The BBL10 recruits who should be on your KFC SuperCoach radar
A change of scenery can send a player’s KFC SuperCoach BBL stocks soaring. These are biggest off-season moves ahead of BBL10.
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The BBL merry-go-round is about to go into overdrive.
With the first few rounds of the Sheffield Shield season done and dusted, Big Bash League teams have about a month to finalise their squads before the first ball of BBL10 is bowled.
Ben Cutting’s switch to Sydney Thunder has been the biggest BBL move of the off-season, while James Pattinson (Melbourne Renegades), Dan Christian (Sydney Sixers) and Billy Stanlake (Melbourne Stars) will be wearing different colours this summer.
Cutting has been a prolific KFC SuperCoach BBL scorer in recent seasons, capable of influencing a game with bat and ball.
In KFC SuperCoach, identifying which players will benefit from joining a different club is just as important as knowing who the big guns are.
Jack Wildermuth and Tom Cooper have joined Brisbane Heat after limited opportunities for Melbourne Renegades in BBL09, while Christian’s role at the Sixers will be of significant interest to many KFC SuperCoaches.
These are the biggest moves of the BBL off-season and what they should mean for your KFC SuperCoach team.
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Ben Cutting to Sydney Thunder $153,300 BBL09 avg: 53.6
The all-rounder was one of Brisbane Heat’s top scorers in BBL09, finishing the tournament with 217 runs and 11 wickets. Cutting shapes as one of the best local recruits of the season and will likely slot in at No. 5 or No. 6 in the batting line-up. The Thunder had Chris Morris and Daniel Sams batting in those positions for much of last season. The Thunder struggled to find a reliable quick behind Morris and Sams last season and would love to have Cutting in that role providing support for Sams and new signing Adam Milne. Chris Green will return and fellow spinner Jono Cook was one of the Thunder’s standout bowlers last summer with 13 wickets.
VERDICT: Definitely in consideration for a batting spot in KFC SuperCoach BBL teams. He looks set to have a more prominent role with the bat than he did in most matches at Brisbane where he was stuck behind Chris Lynn, Max Bryant, AB de Villiers and Tom Banton.
Welcome, @Cuttsy31 🙌💚 #ThunderNation https://t.co/GmRAJBsWcb
— Sydney Thunder (@ThunderBBL) September 23, 2020
Dan Christian to Sydney Sixers $105,000 BBL09 avg: 32.6
One of the leading SuperCoach BBL scorers two summers ago, Christian was relegated to a bit-part role with the ball and featured in the middle to lower order for Melbourne Renegades last season. It was somewhat of a surprise considering the Renegades battled for most of the tournament for their most experienced T20 campaigner to be rarely called upon. Christian only bowled 20.4 overs in 14 matches and averaged 12.8 with the bat. While he’s 37, the all-rounder showed his quality by leading Nottinghamshire to victory in England’s Vitality Blast with 173 runs and nine wickets.
VERDICT: Tom Curran being in South Africa or quarantine for the early stages of the BBL brings the veteran all-rounder right into KFC SuperCoach BBL calculations. Christian could fill Curran’s role in the Sixers bowling line-up until at least Christmas after the star seamer was named in England’s one-day and Twenty20 squads.
Billy Stanlake to Melbourne Stars $75,400 2019 avg: 20
Last summer could hardly have gone more haywire for big Billy. He took 11 wickets in BBL08 but struggled to find his radar in BBL09 and could only manage four wickets at an average of 75 in 11 matches. He’s joined Melbourne Stars in an effort to relaunch his career, which has already included 19 T20 internationals and seven one-dayers for Australia. It will be hard for KFC SuperCoaches to have much faith — especially those who stuck by him last summer — but Stanlake looms as a bargain if the Stars can get him back to his marauding best.
VERDICT: Only as a bench cheapie. Stanlake has conceded more than nine runs an over in the past two BBL campaigns and that doesn’t bode well for his scoring. He’d need to take plenty of wickets if he’s that expensive to score well.
Peter Handscomb to Hobart Hurricanes $97,600 BBL09 avg: 34.1
Handscomb will add further firepower to the Hurricanes’ batting line-up after crossing from Melbourne Stars. Whether he slots into the top or middle order will determine his KFC SuperCoach relevancy. Assuming Matthew Wade (when available) and D’Arcy Short open, the Hurricanes will have Handscomb, Ben McDermott, Dawid Malan/Colin Ingram, Will Jacks and potentially one of the breakout stars of last summer Mac Wright to fit below them. Wright will likely partner Short when Wade is on Test duty, which could bring Handscomb to No. 3 or No. 4 while the Indian Test series is on. A return of 193 runs last season appears underwhelming, but Handscomb often batted as low as No.5. Performances such as his 65 from 39 balls against Adelaide Strikers emphasised how damaging he can be.
VERDICT: Very tempting. Wicketkeepers don’t score huge points from dismissals in SuperCoach BBL but if he takes the gloves it will increase the attraction. The Hurricanes weren’t due to have a double until Round 8 but play twice in Round 2 in the new BBL fixture.
Matthew Renshaw to Adelaide Strikers $137,000 BBL09 avg: 47.9
Has Renshaw joined the Strikers as a possible partner for Jake Weatherald or a middle-order anchor? The answer to that question will largely determine whether he should be in your KFC SuperCoach team. Renshaw suffered from a lack of regular opportunity behind Brendon McCullum, Tom Banton, Chris Lynn and Max Bryant during his time at Brisbane Heat. But if he features in the top-four and becomes the Strikers’ fifth or sixth bowling option, he’ll be a popular early pick. The Strikers have a Round 1 bye but you’ll need to plan ahead for their Round 2 double.
VERDICT: All depends on where he bats. Watch any warm-up matches with interest and listen out for team hints.
Tom Cooper to Brisbane Heat $78,900 BBL09 avg: 27.6
The Netherlands international started last season at less than $90k but was largely a fringe player for Melbourne Renegades. It’s little surprise he moved on after only featuring in eight matches in BBL09. Cooper had a formidable record as a Renegade against his new BBL employers, clubbing 36 off 28 balls in BBL08 and 65 off 36 at the Gabba in BBL07. If he can replicate those type of performances he’ll be a great addition for the Heat, but he’ll be behind Chris Lynn, Max Bryant and Tom Banton when the Englishman is available.
VERDICT: It will depend on the number of basement-priced rookies available. You’re better to have $62k or $42k players on your bench than those at an elevated rookie price — unless you’re supremely confident of a profit.
Jack Wildermuth to Brisbane Heat $62,500 BBL09 avg: 18.7
Bowling all-rounder Wildermuth found himself on the outer at Melbourne Renegades last season despite the club’s struggles, only featuring in seven matches. He bowled 20 overs in those games but only took one wicket. Wildermuth’s return to Brisbane Heat will give him an opportunity to relaunch his BBL career, potentially filling the spot left vacant by Cutting’s switch to the Thunder. He fared slightly better in BBL08 than BBL09 but just hasn’t had the opportunity — particularly with the bat — in recent seasons. At his price ($62k) he’s worth a punt as a bench option in KFC SuperCoach BBL.
VERDICT: Cheapies with BAT-BWL swing are always worth considering and Wildermuth’s KFC SuperCoach stocks will rise if he fills the all-rounder role vacated by Cutting. Put him on the watch list.
James Pattinson to Melbourne Renegades $162,700 BBL09 avg: 63.2
The Test quick only played six matches last season for the Heat, finishing with nine wickets at an average of 20.2. His best outing was a haul of 5-33 against Adelaide Strikers which was worth 144 KFC SuperCoach points. Pattinson only scored less than 22 once in BBL09 and three of his six games resulted in scores of 84 points or more. The obvious question mark is how much he will play for the Renegades with international duties and possible quarantine issues. If he’s available for a Renegades double game week he’ll be a top trade target.
VERDICT: Too risky to start him considering the price ($162k) and his possible absence at different stages of the tournament. Consider him if he’s set for an extended run of games for the Renegades.
Morne Morkel to Brisbane Heat $138,000 BBL09 avg: 0
The 36-year-old South African only bowled one over in his cameo with Perth Scorchers last season, conceding 18 runs. But he’ll be expected to have a much greater impact as he teams with Ben Laughlin, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mitch Swepson in the Brisbane Heat bowling attack. It’s a huge bonus for Brisbane Morkel — an Australian resident — can be signed as a local player. In 184 career T20s he’s taken 202 wickets and only conceded 7.5 runs an over. He’s destined for a prominent role with Josh Lalor, Jack Prestwidge and James Pattinson departing the Heat for Melbourne Renegades.
VERDICT: With a number of big names missing early in the tournament, and with a Round 1 bye no longer an issue for the Heat, Morkel should be high on the watchlist at that price.
Josh Lalor to Melbourne Rengeades $134,300 BWL BBL09 avg: 47
The NSW quick has joined the Renegades after taking 53 wickets in 48 BBL matches for the Heat. The 33-year-old claimed 21 scalps to finish BBL08 as the third-highest wicket taker but he failed to have the same impact last summer, finishing with 11 wickets at 27. But the Renegades are confident he can return to his best in Melbourne. “He can swing the ball, take early wickets, he’s got a good change of pace and he bowls really well at the death,” coach Michael Klinger said.
VERDICT: A consistent BBL performer, who is underpriced if you’re looking at his standout BBL08 campaign. Melbourne have a strong attack, but the left-armer provdies a point-of-difference so he’ll be prominent.
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