SuperCoach BBL: The best Round 12 targets for Hobart and Adelaide’s double
David Miller returned to form in spectacular fashion on Sunday, providing a timely reminder of his quality with a SuperCoach score of 150 just in time for his Round 12 double. TRADE GUIDE
SuperCoach BBL
Don't miss out on the headlines from SuperCoach BBL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The race to the finish is on.
There will only be 15 matches left to decide SuperCoach BBL when Round 12 starts on January 21.
Opportunities are limited for those still in the running for the $25,000 grand prize to close the gap on Jarryd’s team Nathanastle32, the overall leader for all bar two rounds of BBL09.
It will mean you need to take calculated risks in the remaining two rounds, with Adelaide and Hobart sharing a Round 12 double and Melbourne Renegades and Brisbane playing twice in Round 13.
Coaches will be walking a trade tightrope.
If you play it too safe, your chances of making ground will suffer.
If you take too many risks, you could tumble down the rankings.
Round 12 is complicated by question marks over D’Arcy Short’s availability for the opening game on January 21 against the Renegades.
That fixture is only two days after Australia’s one-day international tour of India finishes, which seems likely to rule Short out.
He hasn’t been included in this trade guide as a result.
While Short will play against Sydney Thunder on January 24, most coaches will be unlikely to pay $195,300 for a player only featuring once.
Short’s opening partner Matthew Wade and South African David Miller will be a prime trade targets, but the Hurricanes otherwise lack significant SuperCoach appeal.
Adelaide had seven players with an average of more than 50 to Round 10 and Rashid Khan, Travis Head and Alex Carey headline the in-demand Strikers for Round 12.
MORE CRICKET NEWS:
Steve Smith reveals his one Ashes regret after epic series
Glenn Maxwell’s former IPL captain unsure why he was axed from ODI side
Melbourne Stars Big Bash gun Haris Rauf selected by Pakistan for T20 series against Bangladesh
TOP TARGETS
David Miller (Hobart Hurricanes) BAT Average: 27.6
The South African found form in devastating fashion in Launceston, hammering 90 not out from 48 balls to score 150 points. That innings came close to doubling his points tally from the opening 10 games — 154. Miller bottomed out at $48,700 last round and will still be available for a rookie price heading into his double. He’s going to be the most popular trade-in, but don’t let that deter you.
Alex Carey (Adelaide Strikers) WKP-BAT Average: 61
Pending his availability for the Strikers first game of Round 12 against Melbourne Stars, Carey will be one of the most popular trade-in options after returning from India. You can get away with picking him and Matthew Wade thanks to the WKP-BAT swing available in SuperCoach BBL. Carey seems certain to bat at No. 4 behind Phil Salt, Jake Weatherald and Travis Head but already has 266 runs in seven innings in that role.
Rashid Khan (Adelaide Strikers) BWL Average: 76.5
If you aren’t one of the 25,000 coaches with the BBL’s premier spinner in your SuperCoach team, it’s now or never. Rashid has only scored less than 58 points once, bar the fixture against Sydney Thunder in Canberra which was abandoned due to smoke haze when he only bowled two balls. He’ll be the most popular captaincy option of Round 12 and you risk being hundreds of points behind rival teams without him.
Matthew Wade (Hobart Hurricanes) WKP-BAT Average: 24.4
Wade made a blistering return to the BBL with 61 against Brisbane Heat. But a combined 24 runs across his next four games, including an abandoned fixture against Sydney Sixers, have made the Hurricanes skipper a bargain for Round 12. The Test No. 5 is set to be considerably cheaper than his starting price of $187,200 and is a captaincy loophole contender in the first match of the round against the Renegades.
Michael Neser (Adelaide Strikers) BAT-BWL Average: 53
As of Round 11, Neser was surprisingly still in less than 10 per cent of teams. He looks set to bat at No. 7 with Travis Head and Alex Carey in the Strikers team and is regularly called upon in the power play and later overs with the ball. Neser hadn’t scored less than 36 points, producing scores of 45, 58, 36, 62, 76 and 41. If that’s as low as he goes, you’re still looking at 70+ points in a double game week.
Phil Salt (Adelaide Strikers) BAT Average: 38.3
When Salt goes off, he really goes off. The Adelaide opener has been a frustratingly unpredictable player to own this season, but now has scores of 121 and 111 from matches where he has scored half-centuries. Salt has a strike rate of 151.4 and his electric scoring means once he gets going, big points are guaranteed. He’s worth the punt at a low price considering he only needs one strong performance to score triple figures.
Qais Ahmad (Hobart Hurricanes) BWL Average: 44.7
Feeling the need to offer a second Hobart option, I’ve gone for Qais Ahmad. His season hasn’t been anywhere near the heights he reached with four wickets and 180 SuperCoach points in Round 1, but he’s been a reliable points scorer. Ahmad had seven scores between 35 and 47 in eight games before a 0 in the Sixers-Hobart fixture which was abandoned after six overs and 26 against the Strikers. If he increases his overall average by 5-10 points in a double, you’ll bank 100 points.
Peter Siddle (Adelaide Strikers) BWL Average: 53.9
The now ex-Australian paceman has been a reliable contributor for the Strikers and taken a wicket in seven of his 10 matches in BBL09. Siddle has two SuperCoach tons, a 74 and otherwise five scores between 21-56. He plays an important role as a bowler who limits runs but is also a genuine wicket-taking threat.
Jake Weatherald (Adelaide Strikers) BAT Average: 48.8
The Adelaide opener has 337 runs at 33.7 at an impressive strike rate of 142.8. Only Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, the Marsh brothers, Beau Webster and teammate Jon Wells have more runs than him, an indication of how good he has been. It’d be risky to pick him and Salt, so choose wisely between the opening pair.
Travis Head (Adelaide Strikers) BAT-BWL Average: 70.5
A No. 3 batsman who is bowling in most matches is perfect for SuperCoach. Head has bowled in three of his four matches, taking wickets in two. It was a good sign for those targeting the Test No. 6 that he bowled despite Liam O’Connor and Rashid Khan being in Adelaide’s team for the second clash against Brisbane Heat. He looked ominous in Launceston, amassing 146 SuperCoach points with 79 from 40 balls.
ROUND 12 FIXTURES (Times in AEDT)
Renegades v Hurricanes — Marvel Stadium, January 21, 7.10pm
Strikers v Stars — Adelaide Oval, January 22, 7.10pm
Heat v Sixers — The Gabba, January 23, 7.10pm
Hurricanes v Thunder — Blundstone Arena, January 24, 6.10pm
Scorchers v Strikers — Optus Stadium, January 24, 9.10pm