Tim Michell reveals his KFC SuperCoach BBL team for BBL10

With a host of new signings in recent weeks, Tim Michell’s KFC SuperCoach BBL team has had a huge makeover. Check out his line-up for BBL10.

Tim Michell is banking on Stars and Hurricanes to get him off to a flying start in KFC SuperCoach BBL.

KFC SuperCoach BBL is all about doubles and that means starting a team loaded with Stars and Hurricanes in BBL10.

Adelaide Strikers share the double with Hobart in Round 2, but their top KFC SuperCoach scorers are too expensive to have on your bench during their Round 1 bye.

With that in mind, Tim Michell has chosen a KFC SuperCoach BBL team packed with Hurricanes and Stars.

Here’s his starting side for BBL10 below, with $3500 left in the bank.

Andre Fletcher’s signing gives Melbourne Stars a perfect Round 1 keeping option.

WICKETKEEPERS

Andre Fletcher (Melbourne Stars) $138,000 WKP-BAT

I’d been undecided about what to do with this spot until Fletcher signed with Melbourne Stars as the replacement for Jonny Bairstow. The West Indian international opened in the recent T20 series against New Zealand and although his record isn’t as commanding as other imports, a Round 1 double puts him ahead of other keeping options such as Peter Handscomb, Ben McDermott and Josh Philippe. He’s only got to get one score for this to come off.

BENCH

Lachy Pfeffer (Brisbane Heat) $42,000 WKP-BAT

The Heat have a favourable draw to play the early captaincy loopholes and Pfeffer appeals over Baxter Holt for that reason. I had long been set on Holt before Pfeffer joined the Brisbane squad as a replacement player. I can’t see him playing — the Heat have a shortage of bowlers early but don’t lack batting firepower.

Glenn Maxwell will be a popular captaincy option in Round 1.

BATSMEN

D’Arcy Short (Hobart Hurricanes) $245,200 BAT-BWL

You’ll start to notice a trend here. Hobart Hurricanes share a double with Adelaide Strikers in Round 2 and with the Strikers not playing in Round 1, it’s logical to load your team with Hurricanes. Short is the most expensive player in KFC SuperCoach BBL by $25,500 from Sean Abbott. But paying that price is justified considering Short averaged 85.7 last season. The explosive opener, who made 357 runs in nine BBL09 innings, will be captain for 95 per cent of teams in Round 2.

Marcus Stoinis (Melbourne Stars) $185,700 BAT-BWL

Back bowling in the recent IPL, Stoinis was primed to cement himself as one of the top scorers in KFC SuperCoach BBL before an injury setback in the one-day series against India. The Stars all-rounder averaged 64.9 points a game last season despite only bowling two overs in 17 games as he dealt with a side strain. He’s dealing with a similar issue again which caused him to miss the opening game of the T20 series and said mid-match during his game two return: “I’m still a while away from bowling”. You have to pick him for Round 1 but he could be the player I turn into Rashid Khan for Round 2.

Glenn Maxwell (Melbourne Stars) $185,000 BAT-BWL

My likely captain for Round 1, when the Stars play twice in two days at Manuka Oval against Brisbane Heat and Sydney Thunder. Sure, it can frustrate when he floats to No. 5 or No. 6 in the batting line-up to launch the Stars to a big total, but Maxwell is the ultimate T20 player. He racks up KFC SuperCoach BBL points with bat, ball and in the field. The power hitters from Brisbane and Sydney will go after him in the power play and that will give Maxwell the opportunity to make a flying start in KFC SuperCoach. Not to mention Canberra’s main oval is where he launched 136 off 89 balls against England in 2015 and usually favours batsmen.

✍️ Surrey's Will Jacks is heading to the Big Bash with @HurricanesBBL

Here's what you can look forward to, Hobart fans 👀#BBL10pic.twitter.com/sbDYfgkGFO

— The Cricketer (@TheCricketerMag) November 12, 2020

Will Jacks (Hobart Hurricanes) $148,000 BAT-BWL

The wraps on the young Englishman, who was MVP in this year’s Vitality Blast, are huge. The 21-year-old should find a home at No. 3 for the Hurricanes, who play three games in the opening two rounds. He averaged a wicket a game in the English T20 competition this year but there must be some doubt about how often he bowls for Hobart. The Hurricanes could have Riley Meredith, Scott Boland, James Faulkner, Nathan Ellis and Keemo Paul in their best team and Sandeep Lamichhane will join them in January. That leaves Jacks battling with D’Arcy Short for overs. That pair could share four overs in December until Lamichhane arrives which would be a bonus.

Nick Larkin (Melbourne Stars) $100,800 BAT

Was tossing up between Larkin and Hilton Cartwright but I don’t have the money spare to get the latter. Larkin was been in phenomenal form this summer and has dominated in recent games in Sydney grade cricket. He was one of the Stars’ most reliable performers with the bat last summer and could slot in at No.3. My only concern is if the openers get off to a flyer, he’s the sort of player who could be subbed out to bring in the x-factor player.

Dan Christian should have plenty of opportunities to impress early.

BENCH

Dan Christian (Sydney Sixers) $105,000 BAT-BWL

Max Bryant (Brisbane Heat) $67,800 BAT

Will be using the loophole in the opening round to assess Christian’s score. He’s going to have a key role early when players such as Moises Henriques, Tom Curran and Sean Abbott are unavailable. Even if it doesn’t come off, I’ll continue to loop his score until the Sixers’ Round 6 double. Bryant blasted two T20 tons in a day recently and that confirmed his spot in my team. He’s got too much upside to leave out at that price.

Adam Zampa picked up 20 wickets in 12 BBL games last season.

BOWLERS

Adam Zampa (Melbourne Stars) $184,100 BWL

One of the first picked. The Aussie white-ball spinner was the best tweaker in BBL09, snaring 20 wickets in 12 games at an average of 16. His strike rate of a wicket every 13.5 balls was world-class and he finished the season with 10 wickets in four games as the pressure ramped up in BBL finals. Bowlers are going to have their work cut out at Manuka Oval but Zampa will fancy himself against relatively inexperienced middle orders from Brisbane and Sydney Thunder in Round 1.

James Faulkner (Hobart Hurricanes) $155,800 BWL

I originally had Riley Meredith in this spot but his teammate Faulkner has played his way into my team with his form in Tasmanian grade cricket. Faulkner has been dominant — particularly with the bat — although I’ll be treating any KFC SuperCoach BBL batting points as a bonus. He’s going to bowl four overs in every game, at important times, and seems rejuvenated after it appeared his powers were on the wane in recent summers. He’ll be perfect for the Round 2 double.

Nathan Coulter-Nile (Melbourne Stars) $138,600 BWL

Originally had this spot slated for Sandeep Lamichhane and I’m flat he won’t be arriving until January. But that does mean I grab another Melbourne Star who has a Round 1 double at least. Coulter-Nile took two wickets in this year’s IPL final and if he plays both games in Round 1, he’s got real potential to score triple figures and surge in price. The dream result would be a straight swap to someone like Riley Meredith in Round 2.

Nathan Ellis was the breakout bowler of BBL09 with Hobart.

Nathan Ellis (Hobart Hurricanes) $113,000 BWL

We can’t have him for $42k again can we? Ellis was the breakout quick of BBL09 and has cemented himself in the Tasmanian team since. He was the fourth highest wicket-taker in the early rounds of the Sheffield Shield with 12 in three matches. Test squad member Sean Abbott (14) and Jackson Bird (four matches) were the only quicks with more scalps than Ellis. He’s cheap, bowls at the death and has a Round 2 double. Tick, tick, tick.

Dilbar Hussain (Melbourne Stars) $62,500 BWL

The Pakistan quick is back after playing one game in BBL09 but will have a much more important role to play without Haris Rauf at the Stars. It came down to Hussain or Billy Stanlake for this spot but I think Hussain will be more likely to bowl at the death when most wickets fall. Spending $13k less on Hussain also allows me to grab another $62k bench player instead of settling for a $42k rookie.

BENCH

Cameron Green (Perth Scorchers) $62,500 BAT-BWL

Jack Wildermuth (Brisbane Heat) $62,500 BAT-BWL

As you can see in my team below, I’ll use Cameron Green in Round 1 as a loophole with Nathan Ellis while the young all-rounder is playing for Australia A. Green will be primed to have a big impact for the Scorchers when he returns and I’ll save a trade by already having him. Wildermuth is going to have a key role as an all-rounder for the Heat until Lewis Gregory arrives and could make a stack of cash.

Tim Michell’s KFC SuperCoach BBL team.

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