SuperCoach BBL schedule analysis: How to juggle byes, double headers, national player availability, import availability etc.

PLANNING ahead is crucial in SuperCoach BBL. If you don’t successfully juggle byes, double headers, national player availability and import availability, you’re simply no chance of success.

YOU can pick an amazing team for the opening round, but if you don’t plan ahead in terms of schedule, you’re no chance of winning the $25,000 prize.

With three trades per round, SuperCoaches must juggle byes, double headers, national player availability and import availability to ensure success.

The biggest tactic is to maximise players with double headers as scores from both games count in an individual round. These players are also obvious captaincy and vice-captaincy choices.

Bookmark/save this page and refer to it for the entire season for the lowdown on which players to own when.

Schedule for SuperCoach BBL 2018-19. (Green = double game).

TEAMS DRAW ANALYSIS

Strikers

A strange schedule — you’ll need to trade Strikers in and out constantly during the season. The Adelaide side have the equal most double headers of any team (three) but also the equal most byes (two). They are a decent team to start with due to the Round 2 double header. But sell quickly afterwards as they have the bye in Round 3. The double header in Round 7 is another target, but that’s followed immediately by a bye. From there, Strikers are gold for the rest of the season as they play every round from Round 9, including a double header in Round 11.

Time to own: Round 1-2, Round 9 onwards

Time to sell/bench: Round 3-6

Heat

Play twice in the opening round so Chris Lynn will be a popular captain. However, you’ll need to sell (or rely on your bench) over the next two rounds as the Heat have successive byes. Also huge targets for their remaining two double headers (Round 6 and 11).

Time to own: Round 1, Round 4 onwards (especially from Round 6 and 11)

Time to sell/bench: Round 2-3

Chris Lynn (left) and Brendon McCullum have the double in the opening round.

Hurricanes

Decent early schedule, mainly due to a double header in Round 3. Avoid at all costs from Round 4-7 as the Hurricanes play just two games in four. Load up from Round 8 as the Hurricanes have two double headers in the final six regular season rounds.

Time to own: Round 1-3, Round 8 onwards

Time to sell/bench: Round 4-7

Renegades

Play all of the opening 12 rounds. SuperCoaches will be all over the Renegades from Round 6-9 as they play six games in four rounds, including two double headers. Don’t have a bye until final regular season round.

Time to own: Between Rounds 6-9

Time to sell/bench: Avoid early. Bench/sell in Round 13

Stars

Start with a very steady schedule, playing single games in all first nine rounds. From there it gets interesting. Load up in Round 10 as the Stars have two double headers in the final four regular season rounds. However, they also have a bye in that period so allow space on the pine for Round 11.

Time to own: Rounds 10-13

Time to sell/bench: Avoid early.Bench in Round 11

Adam Zampa is at the Stars again this season.

Scorchers

Great team to start with as they open with a double header. The double header in Round 10 is also a target.

Time to own: Round 1 and 10 double headers.

Time to sell/bench: Straight after Round 1 double.

Sixers

A pick and stick side. The Sixers are one of only two teams with NO byes in their schedule. However, that means they have just one double header (Round 3).

Time to own: All season, but particularly from the start and for double header in Round 3.

Time to sell/bench: No byes, so potentially hold all year. However, aim to trade to sides with double headers later in the season (Hurricanes, Stars, Renegades, Heat etc.)

Thunder

Like their Sydney rivals, the Thunder also have NO byes and just one double header (Round 4). Another solid pick and stick side, but there are better options with double headers later in the season.

Time to own: All season, but particularly for the double header in Round 4.

Time to sell/bench: No byes, so potentially hold all year. However, aim to trade to sides with double headers later in the season (Hurricanes, Stars, Renegades, Heat etc.)

Shane Watson’s Thunder don’t have any byes.

BUY/SELL ROUND BY ROUND ANALYSIS

ROUND 1 (Dec 19-22)

Buy: Heat and Scorchers start with double headers, so load up. However, be aware that Heat have byes in the following two rounds, so prepare to sell or bench. Sixers and Thunder are also teams to target as they are full-season prospects, featuring no byes and early double headers in Round 3 (Sixers) and 4 (Thunder). Think ahead with Strikers, who have the double next round, while Hurricanes double up the round after that. Stars and Renegades are the least appealing sides as they don’t have doubles until quite late. Test players are unavailable until at least Round 7 due to the India series.

ROUND 2 (Dec 23-26)

Buy: Strikers are the only team on the double. Hopefully you loaded up in Round 1 and have a few in your side, but prepare to sell or bench for the bye next round.

Sell: Brisbane Heat are on the bye for the next two rounds, so a player like Chris Lynn may need to be sold (probably for a Striker) or benched following his double in the opening round. Test players unavailable.

Travis Head’s (right) Strikers have the double in the second round.

ROUND 3 (Dec 27-30)

Buy: Hurricanes and Sixers have the double and are therefore the buys of the round. Hopefully you’ve been carrying a few since the start of the season.

Sell: The Strikers doubled up last weekend but now is time to cut ties. They have the bye this round and only play three games in the upcoming four rounds. Heat have their second bye in a row. Test players unavailable.

ROUND 4 (Dec 31-Jan 2)

Buy: Load up on Thunder as they have the double, although hopefully you’ve carried a few since the start.

Sell: Hurricanes doubled up last round but have a horror run over the next few rounds, including two byes in four rounds. Sell, sell, sell.

ROUND 5 (Jan 3-5)

Buy: No real need for big trading as all teams play once. But get prepped for next round as the Heat and Renegades both double up.

Sell: Hurricanes remain the worst team to own. Thunder and Sixers are also on the sell list as they have no doubles left.

Matthew Wade’s Hurricanes have a horror schedule in the middle of the season.

ROUND 6 (Jan 6-10)

Buy: Renegades are red hot with two doubles in four weeks and no byes until the final regular season round. The Heat aren’t far behind with two doubles in six rounds and no byes for the rest of the season.

Sell: All teams play this round, but start moving early on Hurricanes, who have the bye next week (followed by a double, however). Test players unavailable.

ROUND 7 (Jan 11-13)

Buy: Strikers are the only team on the double, but be prepared to sell or bench next week for the bye. Test only players may be available following India series, depending on resting regime.

Sell: Hurricanes are on the bye. That said, the ‘Canes are about to hit a golden run of two doubles in four rounds. ODI players unavailable.

ROUND 8 (Jan 14-18)

Buy: Hurricanes have six games in four rounds, with no byes for the rest of the regular season. Get on.

Sell: Strikers are on the bye. But also have another double looming in Round 11.

ROUND 9 (Jan 19-22)

Buy: Renegades have their second double in the space of four rounds. ODI players return to BBL.

Sell: Scorchers have the bye, but benching may be the best bet as they double up next round.

Aaron Finch’s Renegades have a dream run of double headers.

ROUND 10 (Jan 23-28)

Buy: Hopefully you held Scorchers through the bye as they have the double. Stars also have their first double of the year, followed by a bye, then another double a round later. ODI players available.

Sell: No teams on the bye. Test players unavailable due to Sri Lanka series.

ROUND 11 (Jan 29-Feb 1)

Buy: Set to be the highest scoring round of the year with three teams on the double — Strikers, Heat and Hurricanes.

Sell: Stars are on the bye but hold if you can as they have a double in the final regular season round. Test players unavailable.

ROUND 12 (Feb 2-7)

Buy: All teams play once. But get prepped for the final round when the Stars have the double.

Sell: Start selling Renegades as they have the bye next round. Test players unavailable.

ROUND 13 (Feb 8-10)

Buy: Stars are on the double.

Sell: Renegades are on the bye. Test players may become available, depending on resting regime.

ROUND 14 (Feb 14-15)

Semi-finals, unlimited trades. Test players available, depending on resting regime.

ROUND 15 (Feb 17)

Final, unlimited trades. Test players available, depending on resting regime.

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 SuperCoach BBL schedule analysis: How to juggle byes, double headers, national player availability, import availability etc.