SuperCoach late mail: All the latest player news and squads ahead of first lockout
Dale Steyn is set to make his BBL debut in Moe after being ruled out of Melbourne Stars’ opening game with a side strain. The Stars have replaced him with a Pakistani quick.
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Melbourne Stars have been dealt an opening-round blow with Dale Steyn to miss their BBL opener against Brisbane Heat on Friday.
The Stars have called Pakistan paceman Haris Rauf into their 13-player squad to replace Steyn, who is recovering from a side strain.
“Our priority is Dale’s fitness and continuing his treatment,” Stars physiotherapist Tommy Simsek said.
“He is very keen to play but we’ll let him rest after a long flight to Australia and put him in the best position to be ready for our match in Moe on Sunday.”
It comes after more than 8000 SuperCoach teams were thrown a late curve ball when Marcus Harris missed out on Melbourne Renegades’ Round 1 squad.
The BBL08 champion instead named former Hobart Hurricanes batsman Alex Doolan in its 13-player squad to face Sydney Thunder in Geelong.
The Thunder have made one change to their successful squad from game one, with Jay Lenton in for Tanveer Sangha.
Harris featured in more than 18 per cent of SuperCoach BBL teams on Tuesday as coaches banked on the ex-Test opener as a $62,500 cash cow.
Our squad is in for our first match of the season! Haris Rauf has been signed as an international replacement player, with Dale Steyn sitting out of Friday’s fixture as he recovers from an injury.
— Melbourne Stars (@StarsBBL) December 19, 2019
Read 🗞 https://t.co/O8EBZQFvss pic.twitter.com/raLAgv8H39
Squad No. 1 of the season = IN. There are new faces are in the mix - https://t.co/meWUoP2Fxr Now #BBL09 can really start 😎 #GETONRED pic.twitter.com/iz5Cl6Y8yd
— Melbourne Renegades (@RenegadesBBL) December 18, 2019
Squad 🔒 One change as we prepare to take on the reigning champs in Geelong tomorrow night! #ThunderNation pic.twitter.com/79nFcjBUEl
— Sydney Thunder (@ThunderBBL) December 18, 2019
The arrival of Shaun Marsh (Perth Scorchers) and elevation to opener of Sam Harper has pushed Harris down the pecking order after he struggled with 74 runs at 10.5 in BBL08.
The Renegades could yet deliver some welcome news for SuperCoaches though, with $42,000 BAT-BWL Will Sutherland in their squad for Round 1.
The bowling all-rounder looms as an attractive downgrade for Harris if he makes the final team.
Harper will partner Aaron Finch at the top of the order in the first game of Melbourne Renegades’ BBL title defence.
In a huge boost to Harper’s SuperCoach BBL claims, Finch confirmed the wicketkeeper-batsman ($108,100, WKP-BAT) would bat ahead of boom recruit Shaun Marsh.
“He’ll get an opportunity in the top three for most of the tournament,” Finch said.
“He’d be a good one (for SuperCoach BBL).”
You missed the first game of BBL09, but it’s not too late to join SuperCoach BBL
Marsh is set to be listed at No. 3, with axed Test opener Marcus Harris vying for a middle-order role.
Harper dazzled in a trial match against Melbourne Stars, hammering a 46-ball hundred to stamp himself as Finch’s opening partner.
As of Tuesday, Harper featured in 12.5 per cent of SuperCoach BBL teams.
English quick Richard Gleeson will play against the Thunder in Geelong, with the Renegades to release their full squad on Wednesday afternoon.
This is how Sam Harper spent his past hour. Jeepers 😳 #GETONRED pic.twitter.com/lOsirXimxP
— Melbourne Renegades (@RenegadesBBL) December 16, 2019
INTERNATIONALS LOCKED AND LOADED FOR SIXERS, SCORCHERS
The squads for the second game of BBL09 are in and the new-look Scorchers have named their two international players.
English pair Chris Jordan ($162.5k, BWL) and Liam Livingstone ($125k, BAT/BWL) are set to be unleashed in Wednesday night’s matchup with the Scorchers.
Livingstone (5.5 per cent ownership) and Jordan (1.5 per cent) loom as promising point-of-difference picks, with the Scorchers having a double game week in Round 3.
Popular cheapie Cameron Green ($42k, BAT/BWL) is also part of their 13-man line-up.
Meanwhile, the Sixers’ returning Englishman Tom Curran and James Vince are set to begin their BBL09 campaign
NO CHRIS MORRIS IN BBL09 OPENER
He is currently in more than 10 per cent of SuperCoach teams, but South African Chris Morris ($125k, BAT/BWL) has not been named in Sydney Thunder’s 13-man squad for the BBL09 opener.
Morris has just finished his Mzansi Super League campaign in South Africa and is expected to line up in their second match – which also lands in Round 1.
It may be safe to leave out Morris from your starting side but who knows, he could produce a big score in the Thunder’s second game.
HARPER AND MARSH SMASH STARS
Harper stole the show in their formidable total of 236, but popular selection Shaun Marsh also impressed for his new BBL side.
Marsh amassed 52 runs from 36 balls, clubbing Stars paceman Daniel Worrall for three sixes in a row in the eighteenth over.
The 36-year-old has crossed over from the Perth Scorchers and had been tipped to open with big-hitter Aaron Finch at the ‘Gades but batted at number three in this
He comes at a discount price of $147,700 after playing just three games last season due to Australian Test commitments.
Considering he has the second highest average in BBL history and is now out of the Test squad, it might be time to lock in Marsh following this eye-catching innings.
SUTHERLAND STARS IN SECOND TRIAL GAME
Some members of the first Stars v Renegades decided to join in on a second hitout, and it was cheapie Will Sutherland who starred. The $42k all-rounder hammered 69 not out off 35 deliveries, smashing six maximums and five boundaries.
Will this secure him a spot in the ‘Gades first game?
PHANTOMS NOTES FROM SCORCHERS V STRIKERS
The Scorchers and Strikers took part in a practice game on Monday and it was a pair of Scorchers batsman who stole the show.
Check out The Phantom’s wrap of the hitout.
SYDNEY DERBY PRACTICE GAMES
The Sixers and Thunder – who both have double game weeks in the opening round – took part in two practice games in the lead-up to BBL09.
In the first encounter batsman Callum Ferguson ($134.6k, BAT) was the standout reaching 70 off 55 balls for the Thunder. All-rounder Daniel Sams ($170,200, BAT/BWL) was promising with both bat and ball, taking 1/26 from three overs and hitting 31 from 20 deliveries.
Cheapie Moises Henriques ($101.5k, BAT/BWL) hit 64 not out as the Sixers fell three runs short in the second meeting, with BBL gun Usman Khawaja ($198,500, BAT) scoring a quick-fire 66 opening the batting for the Thunder.
Both loom as popular selections ahead of first lockout.
English big-hitter Alex Hales ($125kk, BAT) is in for Thunder and looms as a potential replacement for Morris.
Meanwhile, the Heat have named their squad with Afghan leggie Zahir Khan ($169k, BWL) named for his first BBL game.
The Renegades have included Test hopeful Marcus Harris and young cash cow duo Jake Fraser-McGurk and Will Sutherland in their 13-man squad.
LATE SIGNINGS
The man who hit the fastest ever international T20 century has joined the Hurricanes, while the Renegades have two new internationals to replace their Pakistani signings who won’t be heading out for BBL09.
Click here to check out all the last minute signings from SuperCoach expert Tom Sangster
DON’T PICK THESE GUYS
One T20 superstar is in almost 20 per cent of sides, but doesn’t start playing in the BBL until Round 9 …
Check out Tim Michell’s must-read list of players you should trade out of your SuperCoach team.
MORE BBL NEWS:
SuperCoach BBL 2019: 50 most popular players revealed
Sam Landsberger‘s eight BBL stars to watch, plus top stats from BBL08
Brisbane Heat captain Chris Lynn hoping to use Big Bash League as audition for T20 World Cup
Josh Philippe to remain as Sydney Sixers opener after exciting cameos at top during BBL08
Shane Warne explains why he’s starting Marcus Stoinis and D’Arcy Short in his SuperCoach BBL team
HEAT BATSMAN PILE ON THE RUNS IN PREMIER CRICKET
Brisbane Heat have a Round 1 double game week in SuperCoach and several of their batsman had a field day in Queensland premier cricket.
English sensation Tom Banton ($125k, WKP/BAT) is just about an automatic BBL SuperCoach selection after his unbelievable innings. The 20-year-old whacked 13 sixes on his way to 121 off a measly 41 balls in a Stick Cricket-esque display.
Banton trailed only Pakistani T20 specialist Babar Azam in this year’s Vitality Blast in England, scoring 549 runs at an average of 42.23.
Meanwhile, perennial BBL blaster Chris Lynn ($173k, BAT) clubbed 76 (33 deliveries) and 44 (17) in two innings.
His colours were lowered in a down BBL08 but the scoring machine has said he is using BBL09 as an audition for next year’s T20 World Cup. Look out.
Youngster Matt Renshaw (139 off 60) and Jack Prestwidge (72 off 36 and 44 off 20) did their T20 form no harm either.
PHILIPPE, STOINIS SET TO OPEN
Sixers keeper-batsman Josh Philippe ($123k, WKP/BAT) is in the top-5 most selected players and the 22-year-old is set to open in this year’s BBL.
Philippe finished with the highest strike rate of any player who scored over 100 runs, scoring 304 at a blistering strike rate of 158.3
He is also a chance to take the gloves for the Sixers, giving him plenty of scoring avenues.
The Sixers’ two double game weeks in the first three rounds make him an absolute lock.
Meanwhile the most expensive SuperCoach buy Marcus Stoinis ($278.9k, BAT/BOWL) is tipped to reprise his role at the top of the order in BBL09. The all-rounder scored more SuperCoach points than any other player last season, averaging a whopping 96.9 points per game.
Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Thunder, Gabba, Tuesday 7:10
HEAT SQUAD
Chris Lynn (c)
Tom Banton
Max Bryant
Ben Cutting
Cameron Gannon
Sam Heazlett
Josh Lalor
Ben Laughlin
James Peirson
Matthew Renshaw
Mark Steketee
Mitch Swepson
Zahir Khan
THUNDER SQUAD
Callum Ferguson (C)
Jonathan Cook
Matthew Gilkes
Chris Green
Alex Hales
Liam Hatcher
Usman Khawaja
Nathan McAndrew
Arjun Nair
Alex Ross
Daniel Sams
Tanveer Sangha
Chris Tremain
Sydney Sixers vs Perth Scorchers, SCG, Wednesday 7:10
SIXERS SQUAD
Moises Henriques (c)
Sean Abbott
Tom Curran
Ben Dwarshuis
Jack Edwards
Mickey Edwards
Dan Hughes
Hayden Kerr
Ben Manenti
Steve O’Keefe
Josh Philippe
Jordan Silk
James Vince
SCORCHERS SQUAD
Mitch Marsh (C)
Ashton Agar
Fawad Ahmed
Cam Bancroft
Cam Green
Josh Inglis
Chris Jordan
Matt Kelly
Liam Livingstone
Joel Paris
Jhye Richardson
Ashton Turner
Sam Whiteman