a miserly 6.97 Strike Rate and an average of 16.30, with 68 dots from 154 balls bowled. He regularly bamboozled facing batsmen with his thrilling leg-spin and will be integral to the Stars as they strive to make up for the missed opportunity of last season.
MORE SUPERCOACH BBL NEWS:
> How dots can make SuperCoach BBL difference
> Which stars have started their white ball season well?
> Plan your season – when teams are on byes, who has double rounds, and international disruption
> Shane Warne’s star-studded SuperCoach team
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THE POINT OF DIFFERENCE: HILTON CARTWRIGHT | BAT / BWL | 22.7 avg. | $65,400
Along with Nathan Coulter-Nile, Cartright has made the shift from the Scorchers to the Stars. Tastily priced, he looms as a serious DPP POD – not many SuperCoach players will have faith in someone who is likely to bat relatively low down the order behind the likes of Dunk, Stoinis, Maxwell, Handscomb, et al. The truth is that he is better than his average of under 25 SuperCoach points last season would indicate, and he could be a very handy addition at that low salary cap cost.
THE BREAKOUT CONTENDER: NIC MADDINSON | BAT | 21.3 avg. | $130,800
Maddinson was unlucky last year to break down with injury on the eve of last season, and it’s very unfortunate that he’s battling mental health issues this year, with the strong batsman electing to pull out of the Australia A tour game in Perth. Hopefully he will be recovered in time for the Big Bash season, as he is a serious cricketer – he hits at a strong clip (career strike rate of 128 in T20s and 90 in List-A), and is flexible enough to bat anywhere in the top order.
MORE SUPERCOACH BBL STUDY GUIDES:
> Adelaide Strikers SuperCoach BBL|09 preview
> Brisbane Heat SuperCoach BBL|09 preview
> Hobart Hurricanes BBL|09 preview
> Melbourne Renegades BBL|09 preview
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THE MID-PRICER: PETER HANDSCOMB | WKP / BAT | 41.6 avg. | $119,600
Switching between multiple formats – Test, ODI, and T20 – must be a tough ask for any player, and it was no surprise to see that Pete Handscomb’s form was up and down in BBL|08. When he teed off, he struck it sweet – his Strike Rate of 130.41 from his eight appearances was great, and he was calm behind the stumps, taking three catches and executing two stumpings. With DPP status in SuperCoach in BBL|09 and at a price point lower than the likes of fellow WKP / BAT Tom Banton, he’s an interesting option.
MELBOURNE STARS BBL|09 SQUAD:
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Originally published as SuperCoach BBL: Can they go one better? A Study Guide of what’s in store for the Melbourne Stars ahead of BBL|09
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