Daily Telegraph senior cricket journalist Ben Horne reveals his SuperCoach BBL team

Senior cricket writer Ben Horne has named a SuperCoach BBL team stacked with top-order batsmen and headlined by a player he expects to have a “huge tournament” — Usman Khawaja. Can the Horne Super Kings launch to glory?

Big runs at the top of the order are crucial in the Big Bash League, so I’ve tried to prioritise some big boppers in SuperCoach BBL.

I’m expecting a huge tournament from Usman Khawaja at Sydney Thunder following his Test axing.

Same too from new Melbourne Renegades batsman Shaun Marsh, who looks free as a bird now he is free from the spotlight of national selection.

I’ve gone hard on Brisbane Heat, Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder players straight up because of the Round 1 fixtures – but it would be hard to leave Chris Lynn out of any team regardless.

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His teammate Max Bryant is a bargain and Adelaide’s Jake Weatherald has been a headline act in previous years who I’m expecting big things from.

T20 is not Marcus Harris’ noted format, but he has a lot to prove.

All-rounder Cameron Green is one of the future superstars of Australian cricket and will be an absolute steal at 42k.

In my wicketkeeping ranks I’ve gone for the much-hyped Englishman Tom Banton and Australian star Ben McDermott, who is a match winner at any level.

McDermott doesn’t have a double until Round 12 but is below market value and will give me flexibility in my batting as well.

Jake Weatherald features in Ben Horne’s SuperCoach BBL team despite a Round 1 bye.

My bowling attack has an almost exclusive Sydney flavour with the exception of the former boss’s son – Will Sutherland at the Renegades.

I think Sean Abbott is just about the bowler to watch in this tournament, while Thunder spinner Chris Green is now a T20 specialist and has a better domestic record than incumbent Australian spinner Ashton Agar.

Brendan Doggett is another bargain buy in my opinion, while Tom Curran and Moises Henriques present consistent all-round potency in the line-up.

BEN HORNE’S SUPERCOACH BBL TEAM

Horne Super Kings

BATSMEN

Usman Khawaja (Sydney Thunder) — captain $198,500 BAT

Chris Lynn (Brisbane Heat) $173,000 BAT

Max Bryant (Brisbane Heat) $129,500 BAT

Shaun Marsh (Melbourne Renegades) $147,700 BAT

Marcus Harris (Melbourne Renegades) $62,500 BAT

BENCH

Jake Weatherald (Adelaide Strikers) $108,900 BAT

Cameron Green (Perth Scorchers) $42,000 BAT-BWL

Pending positional changes, this is how the Horne Super Kings will line up in Round 1.

WICKETKEEPERS

Tom Banton (Brisbane Heat) $125,000 WKP-BAT

BENCH

Ben McDermott (Hobart Hurricanes) $118,300 WKP-BAT

BOWLERS

Tom Curran (Sydney Thunder) $210,000 BAT-BWL

Sean Abbott (Sydney Thunder) — vice-captain $195,300 BWL

Chris Green (Sydney Thunder) $140,600 BWL

Brendon Doggett (Sydney Thunder) $132,700 BWL

Moises Henriques (Sydney Sixers) $101,500 BAT-BWL

BENCH

Will Sutherland (Melbourne Renegades) $42,000 BAT-BWL

Tanveer Sangha (Sydney Thunder) BWL

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Originally published as Daily Telegraph senior cricket journalist Ben Horne reveals his SuperCoach BBL team