KFC SuperCoach: Best trade targets for Round 8
Round 8 of KFC SuperCoach BBL is set to go ahead as planned but which Stars players can you count on? And who should you grab in advance? All the best options.
SuperCoach BBL
Don't miss out on the headlines from SuperCoach BBL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Just like that, the home stretch of KFC SuperCoach BBL is upon us for another year.
In the next three weeks, the destination of the $25,000 major prize will be decided and another seven round prizes are up for grabs — including the coveted baggy green trackie.
But there is plenty of water to go under the bridge.
And that was before Covid ripped through the BBL, sidelining 10 Stars players and four from Sydney Thunder, and Scorchers Mitch Marsh and Josh Inglis were called up to the Test squad as cover for Travis Head.
The good news is Round 8 of KFC SuperCoach BBL is set go ahead as planned, and Melbourne Stars will play twice, albeit with makeshift lineup. Hobart has the bye.
Perth and Adelaide then have the double in Round 9, an important two-round stretch which will be crucial in deciding the KFC SuperCoach BBL winner.
Unless you’re still holding Scorchers from their Round 4 double, or already have Rashid Khan, you will need to plan your trades in advance for Round 9 to ensure you get the double game week players you need.
Plan ahead and you’ll be primed for the last two weeks of the KFC SuperCoach campaign.
TOP TARGETS FOR ROUND 8
The Stars
Haris Rauf $151,000 BWL (Stars) Break even: 54
In the Stars’ time of need, Rauf is about to be unleashed on BBL11 and his impact in KFC SuperCoach has been profound. He started at $42k in his debut tournament two summers ago, scoring 80, 156, 108 and 150 during an incredible run which announced him as one of the most lethal T20 bowlers in the world. He was much less influential in three BBL appearances last summer but that means he comes at a discount of almost $50k on his BBL10 starting price. He shapes as one of the must-have players for Round 8, especially with many other high-scoring teammates missing.
Glenn Maxwell $206,300 BAT-BWL (Stars) Break even: 183
Did you trade the Aussie star out after the Stars’ Round 7 game was called off? You weren’t alone. But now ask yourself this, do you really want to go without him in a double-game round, in a depleted side?
Joe Clarke $109,000 WKP-BAT (Stars) Break even: -5
The Englishman is building nicely, with KFC SuperCoach scores of 72 and 120 in the past two rounds, following consecutive half-centuries. A terrific value option, who will remain at the top of the batting order and take the gloves.
Hilton Cartwright $148,000 BAT (Stars) Break even: 13
It’s a similar story for Cartwright, who blasted 79 off 44 in a partnership with Clarke in the Stars’ last match. He’s now posted KFC SuperCoach scores of 58, 71, 61 and 144 in is past four games and the 29-year-old could bat even higher with Marcus Stoinis and Joe Burns missing.
Qais Ahmad $125,000 BWL (Stars) Break even: 10
Another in-form Stars player who has dodged the Covid chaos engulfing the team. The spinner has taken seven wickets in four BBL matches this summer, and claimed four Heat scalps, on his way to 122 KFC SuperCoach points, in his last appearance.
Thinking ahead
Rashid Khan $176,600 BWL (Strikers) Break even: 131
Some KFC SuperCoach BBL coaches call him the GOAT and it’s hard to argue otherwise. Rashid is incredibly consistent and although he hasn’t been at his best in BBL11, he’s still found a way to rack up points. Khan has been dealing with a few injury niggles but just as his price was on the way back up, the Strikers gun went wicketless against the Thunder, scoring just 25 points. With a high breakeven, he could fall even further so there’s no rush this round. But his high ownership means every round he scores well, coaches without Khan fall further behind.
Matt Renshaw $104,600 BAT-BWL (Strikers) Break even: -35
Renshaw has seemed to have found his groove at No. 3 for the Strikers after returning from Australia A duty. He’s still yet to bowl, but clubbed 63 in Round 6 and hit another quick-fire 38 against the Thunder on New Year’s Eve. After KFC SuperCoach scores of 93 and 53, Renshaw is set for another significant price rise so now could be the right time to get on ahead of the Round 9 double.
Colin Munro $137,600 BAT (Scorchers) Break even: -36
It also looks to be the time to jump on the big-hitting Scorcher, who could bat further up the order in the absence of Marsh and Inglis. But, in saying that, Munro has been going just fine where is his. Yes, there’s been multiple failures, but there’s also been KFC SuperCoach scores of 154, 93 and 89 - the latter two coming in his past two matches. Do you want to go without him in a double-game round? Also keep an eye on teammate Aaron Hardie ($100 BAT-BWL), who could work his way back into the side with Marsh and Inglis missing.
Peter Siddle $97,900 BWL (Strikers) Break even: 54
While prone to a low score (see his Round 4 score of three), Siddle is cheap for a player who regularly bowls at the death — when most KFC SuperCoach points are accumulated by bowlers. Siddle bowls the 20th in almost every match for the Strikers and inevitably strikes more often than not to increase his score. Despite the inconsistent form, he needs to be strongly considered at the price — especially with the Strikers sharing a double with the Scorchers in Round 9.
The others
Dan Christian $153,400 BAT-BWL (Sixers) Break even: 71
The season-ending injury to Tom Curran has given veteran all-rounder Christian a perfect role for KFC SuperCoach. In the Sixers’ first game without Curran, Christian took three wickets and came in at No.6. The arrival of all-rounder Shadab Khan and return of Jackson Bird from injury could have some impact on his bowling role, although it’s likely Christian will continue to be a key weapon with bat and ball for the rest of BBL11. His price has dropped significantly from the start of the season and anything less than $150k-$160k is good buying.
Marcus Stoinis approx prices for R7 (has a R8 double)
— Tim Michell (@tim_michell) December 27, 2021
0 pts: 83k
10 pts: 86k
20 pts: 89k#supercoach
Daniel Sams $185,100 BAT-BWL (Thunder) Break even: 58
The premier KFC SuperCoach all-rounder of the past two seasons hasn’t quite been at his best yet, but was still in the top-15 points scorers of the season after five rounds. Besides a huge blip when he scored one against the Stars, Sams didn’t post less than 41 points in the first five rounds — and that was largely without contributing with the bat. If his price stays under $200k and the power-hitting we saw in Round 5 returns regularly, Sams is one of the best Round 8 buys. And that was before he took four wickets, on his way to 94 KFC SuperCoach points, against the Strikers.
Ben McDermott $262,500 WKP-BAT (Hurricanes) Break even: 24
After his historic back-to-back tons in the Round 6 KFC SuperCoach double, McDermott was all set to surge past the $300k barrier. But a third-ball duck against the Heat means his price will remain steady. But McDermott was the difference between nailing the Round 6 double or struggling, as evidenced by the number of coaches who scored 1500 points or more compared to those who struggled to reach 800. And the Hurricanes play twice again in Round 10.
Sean Abbott $234,000 BWL (Sixers) Break even: 10
Abbott is a bit like the big kid who rules the playground when he features in the BBL. The newly-minted leading wicket-taker in BBL history has a great role to post big points, bowling in the power play and at the death while batting at No.7. He is averaging a wicket about every two overs in the past two seasons which equals a guaranteed 40 points before you factor in economy rate bonuses, dot balls and fielding. Double game round or not, Abbott is just about a must-have if you’re serious about contending.
Shadab Khan $138,700 BAT-BWL (Sixers) Break even: 79
A few years after turning out for Brisbane Heat, Pakistani all-rounder Shadab Khan is back to fill the void left by Tom Curran’s season-ending injury at the Sixers. He boasts 73 wickets from 64 career T20 internationals, a batting average of 18.3 and a strike rate of 136.8. The leg-spinner debut against the Heat and was set to line-up alongside returning Stephen O’Keefe before rain washes out the Sixers’ Round 7 fixture. Quality spinners have racked up KFC SuperCoach points for years and Shadab has the potential to add to that list. When he played for the Heat as a teenager, he snared six wickets in three games at an average of 14.2.
Mohammad Nabi $77,000 BAT-BWL (Renegades) Break even: 71
Nabi’s role, or rather lack thereof, has shades of Dan Christian’s last season with the Renegades when he batted middle-to-lower order and was lucky to bowl two overs a game. The man known as the president is batting about No. 6 and has gone some games without being used by either stand-in skipper Kane Richardson or Nic Maddinson with the ball. History tells us a big score is coming from Nabi at some point and although the role he is playing isn’t appealing, he becomes a legitimate option if he gets to under $100k. The Renegades play twice in Round 11, so you would be banking on holding him until then.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman $132,700 BWL (Heat) Break even: -14
Before Round 7, Nabi’s compatriot Mujeeb had failed to reproduce his heroics from BBL10, which caused him to be priced at $208k to start the tournament. By Round 6, Mujeeb’s price had already dropped to $116k and was set to plummet further. But then the spinner took 3/20 against the Hurricanes to post his first three-figure KFC SuperCoach score of the summer. If you think Mujeeb has turned the corner, he’s still great value but, with a negative breakeven, he won’t be this cheap for long.
Ben Dwarshuis $146,500 BWL (Sixers) Break even: -30
The Sixers’ big quick is another player who came with a big price tag at the start of the tournament. But after scores of 26 and one to kick off his campaign after returning from injury, Dwarshuis was already under $150k by Round 5. Watch for him to work his way into full fitness and if he’s up and running, you might get a serious bargain. He should bowl the 19th over every innings with Abbott delivering the 20th, but that’s still a friendly role for KFC SuperCoach.
More Coverage
Originally published as KFC SuperCoach: Best trade targets for Round 8
‘Best people’: Former Test captain in shock new role
Three years after he was forced to quit the Australian captaincy, Tim Paine is back in a key cricket role.
Heat unveils teen quick as latest signing
One of Australia’s most promising young fast bowlers has signed a deal with BBL champions Brisbane Heat.