Prime Minister’s XI squad vs Pakistan: KFC SuperCoach BBL winners and losers assessed

The Prime Minister’s XI squad is in — and it’s bad news for KFC SuperCoach BBL teams. We assess the winners and losers and what moves you must make before round 1.

KFC SuperCoach teams have been thrown a huge curve ball with the selection of the Prime Minister’s XI squad to face Pakistan next month.

The tour match is on from December 6-9 in Canberra, taking in the opening three days of the Big Bash League.

KFC SuperCoaches had been hopeful Brisbane Heat players — in particular Michael Neser — would be left to play BBL rather than be part of the tour game.

But Neser is one of four Heat players who have been chosen to take on Pakistan, meaning he will miss at least the first two games of Brisbane’s round 1 triple.

The news will throw thousands of SuperCoach teams into a tailspin.

As of Thursday, when the squad was announced, Neser was chosen in 48 per cent of KFC SuperCoach teams and was the most-popular round 1 captaincy choice.

The initial reaction will be panic, but it’s not all doom and gloom.

The flow-on effects of the squad will mean several KFC SuperCoach cheapies get an opportunity in the ‘super round’ which kicks off BBL13.

We’ve assessed the winners and losers here:

Sam Billings is likely to be behind the stumps in round 1 for Brisbane. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

WINNERS

Sam Billings

The Englishman seems likely to be behind the stumps for the opening two games with Jimmy Peirson chosen as the PM’s XI gloveman. A few catches and a stumping or two would be bonus points for coaches who start with Billings.

Jack Wildermuth/Paul Walter

With Neser out, Wildermuth should get an opportunity to make one of the all-rounder spots at Brisbane his own. His recent first-class form is encouraging and he’s only $91k in KFC SuperCoach BBL. Walter was already likely to be in the Heat XI but could pick up extra overs with Neser missing.

Coaches who were planning to leave out Quinton de Kock

Thought you didn’t have enough money in your $2m SuperCoach salary cap for both Neser and South African World Cup hero Quinton de Kock? Problem solved. Neser is $194k and de Kock only $180k, so you can make a $14k profit by swapping those two players. Andrew Tye is another option around the same price, while it costs about $53k to turn Neser into Jhye Richardson.

Cash cow hunters

Brisbane Heat’s squad has been absolutely decimated and it means there’s likely to be at least 4-5 local replacement players named for round 1. Keep an eye on squad announcements for the $42k players that are added to KFC SuperCoach and you think could be great cash cows for round 1.

Jack Wood

The spin-bowling all-rounder has played twice for the Heat before and looms as a round 1 bolter after a strong campaign for Randwick Petersham in NSW’s Kingsgrove T20 competition. Wood impressed playing as an opener in that tournament and could slot in anywhere in Brisbane’s top six. At $62k and listed as a BAT-BWL, he’ll be hard to leave out if he’s picked for the season opener against the Stars.

Marcus Stoinis

Surely with Mark Steketee and Beau Webster out, Stoinis is going to have to bowl in round 1. He hasn’t done much bowling for the Stars for about three seasons but Glenn Maxwell isn’t exactly going to be flush with options to call on.

Michael Neser has been chosen in the PM’s XI squad. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

LOSERS

Michael Neser owners

It’s back to the drawing board. Neser might play the third game of round 1 on January 12 in Canberra, but you can’t pay $194k for one match when there are so many good options with doubles.

Brisbane Heat

The Heat have absolutely been dealt the harshest hand, losing four players to the PM’s XI. Of course, they are the team which has the first triple in KFC SuperCoach BBL. There will no doubt be opportunities for fringe players to call, but losing Neser, McSweeney, Peirson and Renshaw is a huge setback this close to the season.

Originally published as Prime Minister’s XI squad vs Pakistan: KFC SuperCoach BBL winners and losers assessed