SuperCoach BBL: Paige Cardona’s starting XI

FOX Sports SuperCoach analyst Paige Cardona reveals her initial team for SuperCoach BBL. Bargains galore! Guns galore!

Paige Cardona is on board as a SuperCoach BBL columnist for 2018-19.

THE JLT Cup provided us not only with our first one-day action of the new season but also had us licking our lips at the SuperCoach BBL prospects.

After watching every game of the series, I’ve put together my starting XI — with some of these names virtually unknown to the average cricket watcher. It includes proven guns, some up-and-coming teenagers and two players who’ve redeemed themselves after being sensationally dumped from the international side.

My starting XI reflects BBL SuperCoach relevance as well as form and output throughout the JLT Cup.

Without further ado, let’s get stuck into it.

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Paige Cardona is on board as a SuperCoach BBL columnist for 2018-19.

1 Ben McDermott | BAT | $115,300

Hard to go past the Taswegian who was dubbed player of the tournament. Ben McDermott’s strong form throughout the JLT Cup didn’t waver, and it was also the basis for him being called up for his international debut. McDermott’s poise and patience with the bat exemplified the Tigers’ finals push, finishing with two centuries at an average of 71. He scored 427 runs in total, second only to Chris Lynn.

2 D’Arcy Short | BAT | $258,800

It says a lot about the talent of a bloke who was able to knock 407 runs in just five games for Western Australia. There is no doubting D’Arcy Short is a must-have in SuperCoach, but if you ever needed further convincing, his record-breaking 257 against Queensland should all but calm your nerves. Short’s ability to find the boundary and clear fences is unrivalled in the short form game, and a strike rate of 138 throughout the JLT Cup supports that claim. He is the most expensive player in SuperCoach this year, but that’s beside the point. Lock him in and watch him go berzerk in BBL|08.

D'Arcy Short scored a record-breaking 257 against Queensland.

3 Chris Lynn | BAT | $202,000

As ‘Lynnsanity’ took over the JLT Cup, top-scoring with 457 runs in total, SuperCoach watchers were licking their chops at the prospect of Chris Lynn going large in BBL|08. Lynn is a master of the short form game, with an explosive style of batting that excites and exhilarates, Lynn will be at the top of the shopping list for coaches when SuperCoach BBL opens at the end of October.

4 Sam Heazlett | BAT | $62,500

It’s hard to fathom how Sam Heazlett continues to fly under the radar for many SuperCoach players. But after his super showing in the qualifying final where he finished with a strike rate of 140 after smashing 83 off 59 balls, he’s nudged Callum Ferguson for the No. 4 spot. At just $62,500, he cannot be overlooked. Need further convincing? Thirteen boundaries and three sixes on his way to 107 off 102 balls against Western Australia should be enough. Overlook him at your peril, he’s primed for big things in SuperCoach this year.

Sam Heazlett starred for the Bulls in the JLT One-Day Cup.

5 Peter Handscomb | ALR | $77,100

All the hype of the coveted wicketkeeper position in SuperCoach will generally fall to Alex Carey in SuperCoach BBL, however, Peter Handscomb has put his hand up as a cracking point of difference after guiding the Vics to JLT Cup victory. Falling one run short of five half-centuries throughout the tournament, Handscomb responded to being dropped from the international side in incredible fashion — letting his batting do the talking with 361 runs at a strike rate of 94. Priced at a friendly $77,100, Handscomb cannot be dismissed at that price and at the very least can be used on another line and swapped into the keeper position in conjunction with Carey.

6 Jake Edwards | BAT | $42,500

The 18-year-old turned it on throughout the JLT Cup and is arguably the feel-good story of the tournament. In fact, Jake Edwards grew as the tournament went on. Having originally debuted in the middle order, Edwards was promoted to open the batting after a few games and that’s exactly where he reached new heights. A knock of 116 against Queensland catapulted him into starting calculations in our SuperCoach teams, and at a bargain basement price of $42,500, you’d be crazy to overlook him in your team.

Jack Edwards celebrates his century in the JLT One-Day Cup.

7 Daniel Sams | ALR | $127,700

A kid who just kept on producing throughout the JLT Cup, Daniel Sams will be a solid investment with strong dividends if his performance for NSW was anything to go by. The talented all-rounder is a lock in my side, with a beautiful blend of high run rates lower in the order and the ability to take quick wickets making him an enticing prospect. On his debut for the Blues, Sams’ 3/46 was darn-right impressive. But it was final figures that weighed in his favour; 152 runs with a strike rate of 117, nine wickets and an economy rate of 5.13 — expect a big year from the New South Welshman.

8 Andrew Tye | BWL | $246,700

The second most expensive player in SuperCoach BBL this season — and with good reason. Andrew Tye was a consistent standout for Western Australian during the JLT Cup. He destroyed the Victorians with 70 not out with the bat as well as 3/30 with the ball in match two and went to another level with a career-high 6/46 with an economy rate of 5.41 against Queensland in match 12. All in all, a haul of 17 wickets across six matches makes him an absolute must-have. Forget about the price, open the chequebook and get him in. He’s every bit worth it.

Andrew Tye took the most wickets in the JLT One-Day Cup.

9 Nathan Coulter-Nile | ALR | $125,000

Finally injury free, fit and firing — Nathan Coulter-Nile is certainly worth considering in SuperCoach BBL this summer, particularly with his figures of two wickets a game in his four outings for Western Australia. The clever paceman took nine wickets in total with an outstanding economy rate of 4.90, which will entice many coaches. Priced at $125,000 in SuperCoach, prospective owners will look at his dual-position as a gift and will be buoyed by his all-rounder status which will certainly get him over the line in many teams this summer.

10 Adam Zampa | BWL | $122,000

When the axe was wielded earlier in the year from the national team, Adam Zampa found himself on the chopping block. However, having put together a near-perfect JLT Cup tournament, where he took on average two wickets a game, Zampa forced his way back into the international team, taking 12 wickets at an economy rate of 5.08. Zampa will have plenty of opportunities with the ball this summer for the Stars and looms as a strong breakout contender based off his JLT Cup form.

11 Gurinder Sandhu | BWL | $133,800

Talk about making your own luck. He couldn’t get a game for NSW, and was initially overlooked for the Tasmanian JLT Cup team — Gurinder Sandhu put it all together in the JLT Cup final with a seven-wicket haul and a hat trick to boot. Sandhu has well and truly put his star on the map ahead of BBL|08, after notching seven games in BBL|07. A lot can happen in a year, and whilst Sandhu finished with a total of 18 wickets at an economy rate of 5.30, he’s awkwardly price but primed for a breakout season off his JLT numbers.

MORE SUPERCOACH BBL CONTENT

Cheapie Bible / 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 SuperCoach BBL: Paige Cardona’s starting XI