KFC SuperCoach BBL: Test stars set to return to BBL10 after India series
Several of Australia’s Test stars are about to make their long-awaited return to the BBL. Who should be on your KFC SuperCoach radar? We deliver our verdicts.
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Australia’s Test players are about to descend on the BBL and provide another twist for KFC SuperCoaches.
The national team’s COVID-19 bubble has meant fringe squad members such as Mitch Swepson, Moises Henriques and Michael Neser haven’t been released to play in the BBL this summer.
But that trio — and a host of other big guns — are about to add another element to the race for the five finals spots.
TRADE GUIDE: THE MUST-PLAYERS FOR THE RUN HOME
The shake-up to BBL teams will be a big factor for KFC SuperCoaches, with the flow-on effect of stars returning set to be felt.
Tim Michell and The Phantom provide their thoughts on which Test players should be on your radar during the KFC SuperCoach run home.
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Tim Paine (Hobart Hurricanes) WKP-BAT $90,000
The Test captain was a late addition to the Hurricanes squad before BBL10 and has been a strong contributor in the BBL before. Paine averaged 21 or better from 2012-2017 for the Hurricanes, but has only featured twice since due to Test duties. He played his best T20 cricket at the top of the order, but those roles are likely to be taken by Matthew Wade, D’Arcy Short and Dawid Malan.
TIM’S VERDICT: Don’t see him playing enough, if at all. Won’t be a KFC SuperCoach factor unless you’re looking for a wicketkeeping loophole.
THE PHANTOM’S VERDICT: Do you get points for sledging? No, thanks, not with the Hurricanes’ top order.
Cameron Green (Perth Scorchers) BAT-BWL $62,500
The BBL audience hasn’t got a great look at Green in recent seasons and when he did feature for the Scorchers he wasn’t allowed to bowl due to back issues. He was batting at No.6 or No.7 last season too, which severely hampered his KFC SuperCoach scoring. Expect that to change in BBL10 when he becomes a key cog in Perth’s title tilt.
TIM’S VERDICT: My only concern is whether his bowling load is managed, but at that price Green is hard to pass up. He probably slots in at No.7 and takes Aaron Hardie’s spot but could easily bat higher. Maybe No.5 is his position after Mitch Marsh’s injury?
THE PHANTOM’S VERDICT: In my view, the problem is, given their current line-up, the Scorchers can afford to manage Green, who is returning from his first Test summer. A definite wait-and-see for me.
Travis Head (Adelaide Strikers) BAT-BWL $173,200
Dropped from the Test side midway through the series against India, Head will return to Adelaide with a point to prove. There’s overs up for grabs after Rashid Khan’s departure and Head likes to bowl himself in the power play. The Strikers’ top-order could really use him too after battling in recent matches.
TIM’S VERDICT: I try to avoid paying this much for batsmen but at this point of a BBL tournament it’s all about KFC SuperCoach points, not your budget. Head will come in at No.3 and normally bowls a couple of overs too, which makes him very relevant. He’s not high on my priority list but I can definitely see the appeal.
THE PHANTOM’S VERDICT: Expensive but he could be a nice point-of-difference in the run home. Keep him in mind.
Marnus Labuschagne (Brisbane Heat) BAT-BWL $64,400
The Test No.3 hasn’t had many opportunities to translate his international runs to the BBL since breaking into the Australian team. The Heat top-four of Max Bryant, Chris Lynn, Joe Denly and Joe Burns has been solid, but it will be hard to deny Labuschagne a berth at the top of the order when available.
TIM’S VERDICT: Where does Marnus fit in with Chris Lynn and Max Bryant cemented at the top and Joe Denly seemingly first-choice for No.3? You would consider him if he’s going to bat at No.4 and almost lock him in as a bench cheapie if he takes Denly’s spot.
THE PHANTOM’S VERDICT: Does Marnus bat where he wants? Probably. A terrific downgrade option to loophole off the bench in the run home.
Nathan Lyon (Sydney Sixers) BWL $102,100
Lyon showed mixed form in his four outings for the Sixers last summer, snaring four wickets from 14 overs at an average of 24.7. He’s long been regarded as more of a red-ball bowler, but it’s hard to deny his quality when stepping back to domestic level. One of the young spin duo Lloyd Pope or Ben Manenti will likely be squeezed out for Lyon to partner Stephen O’Keefe.
TIM’S VERDICT: An average of about a wicket a game in the BBL and an attractive price makes Lyon worth a look. As great as the Sixers’ bowling depth is for their title chances, it doesn’t help KFC SuperCoaches. How many overs does Lyon get when Starc, Abbott, Dwarshuis, Brathwaite, O’Keefe and Christian could all feature too? I’m likely to pass.
THE PHANTOM’S VERDICT: I want to say I’ll pass but the price is tempting. Let’s see how he fares - and where he fits - in his BBL return first.
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Michael Neser (Adelaide Strikers) BAT-BWL $142,000
After a summer of carrying the drinks for the Test team, Neser gets a chance to show his quality when he returns to the Strikers. The seamer averaged a wicket every three overs in the BBL in the past three seasons and hasn’t had many chances to showcase his batting ability. Rashid Khan leaving BBL10 early could elevate him from No.7 to No.6.
TIM’S VERDICT: The bowling all-rounder is likely to come into the Strikers’ team as a No.6 or No.7 bat and prominent bowling option. He won’t have played much after being on the fringes of the Test squad so I’m inclined to wait a game and see what his form is like.
THE PHANTOM’S VERDICT: I’ve always been impressed with Neser’s bowling but he’s batting this summer has been equally as good. He took five wickets and made a century with the bat against NSW in the Shield late last year. Lack of recent cricket hurts but he’s still at the top of my list.
James Pattinson (Melbourne Renegades) BWL $162,700
Pattinson has been a regular wicket-taker when available for the BBL, snaring 13 wickets in 13 games in the past two seasons for Brisbane Heat. He was withdrawn from the Test squad after falling at home and suffering bruised ribs, missing the SCG and Gabba tests. That must put him in some doubt to feature in BBL10, especially with Melbourne Renegades stuck on the bottom of the table.
TIM’S VERDICT: Missed the SCG Test due to a fall at home and there hasn’t been much of an update on his condition since. Have to wonder whether he might give the BBL a miss with the Renegades out of finals contention.
THE PHANTOM’S VERDICT: I don’t reckon we’ll see him, and I’m probably not taking the risk at that price anyway.
Mitchell Starc (Sydney Sixers) BWL $190,000
TIM’S VERDICT: Big price. Big reward? While I’ve got doubts over Lyon’s role, Starc will have no such issue. He’ll bowl four overs every game and feature at the death too. This is one of the world’s best white-ball bowlers we’re talking about.
THE PHANTOM’S VERDICT: Arguably, he’s worth the $190k, but there’s so much value around elsewhere. Consider him if you’re playing catch-up.
Mitchell Swepson (Brisbane Heat) BWL $105,900
Swepson’s stunning Sheffield Shield form earned him a spot in the Test squad but unfortunately kept him out of KFC SuperCoach BBL contention. The leg-spinner will be a welcome addition for the Heat’s finals push after Mujeeb Ur Rahman left for Afghanistan’s series against Ireland. His past two BBL campaigns only yielded 18 wickets in 25 games but he’s never bowled as well as he has this summer.
TIM’S VERDICT: I’ve been waiting for him to get released from the Test squad for weeks! He was the in-form bowler in Australia after the Sheffield Shield and is a great price. He’ll slot straight in after Mujeeb Ur Rahman left for international duties.
THE PHANTOM’S VERDICT: Yes, please.
Matthew Wade (Hobart Hurricanes) WKP-BAT $181,000
Forgive Wade’s form in the past few Tests. When he wears purple in the BBL, he regularly dominates. Wade averaged 63.2 KFC SuperCoach points a game last season and he hammered three fifties and a century in four of his eight BBL09 innings. He’ll go straight to the top of the order where he’s enjoyed a profitable partnership with D’Arcy Short in previous seasons.
TIM’S VERDICT: He’s been a dominant BBL player in recent seasons, but I’m wary of paying that much for a player who will score most of his points from batting. Just look at what’s happened with Aaron Finch. Miss out in a few games and your price plummets.
THE PHANTOM’S VERDICT: Another who could be an enormous point-of-difference in the run home. I’d love to say wait and see how he fares first but there’s a chance he goes bang from the get-go. On the list.
Sean Abbott (Sydney Sixers) BWL $219,700
One of the leading bowlers in BBL history, Abbott’s importance to the Sixers has been largely forgotten due to him not playing since Australia A’s fixtures against India. Abbott had 14 wickets in seven games last season and a KFC SuperCoach average of better than 80 before being sidelined by injury.
TIM’S VERDICT: Like Starc, Abbott commands a high price. But that’s because only Jackson Coleman (102 from one game) and D’Arcy Short (85.7) bettered Abbott’s average of 85.3 last summer. I wouldn’t pick Abbott and Starc, so toss a coin and go with one.
THE PHANTOM’S VERDICT: The perfect alternative to Daniel Sams. Like Neser, Abbott’s Shield form with the bat was outstanding. But where does he fit in the Sixers’ line-up? I’ll give it a round.
Moises Henriques (Sydney Sixers) BAT-BWL $100,400
He’s classed as an all-rounder in KFC SuperCoach but Henriques has predominantly been a batsman for the Sixers in recent summers. In the past five seasons, Henriques hasn’t bowled more than five overs in any BBL tournament. He impressed with the ball during Australia’s white-ball games against India, but he’s unlikely to be a big part of the Sixers’ bowling plans. If you’re picking him in KFC SuperCoach it’s as a batsman.
TIM’S VERDICT: KFC SuperCoaches were excited when the Sixers skipper bowled during the white-ball series against India but we’ve hardly seen him since. Can’t see him bowling much in the latter part of the BBL though with so much depth in the Sixers’ arsenal.
THE PHANTOM’S VERDICT: Not for me.
Marcus Harris (Melbourne Renegades) BAT $62,500
The recalled Test opener was dismissed for seven runs or less in five of his nine BBL innings last season. Shaun Marsh and Aaron Finch seem set at the top of the order in BBL10 with Sam Harper and young guns Mackenzie Harvey and Jake Fraser-McGurk behind them. It would be a surprise to see Harris in the remaining BBL matches.
TIM’S VERDICT: The Renegades are at the point of the season where they might as well keep playing kids. Pass.
THE PHANTOM’S VERDICT: Nooope.
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