SuperCoach BBL: How much better can the Sixers get with Australian representatives joining them?

An incredible batting performance by their skipper Moises Henriques lead the Sixers past the Stars – how much better can they be once the likes of Steve Smith and Josh Hazlewood join their side?

Moises Henriques of the Sixers struck it large in Round 11

Seemingly cruising to victory, the Brisbane Heat found new and exciting ways to clutch defeat from the jaws of victory, at one stage losing 7 wickets for just 7 runs, capitulating at home to gift the Melbourne Renegades their second victory for the season. Can they resurrect their season?

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In other notable results, batting heroics from international import David Miller weren’t enough to get the Hurricanes home against the Strikers, who managed to get the points without their own overseas representative Rashid Khan starring.

An incredible batting performance by their skipper Moises Henriques lead the Sixers past the Stars – how much better can they be once the likes of Steve Smith and Josh Hazlewood join their side?

Perth might not have quite turned Optus Stadium into the WACA fortress that they used to call home, but you wouldn’t know it after their dominating win against the Sydney Thunder to close out the round, with Josh Inglis and Liam Livingstone absolutely dominant with the bat.

BOOM OF THE ROUND: MOISES HENRIQUES | SYDNEY SIXERS | BAT / BWL | 151 points

Just pipping David Miller (more on him below) for the Boom of the Round, Henriques stepped up big time in another rain-soaked match for the Sixers, absolutely lathering the Stars’ bowlers around the SCG. It’s the sort of innings that he’s been threatening to unleash for a little while, and finally the big man with the big bat delivered, outdoing opposite opener Marcus Stoinis by blasting his side to a total that not even the vaunted batting line-up of the top-of-the-table Stars could chase down in a match reduced to 14 overs each.

BUST OF THE ROUND: AB de VILLIERS | BRISBANE HEAT | BAT | 2 points

After having a strong first up showing for the Heat, AB has failed in back-to-back matches, and he’s plummeted in price accordingly, falling from a starting price of $225,000 down to $181,900. With the Heat playing twice in Round 12, now is the time to get him in...if you think he can bounce back. He’s a player that you should WANT in your squad, but his form is not encouraging.

David Miller of the Hurricanes has finally hit some form

UNIQUE OF THE ROUND: DAVID MILLER | HOBART HURRICANES | BAT | 150 points | 4.8% ownership

Well, got that one wrong! Last week we had him down as a player to avoid in Round 11 – touted as one of the biggest imports at the start of the season, Miller had been a massive disappointment – in nine times at the crease he’d only made 91 runs in total, with a highest score of 25, and a Strike Rate of just on 110. Stepped up big time against the Strikers to deliver for his small coterie of owners in SuperCoach BBL. With the Hurricanes on the double in Round 12, Miller’s ownership is sure to rocket up given his still relatively cheap price point at less than $80,000.

PLAYERS TO TARGET NEXT ROUND

It will ultimately all come down to whether or not the Australian representatives in India are named in the squads. At this stage let’s presume that they will be – there’s a heap of stars who be suiting up in the Big Bash League for the first time you simply must have in your squad.

MARNUS LABUSCHAGNE | BRISBANE HEAT | BAT / BWL | no BBL|08 games | $62,500

Cheap as chips as he’s not really had much representative form in the BBL for some time, Labuschagne is a must-get, particularly as the Heat have the double in Round 13. Get him in this week and he’ll more than make it worth your while, and the Heat’s top order suddenly looks packed with class – AB de Villiers, Chris Lynn, and Marnus Labuschagne. Surely they can’t all fail at the same time, right?

Steve Smith is seen during a training session with the Sydney Sixers at the SCG in December, 2018

STEVE SMITH | SYDNEY SIXERS | BAT | no BBL|08 games | $225,000

If you can stretch your budget that little bit further and get Steve Smith into your SuperCoach BBL squad, and if he’s named in the Sixers’ next selection, then absolutely spend away! Yes, he’s not played in the competition for some time; do you doubt that he won’t star when it comes to domestic T20 cricket? If he does play he’ll be coming up against the top-of-the-table Melbourne Stars in a salivating match-up.

PLAYERS TO AVOID NEXT ROUND

The Australians are back! Some international imports are leaving! But who, of the former, will suit up quickly for their BBL squad?

D’ARCY SHORT | HOBART HURRICANES | BAT / BWL | 71.3 avg. | $195,300

After not getting a go in India, Short will no doubt return to his position at the top of the order for the Hurricanes. His final performance in BBL|09 was a monster – he made 173 points to dominate the Perth Scorchers – and if you have the spare coin to get him in, he’s absolutely an option...but unfortunately he has been ruled out of the Hurricanes’ Round 12 clash with the Renegades. The likelihood is he will return to action in the second of their two matches, taking on the Thunder.

Chris Jordan of the Scorchers has bowled in the Big Bash League for the last time this season

CHRIS JORDAN | PERTH SCORCHERS | BWL | 53.1 avg. | $134,200

And it’s goodnight from Jordan, with the English quick heading to South Africa to join up with his international cohorts as they set out to embark upon their short-form series. He’ll be missed by the Scorchers, although they will replace him with a fairly handy player in the form of Morne Morkel, who will arrive in time for the Scorchers’ final home and away match for the BBL|09 season as well as finals, with it now looking likely that they will make it.

CAPTAIN’S CHOICE

Josh Inglis has been in ripping form of late with the bat, as has Travis Head – what will be interesting to see is whether or not he slips down the Strikers order with the expected return of Alex Carey. The Hurricanes and the Strikers have the double this round, so Head, Carey or the Round 12 disappointment Rashid Khan would be ‘safe’ options. For the Hurricanes, someone such as Matthew Wade or Scott Boland might make sense. When it comes to Australia’s short-form players returning, an interesting skipper selection might be taking a chance and picking Steve Smith from the get-go – he might not have any official leadership role with the Australian set-up any longer, but that certainly doesn’t preclude him from being the double points choice for SuperCoach BBL.

Travis Head of the Strikers would be a ‘safe’ pick as skipper

Originally published as SuperCoach BBL: How much better can the Sixers get with Australian representatives joining them?