SuperCoach BBL: With just two teams to pick from, is it actually harder to get it right?

With just one match making up Round 15, arguably the biggest SuperCoach question is whether or not you think one team will dominate the other

Sydner Sixers dominated their clash with the Melbourne Stars

With just one match making up Round 15, arguably the biggest SuperCoach question is whether or not you think one team will dominate the other, as happened in the two matches that made up the first finals round, or whether instead we get a close match with an even spread of topscoring players in SuperCoach BBL?

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The Hurricanes were the first to disappoint, bowled out for 140 despite their classy top order, after some lusty hitting at the top from Usman Khawaja and Alex Hales set the Sydney Thunder’s bowlers up to put the Hobart side under immediate pressure.

After securing top spot on the ladder by blitzing all-comers to start the season, the Stars have clearly lost their way and dropped four in a row. They have become tentative and circumspect in their batting approach in particular, and if their key batsmen fail then they have nothing to call upon in terms of batting depth to get it together. Or, perhaps, that assessment is doing a strong Sydney Sixers side a disservice – they bowled and fielded brilliantly.

BOOM OF THE ROUND: ADAM ZAMPA | MELBOURNE STARS | 131 points | 16.6% ownership

Despite his side not being able to take advantage, Zampa was superb for the Stars. If they are to resurrect their hopes in the competition this season, he could be a huge part of it. Taking four wickets at under six an over from his full quota, he also snagged a clever catch that saw him start in the circle, see that Henriques was going to play a lap sweep, and quickly back-pedal to be in a position in which he then had to move forward to take the catch. Zampa is a smart cricketer; how David Hussey must wish more of his teammates had his natural cricketing brain.

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There were no fireworks for Matthew Wade of the Hurricanes this round

BUST OF THE ROUND: MATTHEW WADE | HOBART HURRICANES | 19 points | 35% ownership

Oh dear. A captaincy favourite following his blistering hitting against the Strikers in the final home and away round of the BBL|09 season saw the Hurricanes secure a home final, Wade’s short stay at the crease – just 11 balls faced – ultimately went a long way toward the Hurricanes failing to come close to the Thunder’s total of 197 in a blowout loss. It’s a shame for fans of power hitting that he failed to bring that sort of performance in the finals as it’s so entertaining to watch.

UNIQUE OF THE ROUND: JONO COOK | SYDNEY THUNDER | BWL | 131 points | 2% ownership

When you consider that there were really only 44 players to pick from in Round 14 of the SuperCoach BBL season, it’s amazing that Cook’s ownership was so low. He rewarded those who had faith in the tall tweaker’s abilities, snagging 4/21 from his full allotment of four overs. While there’s no doubt that the runs piled on by the Thunder bats in the opening innings gave him license to attack with the ball, to do so takes real courage. Now the question is whether or not he can do it against the Strikers at the Oval.

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Can you risk SuperCoach BBL this round without Alex Carey in your side?

PLAYERS TO TARGET NEXT ROUND

Can Jono Cook do it again for the Thunder, or will the Strikers’ bevy of left-handed hitters at the top of their order target the short square boundaries of the Adelaide Oval to push for victory in their Knockout Final?

ALEX CAREY | ADELAIDE STRIKERS | WKP / BAT | 59.7 avg. | $163,500

Since returning from playing with the Australian One Day International side in India, Carey has totalled 109 in a hard fought victory against the Stars and 61 points trying to chase down a big total from the Hurricanes. With a phalanx of quicks to keep to – all of Peter Siddle, Wes Agar, Michael Neser, and Billy Stanlake are expected to play against the Thunder – he’s every chance of snaring a few caught behinds, and his quick reflexes could see him execute a few stumpings off the bowling of Rashid Khan too.

CALLUM FERGUSON | SYDNEY THUNDER | BAT | 38.7 avg. | $67,100

Returning to his home deck, Ferguson knows the Adelaide Oval like the back of his hand. In Round 4 of the SuperCoach BBL season, Ferg made his New Year’s Eve a happy one, leading his side brilliantly as they took the points to spoil the Strikers’ party, as he himself totalled 131 SuperCoach points. Look for him to try to emulate his heroics with the bat in his return home.

PLAYERS TO AVOID NEXT ROUND

BILLY STANLAKE | ADELAIDE STRIKERS | BWL | 21.4 avg. | $81,400

Expected to lead the Strikers’ bowling attack, Stanlake has instead endured a horror Big Bash season, with only one standout performance against the Melbourne Stars in Round 12, when he made 85 points. The week after it was a -3 as the likes of Matthew Wade and D’Arcy Short got ahold of his bowling and dispatched him to all corners. He’s definitely been replaced in their pace pecking order by Wes Agar.

Usman Khawaja of the Thunder is hitting form at the right time of the season, but do you trust him?

USMAN KHAWAJA | SYDNEY THUNDER | BAT | 33.1 avg. | $76,100

Yep, he finally showcased his hitting ability in the first final, but what faith do you have that he can do it again? He started brilliantly in Round 1, but that is just a fading memory, with just two instances of passing 50 points in a round since. He’s had a very disappointing summer, but perhaps his recent form and his last hit out at Adelaide Oval – most recently batting aggressively, creatively, and taking a catch to bank 93 points against the Hurricanes and previously tallying 84 against the Strikers – indicate that not all hope is lost for the former Australian representative to make something of his otherwise disappointing summer.

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CAPTAIN’S CHOICE

Khan he come back? Like all his teammates, Rashid Khan struggled to contain the lusty hitting of the Hurricanes in his last match at Adelaide Oval, and he has not passed 100 points in a round since Round 7, when he completely dominated and took a hat-trick against the Sydney Sixers.

Clearly the best bowler this season, Daniel Sams of the Thunder is congratulated for yet another wicket

Is he still the best bet as a skipper this round, particularly given that his late order batting has become an extra indication of what he has to offer from a SuperCoach perspective? Or could the guileful bowling of Chris Morris, Alex Hales’ hitting ability, or Daniel Sams be a Thunder-ful selection? That Thunder trio are in a particularly strong form of late and could definitely be vital in securing a win if they score big when earning double points.

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Originally published as SuperCoach BBL: With just two teams to pick from, is it actually harder to get it right?