SuperCoach BBL: Swiz, Honeyball creator Ben Somerford, Damo reveal their teams

There’s plenty of big guns to choose from but two have got SuperCoach insider Swiz in a bind. Check out his TEAM REVEAL ahead of the start of the BBL season.

DOUBLES, TRIPLES AND BYES.

When selecting my starting team for the Always Bowl Firsts, the fixture was very much in front of mind. Fitting in as many Round 1 double, (or in Brisbane’s case triple) game players was the starting point, then I would plan what my team could possibly look like in future rounds.

WICKETKEEPERS:

Sam Billings and Ben McDermott

Sam Billings has a triple game in Round 1 and with Jimmy Pierson playing in the PM XI he’ll take the gloves for at least 2 of those games, on top of having a prominent role in the top of the order.

McDermott doesn’t have a double until Round 7 but the 2nd highest averaging player in 2021-22 is a steal at 88k. He has been in top form recently for both his Queensland in the Marsh Cup and his Premier Team Gold Coast averaging over 54 so far this season.

BATSMEN:

Will Sutherland, Colin Munro, Joe Clarke, Sam Harper, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Gilkes and D’Arcy Short

Outside of Colin Munro all my Batsmen either wicket-keep or potentially bowl in games giving them the opportunity to score in multiple facets.

Joe Clarke and Sam Harper should both feature at the top of their respective batting line ups after swapping teams in the off-season. Even though Harper has a Round 2 bye, having both him and Clarke will help maximise my double game players in Rounds 3 and 5.

Will Sutherland is the leading wicket taker in the Marsh Cup and showed what he can do with the bat late in games last season. Removing his first 3 games last season he averaged 68 which means there potentially value there.

Sam Harper in action for the Renegades last season. (Photo by Jonathan DiMaggio/Getty Images)

Colin Munro is my 2nd Heat player. The former left-handed international is the least likely player to be rested in Round 1 and with games at Adelaide and Manuka, should get off the chain in one of his stints at the crease. In the T10 series he didn’t get dismissed and had a S/R of 190 which is what you want to activate the batting bonus. Then there’s Maxi. There’s no other player with the ability to score from all the facets of the game. If the Big Show wasn’t locked in every team, he absolutely should be after his heroic 201 not out versus Afghanistan in the World Cup, followed by his 100 against India in the recent T20 series.

For my bench spots I have been debating between Matt Gilkes, D’Arcy Short, Jake Fraser-McGurk and Cooper Connolly.

I currently have Gilkes and Short in as I want the ability to maximise my Double Game players in Round 2 and 4. Gilkes is the one who most likely will change as he plays later in the Round and if JFM or Connolly who have been in terrific recent form are named in the top order then they are easy pivots for me.

BOWLERS:

Michael Neser, Tom Curran, Adam Zampa, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Haris Rauf, Tanveer Sangha and Ben Manenti

Michael Neser and Tom Curran have been the two players that I have chopped and changed the most. With Neser pulling out the PM XI game he does become a lock if named for game one. Tom Curran will be used as a late order hitter and a key part of the Sixers bowling attack. Jhye Richarson and Aaron Hardie have been very much in consideration for either of these spots. Aaron Hardie is the most likely one to be swapped in, and as he plays before Curran I can monitor the final Scorchers line ups before making the choice. No matter which way I go it will be a case of trading either with Neser to give me the cash to bring in Matt Short and Dave Payne for their Round 2 double.

Once again planning for Round 3 Renegades double game is going to be crucial. Zampa and Mujeeb will be the keys for the Gades bowling attack in the middle overs. I considered starting just the one but with question marks about Kane Richardson after his glute injury it’s easier to take out the guesswork and start both.

Haris Rauf has been cleared by Pakistan to play the first 5 Stars games. Unfortunately, that means he won’t be here for the Stars Round 5 double but is too good of a bowler not to start. If he gets the opportunity to bowl at lower orders in the death overs his raw pace should be too quick and I can see him picking up a few wickets in his short time here.

Ben Manenti and Young leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha get the nod as my final selections. Manenti looks to be the obvious replacement for Rashd Khan after he withdrew from the tournament. As the front-line spinner his BE of 25 followed by a Round 2 double is too appealing. Sangha recent form in the T20 International series shows he has put the disappointment of last season behind him after being struck down with a back injury and presents great value at 83k as well as locking in one Thunder player for their Round 4 double.

SuperCoach Insider Swiz's BBL team.

HONEYBALL CREATOR BEN SOMERFORD’S TEAM REVEAL

I’m not one to tinker daily with my SuperCoach BBL squad.

In fact, until undertaking this team reveal exercise, I still had Rashid Khan in my team, despite SuperCoach erasing him from of the game!

However, with a few days left til BBL starts, the time has come. Needless to say, with the daily news coming through (stay tuned to Honeyball for all that … and the Herald Sun of course), it’ll change a whole heap more before the first ball on Thursday.

It’s nothing new to say the premise of my side is trying to maximise the fixture to my advantage, with an obvious lean towards Brisbane Heat players with their Round 1 triple, while the rest of my starting 11 are on doubles. But I’ve tried not to overcommit on too many players in any one fixture, so there’s a spread of teams plus exit trade plans team-by-team moving forward.

There’s also some planning on the bench with Adelaide Strikers for their stand-alone Round 2 double and some cash generation options on the pine too. One of them, however, may need to go if my VC pops and I need a non-playing player (NPP).

That’s a problem for later though.

I do want to emphasise every player has a purpose in my squad. Points on field are critical in a nine-round season, but so too is quick cash generation, so it’s a balancing act. I’ve also avoided the six most expensive players, which is risky with Jhye Richardson and Sean Abbott but I just think their value will slide.

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WICKETKEEPERS

Billings/McDermott

I’m not 100 per cent sold on Billings’ inclusion as he’s a 30-point-a-game kind of guy, but if he manages that three times on a triple that’s a good score — noting back-to-back SC BBL champ Andrew Langley’s target of 55 points per score involvement. I’d look to trade Billings pretty quickly after Round 1 though. He certainly shouldn’t drop much in price.

Ben McDermott looks a big cash gen option, sitting second for Marsh Cup runs this season. We’ve seen his massive ceiling previously too. Should bat top 3 for Hobart.

Nic Maddinson has raced into Ben Somerford’s team.

BATSMEN

Hardie/Munro/Maxwell/Walter/Maddinson – D.Short/Wood

I wouldn’t normally pick a bat-only like Munro but a Round 1 triple is too irresistible. English all-rounder Paul Walter is an unknown as a BBL newb but the price, probable role and triple is good enough to take a punt on ‘Tall Paul’. I certainly wasn’t scared off when studying his T20 Blast and The Hundred numbers for the Honeyball magazine (you should buy this!).

Maxy is a no-brainer and VC option, while Perth’s bowling shortage has led me to paying high for all-rounder Aaron Hardie who I think should get some overs and may be a captain option given the timing of Perth’s games, allowing you to get a look at two games from a Heat VC. Nic Maddinson is my biggest POD but I love the Gades’ early fixture with five games in the first three rounds, plus I think he’ll open with QDK out early and may bowl some overs. When QDK returns, I think he’ll still bat top 4. I am a little concerned he’s just returned from an ACL injury.

Assuming Jack Wood gets named up on Thursday, I’ll try loop him. D’Arcy Short is a bargain and ready for the Round 2 double.

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BOWLERS

Neser/Tye/Curran/Sutherland/Zampa – T.Sangha/Manenti

Michael Neser’s situation needs to be on your radar. He’s the most attractive Heat player from a SuperCoach perspective on the triple and if he’s suddenly available, you need him. But there’s a lot of ifs, revolving around his fitness having withdrawn from the four-day PM’s XI game due to soreness. He may play game 1 but miss game 2 given the injury so it’s not without risk.

I think death overs specialist Andrew Tye is a little overpriced but he looms as a captain option similar to Hardie. Tom Curran and Will Sutherland look set for good roles, batting 6-7 and bowling 3-4 overs and both have doubles. Adam Zampa’s World Cup form, price and fixture are enough to win me over too.

With Rashid Khan out, Ben Manenti is in my side. I’m not fully sold on this pick. He’s never been great at BBL level but it’s all about the Round 2 double. I may still change him.

Tanveer Sangha is stashed away as a cash gen pick given he missed all of last season. He’s also someone you’ll want to get cheap before the Thunder’s Round 4 double.

If you liked that squad or reasoning, head to Honeyball.com.au for more info, news and insights. Become a HB member or buy our SC BBL magazine.

Honeyball founder Ben Somerford's SuperCoach BBL team

DAMO’S TEAM REVEAL

Follow Damo at @damosc on Twitter/X and Damo’s SuperCoach on YouTube

I can’t remember the last time so much has been unknown, especially with all the hullabaloo about player availability.

There hasn’t been a day I haven’t tinkered with my team, but I think I have finally settled on something I like.

I thought I was crazy in not selecting any Sixers, but when two-time winner Andrew Langley revealed his team, I was glad I wasn’t alone in the thought.

Test players being available, and then not available has thrown a spanner in the works.

The Prime Minister’s XI has also deprived us of Michael Neser who I was hot on starting until his selection against Pakistan.

Brisbane Heat’s Sam Billings is Damo’s answer to Quinton de Kock’s withdrawal from the first few games of the BBL. (Picture: Russell Freeman/Getty Images)

WICKETKEEPERS

Sam Billings (Brisbane Heat $116,900 BAT-WKP)

Ben McDermott (Hobart Hurricanes $88,000 WKP-BAT)

McDermott at under 100k is too good to leave out, but a less than ideal BBL last summer was the reason we get such a bargain. His early fixture isn’t great, but doesn’t need a lot of chances to make money for us at his low price.

I had planned for Quinton de Kock, but him being out of the opening round has caused me to shift to Billings as my keeper and bring in Aaron Hardie.

Glenn Maxwell has been in incredible form for the Australian side in the past few months, but will it translate to the Big Bash? (Picture: Mike Owen/Getty Images)

BATTERS

Will Sutherland (Melbourne Renegades $158,400 BAT-BWL)

Colin Munro (Brisbane Heat $156,100 BAT)

Aaron Hardie (Perth Scorchers $178,300 BAT-BWL)

Glenn Maxwell (Melbourne Stars $118,300 BAT-BWL)

Cooper Connolly (Perth Scorchers $70,500 BAT-BWL)

D’Arcy Short (Adelaide Strikers $67,500 BAT)

Sam Whiteman (Perth Scorchers $62,500 BAT-WKP)

Colin Munro would be hard to leave out with Brisbane Heat having the triple game week first up, and his form leading up to the BBL is also hard to ignore with the Kiwi hitting boundaries for fun in competitions around the world.

I was already picking Gades all-rounder Will Sutherland, and he should play a key role in the Renegades campaign. An injury cloud over Kane Richardson opens the door right open for Sutherland to take up residence in the Renegades bowling attack, if he wasn’t already, as he has been a regular wicket taker at state level for Victoria in both the Sheffield Shield and Marsh Cup.

Maxwell has been in excellent form, and not much needs to be said that hasn’t already been said, while Billings will keep and bat top order while Jimmy Peirson is unavailable for the Heat.

Cooper Connolly should continue where he left off for the Scorchers, especially in the absence of Ashton Agar, while D’Arcy Short and Sam Whiteman have cash cow potential.

Will Sutherland has been in strong form for Victoria in the Sheffield Shield and the Marsh Cup. (Picture: Sarah Reed/Getty Images)

BOWLERS

Jhye Richardson (Perth Scorchers $247,000 BWL)

Jason Behrendorff (Perth Scorchers $177,600 BWL)

Adam Zampa (Melbourne Renegades $131,900 BWL)

Spencer Johnson (Brisbane Heat $125,500 BWL)

Paul Walter (Brisbane Heat $105,000 BAT-BWL)

Tanveer Sangha (Sydney Thunder $83,800 BWL)

Peter Siddle (Melbourne Renegades $75,500 BWL)

Perth bowling pair Richardson and Behrendorff are in form and raring to go. The Dorff has bowled two maiden overs against India for Australia, and has been Kryptonite for the Indian batting attack, while Richardson appears to be over his injury troubles, for now, with 4 wickets and 10 maidens in the Sheffield Shield against Queensland.

Adam Zampa is going to do what he’s always done and was locked into my team early on, while Spencer Johnson and Paul Walter should play all three Brisbane Heat games in round one.

Tanveer Sangha is as cheap as he’s ever going to be, and you’d want him for the Sydney Thunder’s round 4 double so may as well grab him now and enjoy the cash rise in the meantime, while Peter Siddle is another who could benefit from Kane Richardson’s glute injury.

I haven’t quite settled on my VC/C for round one, and there’s still time to work that out, but I’ve given myself plenty of options.

Damo's SuperCoach BBL team reveal for season 2023-4.

Originally published as SuperCoach BBL: Swiz, Honeyball creator Ben Somerford, Damo reveal their teams