There are some big names on the SuperCoach Big Bash trade wishlist but who should we pick?

Maxwell v Christian, Wade v Richardson and Bravo v Archer. Tim Michell looks at the biggest SuperCoach BBL finals trade questions to maximise your chances of glory.

SuperCoach Big Bash finals choices.

SuperCoach BBL finals are upon us and you only have three matches left to make your move in the race for the ultimate prize.

The greatest issue confronting coaches intent on jumping further up the rankings is the likelihood many teams will look similar come finals, with players from only four teams available for selection.

BIBLE: SUPERCOACH BIG BASH FINALS GUIDE

SHOW: MASTERFUL MAXI SENDS STARS TO SEMIS

AFL: D’ARCY SHORT REVEALS HIS SUPERCOACH TEAM

A combination of Matthew Wade, D’Arcy Short, Aaron Finch, Sean Abbott, Nathan Lyon, Kane Richardson, Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis will feature in most teams.

Whether you’re willing to take a punt on a riskier prospect or point of difference pick might be the factor that defines your season.

Here’s five key match-ups to consider when deciding the make-up or your finals team …

Glenn Maxwell brings up his 50.

Is Dan Christian channelling Babe Ruth.

Glenn Maxwell ($186,100) v Dan Christian ($197,500)

Considering their high price tags, the likelihood will be you can only squeeze one of Renegades all-rounder Christian and Stars captain Maxwell into your team. As we saw in the last game of the regular season, Maxwell’s ability to score runs, and SuperCoach BBL points, quickly is almost without par. Maxwell bats at No.4 in a team with two Australian one-day players in the top three, so one question mark is how long he will bat for each game. There’s also the issue of whether he bowls and how many overs he delivers as the third spinner behind Sandeep Lamichhane and Adam Zampa. Since Aaron Finch returned to the Renegades team, Christian has regularly bowled four overs per game. Mohammad Nabi being recalled by Afghanistan only increases the likelihood the experienced Twenty20 player has more responsibility with the bat.

VERDICT: Christian is the safer option of the two. Pick Maxwell if you want the player with a higher ceiling.

Matthew Wade is batting angry after being overlooked.

Kane Richardson has scored more than 1000 SuperCoach points.

Matthew Wade ($216,700) v Kane Richardson ($231,000)

The third and fourth-highest priced players in SuperCoach BBL behind must-have picks Marcus Stoinis and D’Arcy Short. Wade has been in scintillating form throughout BBL08 and has clubbed scores of 84 not out, 64, 88, 58 and 45 in five of his past six innings. He has a three-round average of 117 as a result and has averaged 69 points per game for the tournament. Richardson is one of only four players who scored more than 1000 points during the regular season and the Renegades hosting Sydney Sixers at Marvel Stadium should help his scoring potential. He’s averaging two wickets per game and has 3-27, 2-17, 3-38 and 3-22 in his past four matches at the Renegades’ home ground.

VERDICT: Have both. But if you’re on a limited budget, the law of averages suggests to pick a bowler in Richardson.

Dwayne Bravo is in his first season with Melbourne Stars.

Jofra Archer has been in good form at Blundstone Arena.

Dwayne Bravo ($146,700) v Jofra Archer ($155,100)

Both West Indian all-rounder Bravo and recently-qualified English international Archer have been below their best in BBL08. Bravo has shown glimpses of his T20 talents, but has only taken five wickets in his past eight games which included a three-wicket haul against Adelaide Strikers in Moe. In contrast, Archer’s recent performances have suggested he’s close to returning to top form, snaring 2-28, 1-32, 2-19 and 1-22 in the lead-up to finals. Hobart is renowned as a batting deck due to Short and Wade’s dominance, but Archer has five wickets from his past three matches there.

VERDICT: Pick the man in form, Archer.

Aaron Finch has had an up-and-down season.

Spinner Adam Zampa is the safer option.

Aaron Finch ($121,900) v Adam Zampa ($119,600)

Two members of the Australian squad who returned to their respective sides of Melbourne in the latter rounds of BBL08. Finch has two knocks of 54 and 35 but has otherwise scored 14 or below since being dropped from the Test side. He’s also playing on the tricky batting deck at Marvel in the semi-finals. Zampa is a consistent scorer with a low standard deviation in scoring, but doesn’t have the ceiling a player like Finch does. He’s taken one wicket in five of the past nine games and went wicket-less in two of those. This is the ultimate risk-reward conundrum. Do you pick the player who could go berserk or bomb in finals or choose the safe option who’s likely to score between 40-60?

VERDICT: We’re too close to the end of the season to be overlooking bargain picks. Finch is exactly that.

Josh Phillipe wicketkeeping for Sydney Sixers.

Sam Harper wicketkeeping for Melbourne Renegades.

Josh Phillipe ($115,500) v Sam Harper ($96,600)

Need a point of difference keeper with the potential to go big? Phillipe and Harper are the best options. Phillipe has three scores under 10 since his breathtaking 86 not out against Hobart Hurricanes and made 20 in the most recent meeting between the Sixers and Renegades. There’s something to be said for a player guaranteed to bat and unless the Sixers shuffle their order, Phillipe is exactly that. Signed as a replacement player at the start of BBL08, Harper has usurped Tim Ludeman as the number one keeper at the Renegades and averaged 18 at a strike rate of 134 batting at No.3. He’s been dismissed for 0 and 10 in his past two innings at Marvel Stadium, but made 31 against the Sixers in Sydney.

VERDICT: Harper is $20,000 cheaper and with little else to split them, choose the Renegade and spend that money elsewhere.

FIVE KEYS TO SUPERCOACH BBL SUCCESS IN FINALS

- Point of difference picks are important (don’t just choose the most popular players)

- Do some loophole research and guarantee a strong score off the bench where possible

- Use the captaincy loophole by putting the VC on a Hobart or Stars player and having a non-finals player on your bench

- Pick Marcus Stoinis

- Pick D’Arcy Short

Originally published as There are some big names on the SuperCoach Big Bash trade wishlist but who should we pick?