Tom Sangster reveals his SuperCoach BBL team for 2019-20
Forget everything you know about SuperCoach — and cricket for that matter — because SuperCoach BBL is a different beast.
SuperCoach BBL
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Forget everything you know about SuperCoach — and cricket for that matter — because SuperCoach BBL is a different beast.
The single biggest key isn’t necessarily picking the best players, it’s working the schedule to your advantage.
For example, the stop-start nature of the BBL draw means teams often play twice in a particular SuperCoach round — and scores from BOTH games count for SuperCoach.
It doesn’t take Pythagoras to work out that a player who plays two games is likely to outscore a player who plays one.
The team to target from round one this season is the Sydney Sixers, who have two doubles in the first three rounds and don’t have a bye until round nine.
This means the Sixers play FIVE games in the first three rounds when most other sides play just three times.
The Heat and Thunder are also key teams to target because they have the double in round one. But don’t go too hard because they have byes soon afterwards in rounds three and four respectively.
BATSMEN
Usman Khawaja ($198,500) Thunder
This selection hinges on whether he is recalled to the Test side, but Khawaja has an incredible Big Bash record. He averages 49.60 over his domestic T20 career and plays twice in round one.
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Chris Lynn ($173,000) Heat
One of the biggest T20 stars in the world, but starts as just the 20th most expensive player after a down season (player prices are based almost solely on last season’s stats). Double in round one and likely captain.
Aaron Finch ($167,000) Renegades
Like Lynn, Finch is one of the most in-demand T20 players in the world. And also like Lynn, Finch starts cheap following a horror run of form last season (he’s the 25th most expensive player).
Tom Banton ($125,000) Heat
Dubbed the next Kevin Pietersen, Banton is the reigning England Young Cricketer of the Year. Starts at a price point well below his UK stats (he averaged 42.2 at a strike rate of 161.5 in the Vitality Blast) and has the double in round one.
Matthew Gilkes ($96,700) Thunder
NSW types are extremely keen on this 20-year-old, who has a very convenient double in round one. Gilkes recently made a near Test-strength Marsh Cup team for the Blues.
Ollie Davies ($42,000) Thunder
Currently carving up the Sydney grade scene. Smashed 17 sixes in an innings at last year’s under-19 championships.
Caleb Jewell ($67,300) Hurricanes
With Matthew Wade on Test duty, Jewell is set to open the batting for the Hurricanes alongside D’Arcy Short. Doesn’t double up until round 12 but any player opening the batting at near-base price must be considered.
WICKETKEEPERS
Josh Philippe ($123,000) Sixers
Must-have. One of the brightest young talents in the country and has a juicy schedule to match (five games in the first three rounds).
Harry Nielsen ($75,400) Strikers
Has a bye in the first round but I’m picking him anyway as a long-term money-maker. Will be important for his doubles in rounds three and four and his 79 off 49 balls for the PM’s XI last week was class.
BOWLERS
Tom Curran ($210,000) Sixers
Bowls at the death (plenty of wickets), bats better than most (averages 20 in T20s) and has a dream schedule.
Sean Abbott ($195,300) Sixers
Schedule is again an obvious attraction, but the all-rounder offers far more than that, having taken the second most wickets of any player in Big Bash history. Also overdue for some runs at this level.
Mitchell Marsh ($179,700) Scorchers
He’s a bust if he retains his Test spot, but all-rounders are crucial to SuperCoach and Marsh is one of the best in the competition, at a handy price. I’m also planning ahead to his double in round three.
Glenn Maxwell ($175,100) Stars
Approximately $100,000 cheaper than the most expensive players Marcus Stoinis and D’Arcy Short, despite a better pedigree in T20 cricket.
Joel Paris ($81,000) Scorchers
The West Australian paceman’s numbers are insane, averaging 21.7 in first-class cricket and 22.89 in List A. Hopefully he can stay fit because he has a huge opportunity in a Scorchers side missing Nathan Coulter-Nile (Stars) and Jason Behrendorff (injured).
Cameron Green ($42,000) Scorchers
Like Paris, Green has a huge opportunity at the depleted Scorchers. It all adds up for Green: He stands more than 200cm, bowls 140km/h, averages 20.70 with the ball, bats as high as No.7 for Western Australia and starts at base price. Must-have if named for round one.
Will Sutherland ($42,000) Renegades
Very popular rookie pick last season before going down with stress fractures. Building back to form in the Marsh Cup with seven wickets and batting average of 30.5.
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Originally published as Tom Sangster reveals his SuperCoach BBL team for 2019-20