KFC SuperCoach BBL 2021: Stats guru Brice Mitchell predicts every Round 1 line-up

The Australia A squad has caused upheaval for many BBL teams and will have big ramifications for KFC SuperCoach. Stats guru Brice Mitchell predicts every Round 1 line-up.

The Ashes are set to be the showpiece of the cricket summer.

But for KFC SuperCoaches, the biggest Test series of the year will create an early headache or two.

With Australia A scheduled to play against the English Lions in a tour match, several fringe Test squad members will be out of action in the opening week of the BBL.

That poses a challenge for KFC SuperCoaches who are trying to put together the best line-up to take advantage of the Sixers and Heat having a double game week in Round 1.

Stats guru Brice Mitchell has shared his renowned teams spreadsheet to help you plan for Round 1, while Tim Michell answers the big selection dilemmas for every team.

Check out their guide below.

Jake Weatherald will have a key role to play at the top of the Strikers’ batting order.

BRICE MITCHELL’S PREDICTED ROUND 1 TEAMS

STRIKERS

Jake Weatherald

Matthew Short

Harry Nielsen

Jon Wells

Ryan Gibson

George Garton

Rashid Khan

Peter Siddle

Wes Agar

Daniel Worrall

Fawad Ahmed

Test squad: Travis Head

Australia A: Matthew Renshaw, Alex Carey

The big question:What does the batting order look like in Round 1?

Jake Weatherald and Alex Carey at the top of the order seems likely, but what happens when/if Carey is called up to the Ashes squad? Matthew Renshaw, who scored a recent Sheffield Shield ton, would seem like a likely replacement, but he won’t be available early after being chosen for Australia A. Matthew Short has also opened before during his time with Melbourne Renegades and could get an opportunity at the top. Harry Nielsen will come into the team to keep in Carey’s absence. The bowling line-up looks settled as long as Peter Siddle, Wes Agar and Rashid Khan stay fit. It seems likely Fawad Ahmed could be rotated and players such as Harry Conway could come into the mix on bouncy decks. The bowling will be built around Siddle, Agar, Khan and Englishman George Garton.

All-rounder Jack Wildermuth has re-signed with Brisbane Heat.

HEAT

Chris Lynn

Max Bryant

Ben Duckett

Sam Heazlett

James Peirson

Jack Wildermuth

James Bazley

Xavier Bartlett

Mujeeb Ur Rahman

Matthew Kuhnemann

Connor Sully

Test squad: Mitchell Swepson, Marnus Labuschagne, Michael Neser

Aus A squad: Mark Steketee

English Lions: Tom Abell

The big question:How many replacement players will be needed for Round 1?

The Heat play twice in the opening round when they could be without all of Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson and Michael Neser. Overseas signing Tom Abell seems unlikely to link with the Heat until Round 3 after playing for the English Lions. The Heat signed several local replacements during BBL10 including popular WKP-BAT Lachy Pfeffer. It seems certain others will be needed to plug holes in Jimmy Peirson’s side early in BBL11, unless young guns such as Connor Sully are entrusted to lead the charge. Just be mindful if you’re choosing these players, their opportunities could be limited once the cavalry returns.

Speedster Riley Meredith will lead a strong Hobart bowling line-up.

HURRICANES

D’Arcy Short

Matthew Wade

Ben McDermott

Peter Handscomb

Tim David

Mac Wright

Mitch Owen/Josh Kann

Joel Paris (pending fitness)

Nathan Ellis

Sandeep Lamichhane

Riley Meredith

English Lions: Harry Brook

Australia A squad: Scott Boland

The big question: Who gets James Faulkner’s role?

The former Aussie all-rounder hasn’t been much of a factor with the bat in recent BBL campaigns but has still been an important part of the Hurricanes’ bowling line-up. If rookie signing Josh Kann gets first crack at replacing Faulkner in the all-rounder role, he’s likely to be the most popular KFC SuperCoach pick alongside Aaron Finch (pending his Round 1 fitness). The more likely scenario appears to be a like-for-like replacement in WA quick Joel Paris. Paris has had a wretched injury run but it’s easy to forget he was being touted for big things when he debuted for Australia. He’s a handy enough batsman, too, who could fill a role at No. 7 or No. 8 if he recovers from injury for Round 1. The other option would be young gun Mitch Owen who plundered a recent ton in Tassie grade cricket The top order of Wade, Short, Brook (when available) and McDermott is power packed, with Tim David a floater who can launch late. Peter Handscomb likely gets the remaining batting position, but his spot isn’t as assured as past years when Hobart is at full strength.

Mackenzie Harvey was a revelation in the second half of BBL10.

RENEGADES

Aaron Finch

Sam Whiteman*

Sam Harper

Unmukt Chand

Mackenzie Harvey

Mohammad Nabi

James Pattinson

Cameron Boyce

Kane Richardson

Reece Topley

Zahir Khan

Test squad: Marcus Harris

Australia A squad: Nic Maddinson

The big question: Where will the wickets come from?

Aaron Finch’s form aside, the Stars need Cameron Boyce back to his best after he missed BBL10. James Pattinson will be a significant strike weapon if he can shrug off his injury issues and get in a full campaign. He has been dominant in recent Sheffield Shield outings for Victoria. Kane Richardson can’t shoulder too much of the workload and his best ally last season was often Peter Hatzoglou, who has joined the Scorchers. Boyce is a proven wicket-taker in the BBL and could be a great KFC SuperCoach asset at $106k. Zak Evans flourished in the back half of last season and although he’s too expensive to consider in KFC SuperCoach, the Renegades will be hoping that was just the start of things to come from the promising young quick. The signing of big Englishman Reece Topley will help, but the Renegades attack will still rely largely on Richardson for its wickets — especially at Marvel Stadium, where his record is ominous. Topley could miss the first few games though as he’s a squad player in the T10 league, which would open the door for Josh Lalor, Will Sutherland or Jack Prestwidge.

Liam Hatcher stepped up for the Stars last season.

STARS

Marcus Stoinis

Joe Clarke

Nick Larkin

Glenn Maxwell

Joe Burns

Hilton Cartwright

Beau Webster

Nathan Coulter-Nile

Adam Zampa

Billy Stanlake

Liam Hatcher

The big question: How much does Marcus Stoinis bowl?

This has been the question which has given KFC SuperCoaches sleepless nights in the past two summers, and Stoinis has bowled only eight overs in BBL09 and BBL10 combined. Even when he was fit last season, the issue was Stars skipper Glenn Maxwell loved to mix up his attack and even preferred to use part-timers such as Nic Maddinson instead of Stoinis in some games. The Stars’ international signings might end up dictating the likelihood of Stoinis bowling regularly in BBL11. If two international bowlers come in to complement Nathan Coulter-Nile, Maxwell, Liam Hatcher and Co, we could be in for another long summer of frustration. Maxwell is likely to bat No. 3 or No. 4 behind Stoinis, English signing Joe Clarke and another player – possibly Joe Burns or the in-form Hilton Cartwright. The wicketkeeping spot is up for grabs due to Seb Gotch’s injury, but Clarke could be called on for that role. Spinner Qais Ahmad won’t feature until Round 3-4.

Josh Inglis has stamped himself as one of the top keeper-batsmen in Australia.

SCORCHERS

Laurie Evans

Cameron Bancroft

Colin Munro

Kurtis Patterson

Ashton Turner

Aaron Hardie

Matthew Kelly

Andrew Tye

Peter Hatzoglou

Jason Behrendorff

Lance Morris

Test squad: Cameron Green

Australia A: Mitch Marsh, Josh Inglis, Ashton Agar

The big question: Who replaces Livingstone and Roy at the top of the order?

English T20 all-rounder Liam Livingstone has been prolific for the Scorchers in the past two seasons but has not signed on for BBL11. Jason Roy is also unlikely to feature, although Perth at least has Kiwi batsman Colin Munro locked in to return. Laurie Evans is a T20 journeyman who has played around the world but the English veteran is largely unproven in Australia. He’ll get first crack at opening anyway. Josh Inglis will be his partner after featuring for Australia A and Munro will likely slot in at No. 3, at least until Mitch Marsh returns. Jhye Richardson is a huge omission after he dominated last season and one of the contenders to replace him, Lance Morris, suffered a side strain recently in the Sheffield Shield. Andrew Tye and Jason Behrendorff are walk-up starts, while Peter Hatzoglou will be Perth’s first-choice spinner. But the Scorchers are very light on for players and desperately need early reinforcements after their First XI was gutted by Australia A selection.

Jordan Silk has been a mainstay of the successful Sixers line-up.

SIXERS

Josh Philippe

James Vince

Daniel Hughes

Moises Henriques

Jordan Silk

Dan Christian

Tom Curran

Hayden Kerr

Stephen O’Keefe

Ben Manenti

Mickey Edwards

Test squad: Nathan Lyon

Australia A: Sean Abbott

The big question: How low does Tom Curran bat?

This might be a question which determines your Round 1 captain. The last time Curran played for the Sixers in BBL09, they didn’t boast Dan Christian. Presuming the top five is Josh Philippe, James Vince, Daniel Hughes, Moises Henriques and Jordan Silk, that leaves No. 6 for Christian and likely No. 7 for Curran after Carlos Brathwaite was injured. Curran boosted his KFC SuperCoach average with 133 runs at a strike rate of 149.4 two seasons ago, but those picking him this year will almost certainly be doing so for bowling points alone. He could bat as low as No. 8 when Sean Abbott is available, which isn’t promising. Ben Dwarshuis is in doubt for Round 1 due to injury but the extent isn’t clear as yet. If he misses, someone like all-rounder Hayden Kerr might get an early look-in.

Ollie Davies will miss the early rounds with a broken thumb.

THUNDER

Alex Hales

Matthew Gilkes

Sam Billings

Alex Ross

Jason Sangha/Baxter Holt

Daniel Sams

Ben Cutting

Chris Green

Nathan McAndrew

Tanveer Sangha

Christopher Tremain/Jono Cook

English Lions: Saqib Mahmood

Test squad: Usman Khawaja

The big question: Who replaces Callum Ferguson in the top order?

Callum Ferguson – part of our KFC SuperCoach team for BBL11 – has been a mainstay at the top of the order for the Thunder. His absence will likely give young guns Ollie Davies, Matthew Gilkes and Baxter Holt the chance to stake their claims for a regular BBL berth. Davies burst onto the scene with two blistering knocks last season but batted too low in many of his other appearances to be much of a factor. The issue for the Thunder is he broke his thumb in a recent grade cricket match and won’t be available for Round 1. Gilkes has opened before and might have that role for most of the summer if Usman Khawaja beats Travis Head to the No. 5 Test spot. Ferguson believed Davies would get first crack at the No. 3 spot but it’s up for grabs after the young batting star was injured.