KFC SuperCoach bargain buys: Best-priced players to pick for BBL10

Finding the value in a KFC SuperCoach pick is what sets the best apart from the rest. These are the best bargains on offer for BBL10.

Finding value in KFC SuperCoach isn’t just about picking the right cash cows.

Every season there are players who start well below the price tag they should be based on injury, form, lack of opportunity or a combination of all three.

Some of the top scorers from past seasons of KFC SuperCoach BBL are available for much less than their history in the BBL suggests they should cost.

These are the 11 best underpriced players for your KFC SuperCoach BBL team — and three bargains to trade in when they return from representatives duties.

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Dan Christian has moved from the Renegades to the Sixers.

Dan Christian (Sydney Sixers) $105k BAT-BWL

Two seasons ago the veteran all-rounder finished BBL08 with a price tag of $206,600, averaging 68.7 points for the season. Even if he doesn’t get back to those heights with his new franchise – Sydney Sixers – he’s better than the 32.6 points a game he averaged last season. Christian led Nottinghamshire to the Vitality Blast title in England this year and will have an important role to play early in BBL10 when Tom Curran, Moises Henriques and Sean Abbott are likely to be unavailable. At that price you can carry him to the Sixers’ Round 6 double and then reassess.

Jack Wildermuth (Brisbane Heat) $62k BAT-BWL

Starved of opportunity at Melbourne Renegades last season, Wildermuth is destined to start BBL10 as the first-choice all-rounder for Brisbane Heat with Englishman Lewis Gregory in South Africa. In T20 hit outs in the past two weeks Wildermuth has made 85 (35 balls), 35 not out (23), 37 (28) and 62 (33). He only took two wickets in those games but clearly has more to give with the bat than he did at the Renegades. A player in form and with a prominent role is KFC SuperCoach gold.

Dilbar Hussain (Melbourne Stars) $62k BWL

The Pakistan quick played one game for the Stars last season but is set for a bigger role this campaign filling the void left by Haris Rauf. Upon the resumption of the Pakistan Super League in November, Hussain snared 3-33, 2-29 and 2-28 to take his career average to 24 with a strike rate of a wicket every 16 balls. He can be expensive, but the Stars will need him early in the campaign to partner Billy Stanlake – especially if Marcus Stoinis isn’t bowling and Zahir Khan is still in quarantine. At $62k and with a Round 1 double you just have to pick him.

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Chris Green will make his BBL return this summer after a bowling ban.

Chris Green (Sydney Thunder) $108k BWL

At 27, Green is one of the most experienced T20 bowlers in Australia. He only has 74 wickets in 94 career games but his ability to keep opening batsmen quiet in the power play makes him so valuable to the Thunder. He has a career economy rate of 6.66 and if he delivers that in BBL10 it could provide a springboard to big KFC SuperCoach scores. He’ll have a point to prove too after returning from a bowling ban which abruptly ended his BBL09.

Mitchell Swepson (Brisbane Heat) $106k BWL

Swepson is the form spinner in the country and got his reward when he played his second career T20 international against India, collecting the scalp of Virat Kohli. His BBL form in recent summers has been solid without being spectacular with 18 wickets in 25 games in the past two tournaments. It’s hard to ignore a player in such red-hot form though, who took eight wickets more than any other player during the Sheffield Shield. Just be aware he’ll likely miss Round 1 to be involved in the Australia A tour game against India.

Andrew Tye (Perth Scorchers) $134k BWL

Tye averaged 50.6 and 52.1 points in BBL07 and BBL08 before missing BBL09 after undergoing elbow surgery. His ownership is still relatively low (6.7 per cent) for a player who has featured 33 times for Australia and was one of the BBL’s most-feared death bowlers only a few seasons ago. He went at 8.5 runs an over in BBL08 yet still averaged 52.1 points thanks to 17 wickets in 14 games. Expect similar returns this season from a player who’s back in Australia’s white-ball squads.

Nathan Ellis is still cheap despite his breakout BBL09 season.

Nathan Ellis (Hobart Hurricanes) $113k BWL

One of the breakout players of BBL09 is one of the best buys of Round 1 with a pointer to Hobart’s Round 2 double. The Hurricanes play in the first game of BBL10 and KFC SuperCoaches can use the emergency loophole to decide whether to field Ellis in Round 1. Ellis was one of the best-performed pacemen in the Sheffield Shield and has an important role bowling at the death for Hobart. His current ownership of 12.4 per cent is far too low.

Jason Behrendorff is back bowling after overcoming back problems.

Jason Behrendorff (Perth Scorchers) $120k BWL

The Scorchers did well to be a finals contender for much of BBL09 without Tye and Behrendorff, who was battling back problems. He’s been back playing in Perth grade cricket and the Scorchers have been buoyed by the big quick’s form in trial games. Perth might be inclined to manage him through the season as it has a deep pace battery but Behrendorff still looms as a potential steal at this price.

Max Bryant (Brisbane Heat) $67k BAT

Bryant has rocketed onto this list with his recent form in Queensland grade cricket T20s. The explosive opener had endured a lean run before he blasted two unbeaten tons (123 from 52 balls and 132 from 68 balls) on the same day for Gold Coast. A player with that sort of hitting ability is going to be hard to ignore at what is effectively rookie price. Bryant’s KFC SuperCoach averaged dipped from 45 to 23.7 last season but the upside in the Heat opener is obvious.

Usman Khawaja is available for much cheaper than in previous seasons.

Usman Khawaja (Sydney Thunder) $115k BAT

Hard to believe it’s five years since Khawaja took the BBL by storm with successive knocks of 109, 62, 104 and 70 in Sydney Thunder’s title surge. He hasn’t been as dynamic in the past three tournaments but always looms as a threat at the top of the Thunder batting line-up alongside Alex Hales. Two seasons ago he finished the tournament with a price in excess of $200,000 yet is available for more than $80,000 less than that.

Moises Henriques lifts the BBL trophy aloft last season.

MISSING ROUND 1

Ashton Agar (Perth Scorchers) $102k BAT-BWL

Agar injured his calf in Australia’s third one-day game against India. Even if he recovers in time for BBL10 he’ll likely be with Australia A. He’s a good price but you’ll need to wait to target him.

Cameron Green (Perth Scorchers) 62k BAT-BWL

Green is currently playing for Australia A in a tour match against India and could be involved in the second tour match, which takes place during Round 1 of KFC SuperCoach. He’s still cheap enough to start if you want to save yourself a trade mid-season when he features for Perth.

Moises Henriques (Sydney Sixers) 100k BAT-BWL

The Sixers skipper hardly bowls himself in the BBL, much to the chagrin of KFC SuperCoaches. However, his recent performances with the ball for Australia in one-day and T20 games should give KFC SuperCoaches hope. He should be playing in the second tour match for Australia A though from December 11-13.