SuperCoach BBL: The case for and against bringing in Melbourne Stars paceman Haris Rauf for Round 5
Boom SuperCoach BBL quick Haris Rauf has been recalled by Melbourne Stars and will feature in the first game of a Round 5 double. But with questionable job security, should you trade him in?
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Melbourne Stars just made the most difficult round of SuperCoach BBL yet even tougher.
As coaches scramble to fill their XIs with Adelaide Strikers and Perth Scorchers on the bye, the Stars have presented one of the toughest calls of the season by recalling Haris Rauf.
The Pakistani quick has the best SuperCoach average of any player this summer — 118 — after scores of 156 and 80 in his two outings as a replacement player for Dale Steyn.
Rauf has been named in the Stars squad to face Sydney Thunder on Thursday afternoon and is set to soar in price from $104,600.
However, spinner Sandeep Lamichhane, who will miss the clash with injury, hopes to return for the BBL’s first Melbourne derby of the campaign on January 4.
We’ve named our squad for our clash with the @ThunderBBL at the Sydney Showgrounds tomorrow. Haris Rauf returns in place of Sandeep Lamichhane who is resting an injury with the aim of returning for the Melbourne Derby.
— Melbourne Stars (@StarsBBL) January 1, 2020
READ 👉🼠https://t.co/rtIg8SDSR8#TeamGreen 💚 pic.twitter.com/XJuTBdc7Wg
That match is Melbourne Stars’ second in their Round 5 double game week and there’s obvious risk Rauf is squeezed out again due to the BBL’s cap of two internationals per team.
Here are the reasons you should consider him and the arguments against it.
Haris Rauf has performed well on both of the occasions when given the chances. Then why to keep him just as a replacement for either the injured ones or unavailable ones. He should be the first choice.
— Taimoor Sikandar (@TaimoorSikander) January 1, 2020
THE CASE FOR AND AGAINST RAUF TRADE
PROS
Price: At $104,600, he’s the cheapest of the frontline bowling options with a double in Round 5. His teammates Adam Zampa ($164,200), Nathan Coulter-Nile ($171,400) and Dale Steyn ($162,200) are considerably more expensive. Dan Worrall ($122,100) is the other potential bargain from the Stars.
Money-making potential: Rauf is expected to skyrocket by about $40,000 with a score of 50 against the Thunder. That’s cash you can reinvest in Round 6 to snare a player such as Perth Scorchers star Chris Jordan (who has a double).
His ceiling: Rauf won’t take five wickets every match, but he certainly looks the part in the BBL. He’s a spearhead who can take wickets in the power play or at the death, which equates to big points.
His role: Marcus Stoinis still hasn’t bowled for the Stars which all but guarantees Rauf, Steyn, Coulter-Nile and Worrall will bowl a minimum of three overs. Rauf only needs to bowl two to be eligible for the valuable economy rate bonus.
The Round 7 double: Dale Steyn will have waved goodbye to the Stars by their next double, which is only two rounds away. English T20 international Pat Brown is due to join the Stars, but Rauf has an opportunity to make that pace role his own.
MORE SUPERCOACH BBL:
SuperCoach BBL Round 5: How you should fund a move for Melbourne Stars skipper Glenn Maxwell
SuperCoach BBL international calendar: When do overseas stars depart BBL09?
How to use the captaincy and emergency loophole in SuperCoach BBL
CONS
Job security: The Stars said upon releasing their team to face the Thunder that Lamichhane had been rested due to injury, but hoped to return for the January 4 derby. Rauf demolished the Hurricanes in Moe, snaring 5-27, yet still found himself on the outer when Steyn overcame a side strain. That doesn’t bode well for his selection in game two of what is already a tough round to field a full XI.
Uncertainty about Stars bowling line-up: Melbourne Stars have one of the deepest bowling attacks in the BBL and have already called on nine bowlers this campaign including skipper Glenn Maxwell and part-time spinner Nic Maddinson. If Stoinis is back bowling soon, will Rauf even be needed in the XI?
The price rises you missed: Rauf was available for $42,000 before his debut BBL game after being plucked from Tasmanian grade cricket. He’s already gone up by $62,600 and you’ll be paying more than double what more than 8000 coaches with Rauf in their sides did.
VERDICT: The likelihood of an extra $40,000-$50,000 to play with is too good to pass up, unless it means you won’t field a full XI this round.