KFC SuperCoach BBL: Best Thunder, Heat picks for Round 8

The must-have player of KFC SuperCoach Round 8 has been ruled out and wet weather is set to wreak havoc. We’ve assessed the best trade targets.

Alex Hales is likely to cost about $200k for Round 8.

KFC SuperCoaches have been thrown a curve ball with confirmation the No. 1 trade target of Round 8 has been ruled out for the entirety of Sydney Thunder’s double.

All-rounder Daniel Sams, who has scored the third most points of any KFC SuperCoach player this year, loomed as a key purchase and probable captain for the upcoming round given his side is scheduled to play two games.

He was already ruled out of Thursday night’s match against the Hobart Hurricanes, but the Thunder on Thursday confirmed he is also out of Saturday’s game against the Scorchers.

Sams therefore misses both games of the Thunder’s double and needs to be sold.

“We’ve been conservative with all of our players when they’ve been injured, and I think we’ve benefited from that,” Thunder coach Shane Bond.

“I think you need to be more concerned by head knocks, and we won’t be playing Dan in this match.”

That said, Sams’ injury has thrust Thunder recruit Ben Cutting into buy-of-the-round contention.

Former KFC SuperCoach great Cutting has struggled for opportunity at the Thunder this year, drowned out by the strong form of Sams, and has therefore dipped to a very affordable $122,300.

However, with Sams out, Cutting now likely assumes a “floating” batting role and should be called upon for more bowling after averaging just 1.3 overs per game this season.

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Daniel Sams will miss Sydney Thunder’s clash with Hobart Hurricanes due to concussion.

The other sticking point for coaches heading into Round 8 is Queensland’s weather.

Plenty of coaches will be watching the radar before Brisbane Heat’s game against Melbourne Stars, hoping Glenn Maxwell, Jack Wildermuth, Chris Lynn and co. get on.

There are predictions of up to 25mm of rain on the Gold Coast on Thursday and up to 2mm on Sunday.

The last thing KFC SuperCoaches want is to trade in a player due to their double, only for them to feature once — if at all.

HOW CAN YOU AFFORD ROUND 8’S TOP-PRICE TARGETS?

The $2 million KFC SuperCoach BBL budget is about to be stretched to the limit.

The budget available to every team will have changed in the opening seven rounds of BBL10 — hopefully for the better thanks to price rises to cash cows.

That cash generation will be crucial in Round 8 as KFC SuperCoaches try to fit the top targets from Brisbane Heat and Sydney Thunder into their teams.

There are 10 players from the Heat and Thunder worth more than $140,000, headlined by all-rounders Daniel Sams and Lewis Gregory.

Although as you read above, Sams will miss at least the first game of Round 8 for the Thunder due to concussion.

All-rounders with a double are gold, as Dan Christian showed in Round 6.

Jack Wildermuth is the other all-rounder KFC SuperCoaches need, but he already features in most teams as he started at $62,000.

The problem KFC SuperCoaches are going to confront is which players to sacrifice to make room for Gregory, Alex Hales and potentially Tanveer Sangha.

Glenn Maxwell has a double in Round 10 and outscored every player on the double in Round 6 with a score of 150 against Hobart Hurricanes.

Rashid Khan could be the player who makes way, although there’s still a chance the Strikers spin wizard features against a shaky Melbourne Renegades batting line-up before heading to the UAE.

Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi have been selected in Afghanistan’s squad to face Ireland later this month and the trio are expected to depart Australia between January 8-10.

Trading Khan might be the necessary evil to ensure you have the big guns required for Round 8.

The other issue for KFC SuperCoaches in Round 8 will be which wicketkeeper to go with.

Sam Billings and Jimmy Peirson both bat in the middle-order, which can limit their KFC SuperCoach scoring.

Billings is a quality batsman, but it’s no good if he’s stuck behind Hales, Usman Khawaja, Callum Ferguson and either Alex Ross or Oliver Davies.

Ditto Peirson, who could be relegated to No. 6 or No. 7 when Chris Lynn returns.

That could mean opting for a player such as Perth’s Josh Inglis, who has the Round 10 double and is still available for less than his starting price.

He won’t play twice in Round 8, but you’ll get the reward for planning ahead in two rounds.

TOP TARGETS

Alex Hales (Sydney Thunder) BAT

$205,700

A Hales storm has hit the BBL with the Englishman blasting scores of 35, 71 and 46 in his past three innings to Round 7. Hales got as cheap as $126,700 in KFC SuperCoach after Round 4 but scores of 80, 136 and 70 in successive games caused his price to skyrocket to more than $180,000 for Round 7. A break even of -19 will ensure coaches need to pay a premium to grab Hales for Round 8.

The Englishman has impressed with bat and ball.

Lewis Gregory has made an early impact for the Heat.

Lewis Gregory (Brisbane Heat) BAT-BWL

$180,500

The Englishman has wasted no time displaying his all-round talents in the BBL, taking four wickets and contributing 61 runs in his opening three games. Gregory bowled at least three overs in each of those matches, the trigger to be eligible for the KFC SuperCoach economy bonus. He’s featured as high as No. 5 in the batting line-up but will be relegated at least one spot when Chris Lynn returns from a hamstring injury. Regardless, he’s a top target along with Sams.

The ever-reliable Callum Ferguson is well-priced for his double.

Callum Ferguson (Sydney Thunder) BAT

$137,200

One of the most consistent batsmen in the BBL, Thunder skipper Ferguson reached 30 in four of his first six innings in BBL10. The only time he was dismissed cheaply was against Brisbane Heat when he was out caught for a duck. Ferguson otherwise had three fifties to his name by Round 7 and three KFC SuperCoach scores of 71-84. That sort of reliability is hard to come by in SuperCoach and you’d be mighty unlucky if Ferguson failed in both innings of the double.

Usman Khawaja is a cheaper alternative to opening partner Alex Hales.

Usman Khawaja (Sydney Thunder) BAT

$112,500

Usman Khawaja and $90k or Alex Hales? It’s a question many KFC SuperCoaches will be asking ahead of Round 8. While Hales has been in incredible form, that $90k could be the difference between adding another top target or settling for a mid-pricer. Khawaja scored 31, 59, 37 and 63 between rounds 3-6, a four-round average of 47.5. If he reproduces that in the double, he’ll be great value for money.

Sam Billings warms up with a soccer ball before a BBL game.

Sam Billings (Sydney Thunder) WKP-BAT

$125,500

The barnstorming form of Hales — and to a lesser extent Khawaja — has limited Billings’ opportunities since arriving at the Thunder. He was in with seven overs left against Melbourne Stars and was 10 not out when rain intervened against Melbourne Renegades. The pleasing factor of that innings was Billings was elevated to No. 4 ahead of whiz kid Ollie Davies. If that continues, he’ll be ripe for the picking come Round 8 as coaches search for a wicketkeeping alternative after banking on Alex Carey and Josh Philippe for much of the campaign.

Jimmy Peirson is enjoying one of his best BBL campaigns with the bat.

Jimmy Peirson (Brisbane Heat) WKP-BAT

$95,600

The Heat gloveman is enjoying his best BBL campaign with the bat, buoyed by his 69 not out which almost willed Brisbane home against Adelaide Strikers. Peirson scored at least 14 in five of his first six innings and had 138 runs at 46 to Round 7. Billings looms as the better option of the wicketkeepers with the Round 8 double but if you’re strapped for cash, Peirson has done enough to be considered.

Chris Lynn will be out to stamp himself on the BBL after a hamstring injury.

Chris Lynn (Brisbane Heat) BAT

$144,300

The Heat captain is set to return to the top order just in time for Brisbane’s double. Lynn entered the season in remarkable hitting form and franked that with knocks of 20 and 69 to start the BBL. Leave him out in Round 8 at your own peril.

Mark Steketee has been a surprise packet for Brisbane Heat.

Mark Steketee (Brisbane Heat) BWL

$158,800

More renowned as a red-ball bowler, Steketee has become a pace weapon for Brisbane Heat this season. The big quick took a wicket in each of his first five games, which included hauls of 2-31, 2-36 and 4-33. If Ben Laughlin is still absent and he’s bowling at the death, Steketee needs to be considered — even at possibly $80k more than his starting price.

POD PICKS

Joe Denly was a mid-season addition for the Heat.

Joe Denly (Brisbane Heat) BAT Ownership, as of Round 7: 0.6 per cent

$122,300

The English batsman went straight into Brisbane’s team at No. 3 on debut, although Lynn was missing. He might be more likely to bat at No. 4 when Lynn is back in the full-time XI, but even then Denly will be cheaper than most of the Round 8 batting options. Whether you can trust him after a lean BBL08 campaign for Sydney Sixers two summers ago is another matter, but he looked good in Round 7 when he scored 50 from 36 balls.

Nathan McAndrew has been an important contributor for the Thunder.

Nathan McAndrew (Sydney Thunder) BWL Ownership, as of Round 7: 3 per cent

$137,300

You can certainly make a case for Adam Milne as a POD, but the major concern is the Kiwi quick could be rested during the double after missing a game in Round 6 as a precaution. After largely being bowling insurance in recent seasons McAndrew showed his capabilities with seven wickets in the first six games, including 3-41 against Melbourne Renegades.

ROUND 8 FIXTURES (Times AEDT)

Hurricanes v Thunder — Thursday, January 7, Optus Stadium, 6.10pm

Heat v Stars — Thursday, January 7, Metricon Stadium, 9.20pm

Strikers v Renegades — Friday, January 8, Adelaide Oval, 6.10pm

Scorchers v Thunder — Saturday, January 9, Optus Stadium, 7.15pm

Sixers v Heat — Sunday, January 10, Metricon Stadium, 7.15pm