SuperCoach BBL: Should SuperCoaches trade in Melbourne Renegade Aaron Finch for one game?

With Test discard Aaron Finch set for a whirlwind trip into Melbourne to play for the Renegades on Monday night, BBL SuperCoaches have a big question to answer: should I take a punt on the Big Bash great?

Could Aaron Finch be a sneaky SuperCoach hit-run trade? Picture: Getty Images

With Test discard Aaron Finch set for a whirlwind trip into Melbourne to open the batting for the Renegades in Monday night’s clash with the Hobart Hurricanes, BBL SuperCoaches have a big question to answer: To Finch, or not to Finch?

One of the best to ever play in the Big Bash, the burly right-handed bruiser is third on the competition’s all-time run-scoring list, having pummelled 1669 runs across 46 games with 14 half centuries, along with a stunning unbeaten 111 off 65 balls in the 2012 Melbourne Derby.

JETTING OFF: WHEN THE INTERNATIONALS LEAVE

SCHEDULE ANALYSIS: HOW TO JUGGLE BBL BYES

Could Aaron Finch be a sneaky SuperCoach hit-run trade? Picture: Getty Images

He boasts a career strike rate of almost 140 — second only to Brisbane Heat master blaster Chris Lynn (155.37) among the 11 players to have scored more than 1200 Big Bash runs.

And he has a point to prove.

Dumped from the Aussie Test side after a string of failures against India this summer, Finch now needs to turn his attention to white ball cricket, where he will captain the Aussies in the ODI series against India, beginning on January 12.

The last Australian batsman to be dumped from the Test side — fellow Victorian Peter Handscomb — came back to the Big Bash with a chip on his shoulder.

And boy, did he breath some fire, thrashing 70 off just 35 balls to lead the Melbourne Stars past the Sydney Sixers just after Christmas — as the Aussies were being beaten in the Boxing Day Test.

The stunning two-runs-per-ball knock put him back in front of the Australian selectors’ noses and won him a reprieve for the Sydney Test.

It also helped him produce a whopping 145 points for the just over 12,0000 SuperCoach users (around 7 per cent) who took a punt on him and made them some quick cash, with

Peter Handscomb clobbered the Sydney Sixers in his sole Big Bash 08 match. Picture: Getty Images

Handscomb’s price jumping from $77,100 to $102,600 after the round. It meant that even though he would go straight back into the Test side, SuperCoaches could trade him up (or stash him on their bench for when the Tests finish).

Unlike Handscomb, at $194,000 and with the ODIs on the horizon, Finch is a very pricey one-game risk.

He’ll play against the Hobart Hurricanes and then go into Aussie one day camp before Melbourne’s next match on January 10. It’s an annoyance given the Renegades have a double-game in Round 6, meaning you won’t get two bites of the cherry like you would if you select another of his Team Red mates.

But it’s high risk, high reward.

Finch has the ability to go big — he smashed 354 runs (second in the competition) with four half centuries in eight innings at an average of almost 45 in 2016-17 — could well relish the opportunity to beat up on a weaker attack after being subjected to the world class Indians.

The Hurricanes are no mugs, although only gun import Jofra Archer could be considered in the class of the likes of Jasprit Bumrah.

There is the problem of the Marvel Stadium deck, though.

Put simply, it’s very tough to bat on, with Renegades veteran Cameron White last week calling it “tacky” and “two-paced”.

Could Finch help you raise the bat in SuperCoach for Round 6? Picture: Wayne Ludbey

In four innings under the roof this season, teams have managed just 132, 107, 103 and 99.

The disaster would be you spend nearly $200,000 on Finch and he’s removed for a duck and loses a whole bunch of cash.

But luck is a huge contributor to SuperCoach BBL and those who are brave and bold often get the chocolates.

Will you take the punt?

***Round 5 ends after tomorrow’s Big Bash double-header, so you’ll need to start thinking about your trades before Sunday night’s Adelaide Strikers v Sydney Sixers Round 6 opener (starts 7.15pm, Melbourne time). Finch’s Renegades play the Hurricanes the next night, so he will be locked after the game starts

***Every Test, ODI, T20I, and BBL match live & ad-break free during play. SIGN UP NOW!