SuperCoach BBL 2019: Winners and losers from Test team

The second most popular player in SuperCoach BBL is a SELL following today’s release of the Australian Test squad.

The Australian Test squad has been named and it’s already had an enormous impact on SuperCoach BBL markets.

In particular, Will Sutherland — previously the second most popular player in SuperCoach — has plummeted down the rankings.

Full details below.

Will Sutherland is set to fall down the most popular player list.

AUSTRALIAN SELECTION DECISION: Usman Khawaja left out of Test squad

Winners: Barring injuries and poor form in the Test side, Khawaja is now available for the Thunder and therefore a serious SuperCoach option. Has a double game in Round 1 and career average of almost 50 in Big Bash.

Losers: With Khawaja in the Thunder side, highly-fancied cheapie Ollie Davies (eighth most popular player) is next to no chance of a Round 1 berth. Matthew Gilkes (28th most popular) also slides down the order to at least No. 4, while Jason Sangha (22nd most popular) may find it hard to break into the team.

Usman Khawaja is set to play plenty of games for the Thunder after missing Test selection.

AUSTRALIAN SELECTION DECISION: Marcus Harris left out of Test squad

Winners: Harris has gone from a SuperCoach maybe to near-must. Set to bat No.3 at the Renegades behind new opening pair Shaun Marsh and Aaron Finch. At cheapie price after limited showings last year due to Test duty.

Losers: Harris’s return to the Renegades is horror SuperCoach news for last season’s boom rookies Sam Harper and Mackenzie Harvey. Harper (39th most popular player) and Harvey (40th) regularly batted in the top order last season, but will likely slide down (in Harper’s case) or out of the side (in Harvey’s case).

Also, Will Sutherland’s quest to earn a spot for Round 1 is made harder by Harris being in the side – even though they aren’t like-for-like players. Sutherland is the second most popular SuperCoach player at 45 per cent ownership but with Harris clogging the top order, there could be a trickle down effect to the middle order. This puts Sutherland’s spot in jeopardy given he is already competing for all-rounder spots with Dan Christian, Mohammad Nabi and Jack Wildermuth.

Marcus Harris’s Test snub is a huge win for SuperCoaches.

AUSTRALIAN SELECTION DECISION: Joe Burns confirmed for Test return

Winners: Great SuperCoach news for Jimmy Peirson (fourth most popular player) who now appears confirmed for a middle order spot at the Heat while Burns is on Test duty. Also, as an accomplished gloveman, Peirson will keep wickets ahead of star import Tom Banton. This will reduce Banton’s fielding stats but he remains a serious SuperCoach option as a specialist batsman. Further, Burns’ unavailability may also increase batting reliance on Ben Cutting, who is also due for an increased bowling role (see below). Get on, possibly as captain.

Losers: Burns (44th most popular player) should be sold immediately.

Joe Burns has been called into the Australian Test side.

AUSTRALIAN SELECTION DECISION: James Pattinson included in Test squad

Winners: With a bowling spot now open at the Heat, the prospects of cheapie Jack Prestwidge have soared, especially given Brisbane have a double in the opening round.

Pattinson’s absence means Cutting is all-but assured to bowl four overs a match, many of them at the death (wickets!). With the increased batting role mentioned above, Cutting becomes a huge option as skipper for Round 1.

Losers: Sell Pattinson immediately.

AUSTRALIAN SELECTION DECISION: Travis Head named in Test squad as vice-captain

Travis Head has been named vice-captain of the Australian Test side which will limit his showings for the Strikers.

Winners: Veteran recruit Cameron White is set to move a slot up the batting order to as high as No. 4 and therefore becomes a serious cheapie at $77,200. Likewise, popular cheapie Harry Nielsen (20th most popular player) may take bigger responsibility in the middle order. Matthew Short’s stocks also improve dramatically. He likely moves a spot higher in the batting order and could take a few of Head’s off-spin overs. Note, Strikers have the bye in Round 1 so don’t go too hard, but load up for doubles in Round 3 and 4.

Losers: Head is no longer a SuperCoach option.

AUSTRALIAN SELECTION DECISION: Michael Neser included in Test squad

Winners: Neser’s absence could create a spot for cheapie Wes Agar. The rising 22-year-old is the younger brother of current Australian T20 representative Ashton Agar. But that’s where the similarities end. While Ashton is a crafty spinner and free-wheeling batsman, Wes is an out-and-out quick. The Victorian-come-South-Australian is in the midst of a breakout season, taking 5-69 in a recent Marsh Cup clash against Queensland, including the first four wickets. He also dominated the preceding Sheffield Shield clash with match figures of 6-91.

Losers: Sell Neser immediately.

MORE SUPERCOACH BBL CONTENT

Star-studded squad lists / Top 10 young guns / Everything you need to know / Key dates to shape your season / Gun imports set to explode / New faces to target / How players earn points

Originally published as SuperCoach BBL 2019: Winners and losers from Test team