SuperCoach BBL: Best trade targets for round 7 profiled
Three teams have the double in round 7 of SuperCoach BBL, presenting the perfect opportunity to supercharge your team for the run home. We profile the best trade targets here.
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If round 1 was the KFC SuperCoach BBL super round, round 7 is boost round.
That’s because if you’re still holding onto the last of your precious boosts, this is the round to hit the button.
Three teams are on the double, with Brisbane Heat, Perth Scorchers and Hobart Hurricanes playing twice.
The Scorchers will have just featured twice in round 6, so many KFC SuperCoach teams will already be flush with Perth players.
But there is a great opportunity to target some of the top scorers from the Heat and Hurricanes, in particular Hobart which has not had a double in BBL13.
Just be mindful when making your trades that the Heat has a round 9 bye.
If you're in the mix for rankings glory — or just chasing bragging rights against your mates — this is the round to make your move.
KEY ROUND 7 TARGETS
Paul Walter (Heat)
The big Englishman known as tall Paul has become a cult hero of BBL13 and key cog in a Brisbane Heat team mounting a title push. There were doubts early in the campaign about his role, batting at No. 6 and not being guaranteed a bowl in a team boasting Neser, Johnson, Bartlett and two spinners. But he has defied those expectations to become one of the best SuperCoach scorers of the summer and almost doubled in price from $105k. Walter has bowled in every match and taken wickets in four out of five, including multiple scalps in three games. You’re going to have to pay up, but he’s likely to hurt you if you don’t. The role is just too good to ignore.
Xavier Bartlett (Heat)
Bartlett has been a huge find for the Heat this season, going from the one-over wonder of a few summers ago to one of the leading quicks in the BBL. The 25-year-old has added extra tricky to his bowling arsenal and been able to be used at key times, including as a surge bowler, in BBL13. Bartlett has taken wickets in five consecutive matches and is sitting near the top of the BBL13 wickettakers tally behind only Daniel Sams.
Spencer Johnson (Heat)
The $1.8m IPL man looks to be nearing his best form after an interrupted build-up before BBL13. Johnson has taken a wicket in four out of five matches including an impressive 2-24 against Sydney Thunder recently. Johnson is likely to be priced around the $120-$130k range which will make him an affordable option alongside more expensive targets such as Walter and Bartlett.
Nikhil Chaudhary (Hurricanes)
Plucked out of the T20 Max competition in Brisbane, the big-hitting, leg-spinning all-rounder has been one of the finds of BBL13. SuperCoaches who started with Chaudary as a loophole have been gifted a great all-rounder who has just become a regular part of the Hurricanes bowling attack in time for his double. He has scored of 32 and 40 this season and took 2-26 against Sydney Thunder to highlight his talents with the ball. Don’t be too proud to pay up if you missed out. The role is there.
Nathan Ellis (Hurricanes)
The Hurricanes captain has the death bowling role on lock and although his campaign hasn’t hit any great heights Ellis was still Hobart’s leading wicket-taker after six matches. He has remained at an affordable price and is averaging a wicket roughly every three overs, which equates to 40 points as a starting point in the double. Two of his last three games against Hobart’s first round 7 opponent Brisbane resulted in scores of 61 and 104. It’s worth noting the Hurricanes’ second game of the double is at Adelaide Oval – a batting paradise.
Chris Jordan (Hurricanes)
Another Hurricanes bowler who has struggled with his economy rate in BBL13, conceding 9.6 runs an over. The Englishman has also only managed three wickets in six matches. Despite those underwhelming returns, Jordan was still averaging 44.6 and SuperCoach points before a return of 26 against Melbourne Renegades in round 6. He has been rocks diamonds SuperCoach pick, scoring 120 when he smashed a record fifty against Perth n a Scorchers and 69 against Sydney Thunder. But otherwise, Jordan has four scores of 26 points or less including a two in round 3. If you pick players based on role, he stands out. But there’s certainly risk of a low score involved.
Matthew Wade (Hurricanes)
Those who have been playing SuperCoach BBL for several years will recall BBL09 when Wade returned from international duties with scores of 204 and 224 SuperCoach points across two doubles late in the season. They were scores which made him a make-or-break pick and had a huge impact on the overall rankings – especially for those who captained him. The issue this season is that Wade is managing a back issue and would be no guarantee of featuring in both games of the double. Like McDermott, he only needs to face 30-40 balls to be capable of a SuperCoach score above 100. But if he missed out in game one and then didn’t play game two, you’d be in trouble. A classic risk-reward trade option, especially at the higher price.
Ben McDermott (Hurricanes)
McDermott has made a strong return from concussion, scoring 53 not out and 25 in his past two BBL knocks. He hasn’t gone close to making the cash those who started him expected and will be available for just over $100k this round. McDermott’s last three matches against Adelaide Strikers have yielded SuperCoach scores of 102, 98 and 175 (with innings of 57 off 30 balls and 53 from 33 balls in BBL12 against the Strikers). If you’ve already got Josh Inglis from the round 6 Scorchers double, trade McDermott in and field him as one of your batters. His ceiling is so big, you could pay dearly for fading him.
Laurie Evans (Scorchers)
If the casual BBL fan or SuperCoach hadn’t heard of Laurie Evans before round 6, they certainly have now. The English T20 journeyman clubbed 14 boundaries (seven sixes) in a club record innings of 85 not out from 28 balls in the first of two round 6 matches against Adelaide Strikers. A score of 120 points was a dream return for those who took the plunge at $66k despite Evans batting at No.5. You’re likely to pay closer to $100k to pick him up in round 4 and although this trade would normally be considered points chasing, often targeting the hot hand pays off in SuperCoach BBL. Don’t dismiss him just because you have to pay $30-40k more than other coaches did last round.
Colin Munro (Heat)
BBL SuperCoach rounds come and go in a flash, so it’s easy to forget that it was less than a month ago Munro opened the season with a round 1 score of 190. He’s struggled since then, producing scores of 12, 10 and 9 in SuperCoach. The last of those scores will cause Munro’s price to crash back toward $150k and make him a genuine trade option for this round. The first of Brisbane’s round 7 matches – Hobart at the Gabba – appeals with the Hurricanes struggling to take wickets. But the second, against Perth Scorchers, looks more daunting. Still might be the best of the Heat’s batters to trade in with a guarantee of batting twice though.
Sam Whiteman (Scorchers)
Whiteman made his return to the Scorchers side as an opener in round 6, proving perfect timing for those who had stashed the keeper-bat as a loophole since round 1. He partnered Zak Crawley at the top of the order and marked his return to Perth with an inventive knock of 31 from 21 balls against the Strikers. Trading in a WKP-BAT might give you the flexibility to move on a player such as Joe Clarke (injured), Quinton de Kock (leaving BBL13) or Sam Harper (form). Just make sure you can field Whiteman and don’t need the flexibility one of those players would provide as your bench wicketkeeper before trading them.
Originally published as SuperCoach BBL: Best trade targets for round 7 profiled
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