SuperCoach BBL: The top unique picks for Melbourne Stars and Sydney Thunder’s final
It’s SuperCoach BBL grand final week as Melbourne Stars and Sydney Thunder clash in Round 16. These are the unique picks who can give your team an edge in league deciders.
SuperCoach BBL
Don't miss out on the headlines from SuperCoach BBL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Finals are historically when the Big Bash League’s best players underline their quality.
The SuperCoach BBL scores this summer have cemented that, with Alex Hales, Daniel Sams, Chris Morris, Peter Siddle and Adam Zampa headlining eight players who have hit triple figures.
Sean Abbott, Josh Hazlewood and Jono Cook have also tallied 100+ scores.
It’s been a tough two rounds for those who prefer unique picks.
In the past two rounds, the eight 100+ scores have mostly come from players featuring in at least 15 per cent of teams.
In Round 15, when only the Strikers and Thunder featured, the four players who posted 100 points were chosen in 24.9% of teams or more.
Unless you had Cook in Round 14, when he snared 4-21 against Hobart, finding a point of difference has been difficult.
That presents a dilemma for those still in the running for the $25,000 grand prize or entering league grand finals this round.
Do you opt for the popular options and hope they deliver or take a risk in the hope of getting one up on your opponent?
MORE CRICKET NEWS:
Australia’s T20 squad: Maxwell set for recall, Stoinis set to be snubbed
Will Pucovski to miss remaining one-day matches against English Lions after suffering concussion
Paceman Jackson Coleman is available for selection for Melbourne Star’s must-win final
Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Daniel Sams and Chris Morris will be prominent picks, but which Stars and Thunder could provide the point of difference to result in a rankings surge?
Here’s a few players you should consider.
Jackson Coleman (Melbourne Stars) BWL $123,300 BWL 0.9% ownership Finals scores: N/A
The left-arm quick has overcome a side strain to be available for Thursday’s match. In his only appearance of the season, he ripped through Perth Scorchers with 3-16 to score 102 SuperCoach points. It’s likely just one of Coleman, Dan Worrall and Dilbar Hussain will be in the final side.
Dilbar Hussain (Melbourne Stars) BWL $47,700 2.1% ownership Finals scores: N/A
The Pakistani paceman has only played once for the Stars, taking 1-56 in his only outing as AB De Villiers monstered the Stars attack. Haris Rauf has returned from international duties but Hussain is eligible for selection as Sandeep Lamichhane has left Melbourne to play for Nepal. Hussain could come into the frame for Worrall, who has two wickets in his last five games. Watch the final team as he won’t play if Coleman does.
Nick Larkin (Melbourne Stars) BAT $72,700 1.8% ownership (as of R15) Finals scores: 5
Larkin has featured at No. 3 since Hilton Cartwright went out of the Stars team with injury, producing scores of 19, 22 and four. An average of 15 across three innings isn’t very appealing, but his prominent role makes him worth consideration. Melbourne Stars need a player capable of holding their innings together and Larkin could be entrusted that role for their all-or-nothing final against the Thunder.
Nathan Coulter-Nile (Melbourne Stars) BWL $131,500 4.2% ownership Finals scores: 53
The best option on this list. Coulter-Nile’s ownership will surely be considerably higher than 4.2 per cent for Round 16. He’s batting at No. 7 for the Stars and bowling at important periods, including partnering Haris Rauf in the death overs. He’s taken wickets in six of his past nine matches.
Gurinder Sandhu (Sydney Thunder) BWL $94,200 3.1% ownership Finals scores: N/A
Does he come into the selection frame after Chris Tremain and Brendan Doggett conceded 10 and 12 runs an over respectively against Adelaide? Sandhu wasn’t in the squad for that match and is likely a long shot to feature. But if he does, that will only add to his likelihood of being a unique pick.
Alex Ross (Sydney Thunder) BAT $93,600 8.8% ownership Finals scores: 33, 12
Ross has had two opportunities to score well in finals, facing 13 balls against Hobart and 20 against Adelaide. He never got going against the Strikers before holing out in the deep but is am option which shouldn’t be dismissed. At No. 4, the biggest concern might be how long he’s at the crease for considering Alex Hales, Usman Khawaja and Callum Ferguson form an imposing top-three. Before a lean run in his last three knocks Ross made 141 runs at 70.5 in four innings.
Clint Hinchliffe (Melbourne Stars) BAT-BWL $144,100 5.2% ownership Finals scores: 27
Hinchliffe has two hundreds this year, underlining his scoring potential. His role doesn’t guarantee points as there’s been matches this tournament where he has been used sparingly with the ball and hasn’t batted. But he showed his ability with the bat with 25 not out in the qualifier and has taken 3-19 and 3-20 in BBL09. His price shouldn’t be an issue if you generated enough money during the regular season.
Nathan McAndrew (Sydney Thunder) BWL $92,000 2.9% ownership Finals scores: 0, 10
Liam Bowe (Sydney Thunder) BWL $78,800 BWL 1.2% ownership Finals scores: N/A
McAndrew and Bowe shape as the likely inclusions if Sydney Thunder leaves out Doggett or Tremain based on their expensive showings against the Strikers. McAndrew has a SuperCoach average of 32.2 and has scored 50+ in three of the eight rounds he’s featured. Bowe was a mid-season including for the Thunder, replacing banned spinner Chris Green.