SuperCoach BBL trade guide: death bowlers proving their worth, plus best Round 8 top trades

Every Twenty20 team needs a bowler capable of holding their nerve at the death and it’s proving no difference in SuperCoach BBL. Plus, our best Round 8 trade targets.

James Faulkner celebrates a Hobart Hurricanes win.

Every Twenty20 team needs a bowler capable of holding their nerve at the death.

SuperCoach BBL is no different.

The bulk of bowling points have been earned this season between overs 16-20, when 109 of the 328 wickets which fell in the first 27 matches of BBL08 were taken.

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Sydney Sixers’ English paceman Tom Curran, West Indian all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, Melbourne Renegades’ Kane Richardson and Perth Scorchers’ Andrew Tye have been the most successful death bowlers in this summer’s Big Bash League.

After six rounds, the quartet had taken seven wickets between overs 16-20, while Hobart Hurricanes James Faulkner (six) and Jofra Archer (five) had also been lethal.

Due to the inconsistency of SuperCoach BBL, it is difficult to pinpoint the statistic needed to set yourself apart from the pack.

Andrew Tye has been a death overs success.

Dwayne Bravo in action for Melbourne Stars.

However, it is clear having bowlers who deliver the latter overs of an innings in your side can make a huge difference.

Overs 20 (28 wickets), 17 (24 wickets) and 19 (23 wickets) have been the most problematic for batsmen, be it chasing quick runs to set a formidable target or to reel in a score.

Curran had the best SuperCoach average of any player after six rounds (84.9) and much of his success in magenta can be attributed to his ability to bamboozle batsmen late in an innings.

The Englishman has snared four wickets in the 20th over of BBL08 games, a record matched by only Richardson and Bravo.

Sydney Thunder all-rounder Daniel Sams (three 20th over wickets), Michael Neser (two) and James Faulkner (two) are the other bowlers with multiple wickets in the final over this season.

Danger Zones

Overs with Most Wickets		Overs with Fewest Wickets
Overs	Wickets	Overs	Wickets
20	28	1	8
17	24	2	10
19	23	14	10

Many teams have moved on Sams and Curran in recent rounds, mindful the pair does not have another double game week.

Unless you acquire a premium option in exchange, I’d advise holding these players for as long as possible.

Adelaide Strikers have a bye in Round 8, while Hobart Hurricanes take on Melbourne Stars and Perth Scorchers in a double game week.

The Hurricanes’ double means Faulkner will be one of the key targets for SuperCoaches.

While he has only scored six runs this season with the Hurricanes, the ex-Australian all-rounder has taken 10 wickets and bowled 51 dot balls.

TOP TARGETS

D’Arcy Short ($264,000, Hurricanes)

Most coaches who brought in Adelaide Strikers captain Travis Head in Round 7 will choose to move him on to Short before he joins the Test squad to face Sri Lanka. It’s a logical move. Before he missed out against Melbourne Renegades, Short had scores of 119, 95, 113, 127 and 94. He scored 208 in his last double game week and is worth every cent of his high price tag.

James Faulkner ($163,800, Hurricanes)

Faulkner has a pivotal role in Hobart’s bowling line-up, taking the new ball and returning to limit runs in the death overs. He’s averaging 60.7 and is the second-highest scoring Hurricane behind Short. It’s a bonus for team balance he’s available as a BAT/BWL option.

Matthew Wade celebrates a wicket for Hobart Hurricanes.

Matthew Wade ($149,900, Hurricanes)

If Round 7 was a nightmare for wicketkeeping options, Round 8 is a dream. Wade has an average of 51 points per game and will be guaranteed to bat twice at the top of the order for the Hurricanes. You can decide whether you want to carry Wade or Alex Carey to the end of the season in Round 9.

Jofra Archer ($130,700, Hurricanes)

The recently-qualified English international has been below his best in BBL08 but his ceiling is too high to overlook. At $130,700, Archer is available for more than $40,000 less than his starting price. He opened the campaign with scores of 78 and 114 but has since posted 11, 32, 43 and 19.

Riley Meredith ($124,400, Hurricanes)

Alongside Faulkner and Archer, Meredith has emerged as one of the breakthrough performers of BBL08. He regularly bowls four overs at searing pace and is still in less than 10 per cent of teams. He’ll cost almost double his starting price but is still a potential bargain at $124,400.

Riley Meredith celebrates a wicket for Hobart Hurricanes.

POD MOVES

Ben McDermott ($111,000, Hurricanes)

While McDermott is in almost 20 per cent of teams, he’ll be a point of difference this week as most coaches will opt for Wade. McDermott isn’t taking the gloves but is available as a BAT/WK and is as damaging as any T20 batsman in Australia when he fires. Batting at four potentially limits his scoring, but he’s well worth consideration at only $111,000.

George Bailey ($108,500, Hurricanes)

Fresh from taking apart the Melbourne Renegades on a tricky batting wicket at Docklands, Bailey represents the value option of the Hobart batsmen ahead of Round 8. You’ll be relying on early wickets to fall as he’s batting at No.5, but there’s no doubt he’s a man in serious form. He scored 107 in Round 6 after compiling 70 not out against the Renegades.

Brendon McCullum

Is Baz back? His brilliant half-century against Melbourne Renegades in Round 6 certainly suggested so. McCullum is still available for less than his starting price and Brisbane Heat have another double game week coming up in Round 11. Adelaide Strikers and Hobart Hurricanes also have the double that round, so you need to start planning ahead now to avoid being left short.

Andrew Tye

Much like McCullum, Tye made an uncharacteristically slow start to BBL08. Considered one of the premier Twenty20 bowlers in Australia, Tye only had four wickets for the tournament before he ripped through Melbourne Stars with 4-18. That haul netted him a score of 139 and put him back on the radar of SuperCoaches. Perth has a bye in Round 9 but you’d be one trade ahead of others when the Scorchers return with a double in Round 10.

Originally published as SuperCoach BBL trade guide: death bowlers proving their worth, plus best Round 8 top trades