SuperCoach BBL Round 7 trade guide: Melbourne Stars cheapies rated
Three of Melbourne Stars batsmen are available for less than $85,000 for their Round 7 double. Are you willing to take the punt on Ben Dunk, Nic Maddinson or Nick Larkin? TRADE GUIDE
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For the second time in three rounds, Big Bash title contender Melbourne Stars are the team every SuperCoach should be focused on.
The Stars shared a double with their cross-town rival Melbourne Renegades in Round 5, when Marcus Stoinis (163), Adam Zampa (136), Glenn Maxwell (127), Dale Steyn (122), Haris Rauf (108) and Sandeep Lamichhane (102) reached triple figures.
Zampa and wicketkeeper-batsman Peter Handscomb are due to leave for Australia’s one-day tour of India on January 8, the same day the Stars host Sydney Thunder at the MCG.
Steyn has also finished his six-game stint and will be replaced by Rauf after Englishman Pat Brown suffered stress fractures in his back.
Brown had loomed as one of the best mid-season downgrades in SuperCoach BBL at $79,000 before the Stars confirmed he had been ruled out of the tournament.
“It’s really disappointing for Pat. We were very excited to have him on board this season to replace Dale Steyn and it’s disappointing we won’t get to see him in action for the Stars,” Stars list manager Trent Woodhill said.
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Rauf will spearhead the Stars bowling attack in games against Sydney Thunder and Melbourne Renegades in Round 7.
The Pakistani quick has burst onto the scene with 10 wickets in three BBL games and boasts a SuperCoach average of 114.7 points.
There had been some conjecture about Rauf’s status, but Stars/Renegades general manager Nick Cummins tweeted recently: “Rauf can play at any point — he has a contract just like Brown”.
He also added: “Pat Brown is already here. The coaches will be able to select Pat or Haris”.
If Brown is in Melbourne Stars’ squad to face the Thunder, he should be a trade priority for Round 7.
Rauf has surged to $159,700 but still needs to be considered based on his early success and strong job security at the Stars.
Hopefully you have held Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis — or both — through the Stars’ Round 6 bye.
If you didn’t, you’ll need to find the money for Maxwell ($196,300) and Stoinis ($212,900) as well as Rauf.
Thankfully, there’s a bevy of Stars available for less than $100,000 to help you fund any trade for the trio.
Opener Nic Maddinson ($81,400), Ben Dunk ($72,900) and top-order batsman Nick Larkin ($82,000) should be in the Stars squad for both Round 7 fixtures.
Dan Worrall ($116,800), Lamichhane ($147,700) and Nathan Coulter-Nile ($158,500) are also underpriced for their potential output.
Stars #supercoachbbl double R7
— Tim Michell (@tim_michell) January 4, 2020
Dunk 73k
Brown 79k
Maddo 81k
Larkin 82k pic.twitter.com/NS89zv8ont
TOP TRADE TARGETS
Haris Rauf $159,700 BWL Average: 114.7
The Pakistani paceman has the best SuperCoach BBL average of any player this summer, with Sean Abbott (91.4) the only other player over 90 points a game. Rauf has made a stunning impression in his three matches for the Stars, snaring 10 wickets and accumulating SuperCoach scores of 80, 156 and 108. You might have no choice but to eat humble pie if you’ve overlooked him to this point and get on board for Round 7.
Sandeep Lamichhane $147,700 BWL Average: 50.2
The Nepalese spinner missed game one of the Round 5 double due to injury but still recorded the sixth-highest round score from the Stars with 102. Lamichhane will take on Melbourne Renegades for a second time this season at the bowler-friendly Marvel Stadium after taking 3-26 from four overs in the Stars’ commanding MCG derby win. He’s almost guaranteed four overs due to Adam Zampa being unavailable.
Nic Maddinson $81,400 BAT Average: 18.8
Maddinson has four single-figure scores and five below 20 in six innings for the Stars this season. But his career record (1532 runs, average 22.2) and role as an aggressive opener make him worth consideration. He hasn’t made the best start to BBL09 but is worth a punt if you need a cheap option and want a point of difference. As of Round 6, he was only in seven per cent of teams.
Nick Larkin $82,000 BAT Average: 31.7
The No. 3 batsman was out first ball on his return to the Stars side in Launceston but rebounded with 65 from 45 balls against Sydney Thunder. He looms as the best of the Stars cheapies due to his role and recent form. Only Stoinis and Maxwell had a better average than Larkin (31.8) from the eight matches he played in BBL08.
Ben Dunk $72,900 BAT Average: 19.7
One for the risk takers. Dunk has got starts in four of his five innings in BBL09, making between 11-19. He should take the gloves from Peter Handscomb after he heads to India, although relying on wicketkeeping points can be fraught. Keep an eye on whether Handscomb’s absence results in him being elevated in the batting order.
ROUND 7 FIXTURES
Strikers v Sixers — Adelaide Oval, January 8, 3.40pm
Stars v Thunder — MCG, January 8, 7.10pm
Heat v Hurricanes — The Gabba, January 9, 7.10pm
Renegades v Stars — Marvel Stadium, January 10, 7.10pm
Bye: Scorchers