BBL10 team previews: Sydney Sixers squad, best SuperCoach BBL buys rated

With a stable squad and a host of T20 stars, Sydney Sixers are shaping as a title contender again. We’ve rated their best buys in KFC SuperCoach ahead of BBL10.

Sixers skipper Moises Henriques powers a cover drive through the field.

The reigning champion should start BBL10 as one of the title favourites.

Their retention rate has been one of the best in the BBL off-season and that bodes ominously for the Sixers’ title rivals.

West Indian Carlos Brathwaite returns after last featuring for the Sixers in BBL07, while the addition of Dan Christian will provide insurance until Tom Curran arrives around Christmas.

The Sixers have depth in their batting and bowling stocks most other clubs would be envious of and that’s going to make them tough to knock from their perch.

Check out our thoughts on their BBL10 prospects and best KFC SuperCoach BBL buys.

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BBL10 SQUAD

Sean Abbott, Jackson Bird, Carlos Brathwaite, Dan Christian, Tom Curran, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Mickey Edwards, Moises Henriques (C), Daniel Hughes, Hayden Kerr, Nathan Lyon, Ben Manenti, Stephen O’Keefe, Josh Philippe, Lloyd Pope, Jordan Silk, Mitchell Starc, James Vince

In: Dan Christian (Renegades), Carlos Brathwaite (WI), Mitchell Starc

Out: Daniel Fallins, Justin Avendano, Josh Hazlewood, Steve Smith.

Internationals: Tom Curran (Eng), James Vince (Eng), Carlos Brathwaite (WI).

Tom Curran has been one of the BBL’s top bowlers in the past two tournaments.

KEY SUPERCOACH BBL PLAYERS

Tom Curran BAT-BWL BBL09 avg: 71.5

The English seamer has shown he’s more than capable with the bat, contributing 318 runs to go with his 42 wickets in the past two seasons. That puts Curran firmly in all-rounder territory in KFC SuperCoach and his availability as a BAT will make him one of the most popular picks of the summer again. Curran amassed 175 and 256 points in double game rounds last season and most impressively, a score of 165 in Round 7 when he took 4-22 and made 21 from 20 balls. The ‘set and forget’ pick isn’t as common in SuperCoach BBL as it is in SuperCoach AFL or NRL but if there is one, it’s Curran. Just be aware he won’t be here in Round 1 due to international duties with England.

Sean Abbott had one of the best KFC SuperCoach averages of any player last season.

Sean Abbott BWL BBL09 avg: 85.3

Abbott was shaping as one of the leading wicket-takers of BBL09 before a side strain restricted him to seven matches. He underlined his class in those games, snaring 14 wickets at an eye-popping average of 13.6. Only D’Arcy Short (85.7) and Jackson Coleman (102, one game) had a better average than Abbott’s 85.3 points. Abbott amassed scores of 174, 103, 180 and 116 in four of the five rounds he featured in last season, justifying his starting price of more than $200,000. He’s expensive again, but his dominant record in the BBL suggests he can vindicate those who pay top dollar early. The only issue is he could miss Round 1 if he’s chosen for Australia A.

Josh Philippe WKP-BAT BBL09 avg: 52.7

One of the most promising players in the BBL, the inventive wicketkeeper-batsman played himself into the national reckoning with 487 runs at 37.5 last season. While the life of a T20 opener usually means the odd low score (Philippe had two rounds where he scored less than 10 points) his output made him one of the best glovemen in KFC SuperCoach BBL. Philippe’s run home was his best stretch of the campaign when he reeled off scores of 67, 106, 44 and 85 in consecutive rounds. No doubt opposition teams will be eyeing him as one of the key wickets in a talented Sixers batting line-up.

KFC SuperCoach doubles: Round 6

KFC SuperCoach byes: None

BEST LINE-UP

Daniel Hughes

Josh Philippe

James Vince

Moises Henriques

Dan Christian

Jordan Silk

Carlos Brathwaite

Tom Curran

Sean Abbott

Ben Dwarshuis

Nathan Lyon

PREDICTIONS

Finishing position

The Phantom: Second — Last year’s winner will go close again, despite the chance they will miss some big names for different periods.

Tim Michell: First — Why wouldn’t you back the best team from last season when they haven’t lost a player of note?

Top KFC SuperCoach BBL scorer

The Phantom: Josh Philippe — Curran will arrive late, and he could take some of Christian’s overs when he’s here. Philippe will be constant at the top of the order.

Tim Michell: Tom Curran — He’ll miss the first few rounds but this guy is one of the best SuperCoach scorers in the BBL. If not, then Josh Philippe.

BURNING QUESTIONS

Veteran Dan Christian has crossed from Melbourne Renegades to the Sixers.

Where does Dan Christian fit in?

The Sixers had one of the most settled bowling line-ups of BBL09, bar Sean Abbott’s side strain. Whether Christian is more of a back-up option with the ball remains to be seen, although he’s likely behind Tom Curran, Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis, Carlos Brathwaite and either Stephen O’Keefe or Lloyd Pope in the pecking order when the Sixers are at full strength. He’ll need to bowl at least three overs in each match to be eligible for the KFC SuperCoach economy bonus. Christian was largely a bit-part player for the Renegades last summer and shapes as a Mr Fix-it for the Sixers. He’ll bowl when required, be a handy middle-order hitter and could be crucial early when Tom Curran is still in South Africa.

Lloyd Pope featured in eight matches last season for Sydney Sixers.

How many spinners do the Sixers use?

Lloyd Pope (eight matches), Stephen O’Keefe (nine), Nathan Lyon (six) and Ben Manenti (five) shared the spinning duties in BBL09. The Sixers have not been averse to playing two tweakers in the same team and both Pope and O’Keefe could feature earlier in the campaign while Lyon is on Test duties. Manenti (48.6) had the best KFC SuperCoach average of that quartet in BBL09, followed by Pope (45.6), O’Keefe (36.7) and Lyon (35.7). Focus more on the Sixers’ quicks when choosing your SuperCoach team as they’re more likely to bowl four overs in every match.

Josh Philippe gets on one knee to steer a ball to the boundary during BBL09.

Just how good can Josh Philippe be?

The Scorchers must still be wondering how they let Australia’s most exciting young wicketkeeping talent head to New South Wales. Philippe thrust himself onto the national radar last summer with an array of unconventional shots, finishing BBL09 with 487 runs at an average of 37.5 and a strike rate of 130. Philippe will open alongside Daniel Hughes again and be the focus of significant planning from opposition teams as they look to curb his influence. However, that’s easier said than done in the first six overs when power play restrictions apply. Philippe produced five half-centuries in 16 innings last season, emerging as one of the country’s top T20 prospects.

Should we remember the name Carlos Brathwaite?

The West Indian who made a name for himself with his 2016 World Cup heroics against England returns to the Sixers after playing four matches in BBL07. He only batted once during that cameo but took six wickets to underline his threat with the ball. Tom Curran has become an integral member of the Sixers squad since then and how Moises Henriques uses Brathwaite early in the campaign — when Curran is unavailable — will be fascinating. Curran will be in South Africa with England’s national team and that should put greater emphasis on Brathwaite and Dan Christian with the ball. Once Curran returns it will be a matter of how Brathwaite fits in with the Englishman, Ben Dwarshuis and Sean Abbott. He could be one of the best PODs of the summer.

MORE KFC SUPERCOACH BBL:

Originally published as BBL10 team previews: Sydney Sixers squad, best SuperCoach BBL buys rated