KFC SuperCoach BBL: Five must-have players, best bargain trades for Round 11
Just as KFC SuperCoaches were preparing to load their teams with star all-rounders, one of the best scorers in the BBL has been ruled out with injury.
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More than 20,000 KFC SuperCoach teams have been dealt a blow on the eve of BBL finals with Daniel Sams ruled out of Sydney Thunder’s next three games.
Sams, who has averaged 68.3 points a game this summer, suffered bone and ligament damage in his hand when he fell awkwardly in Sydney Thunder’s loss to Hobart Hurricanes.
At more than $200,000, there’s no sense in holding Sams for the last three rounds of the regular season in KFC SuperCoach.
“Dan fell awkwardly onto his right hand and wrist while fielding off his own bowling,” Thunder physio Murray Ryan said.
“Scans completed (on Tuesday) have indicated a bone and ligament injury that has been reviewed by a hand specialist.
“Dan has subsequently been ruled out of the final three Thunder round games. His timeline for a return to play will be determined by medical staff following these games.”
Dan Christian ($198,500 BAT-BWL) is close to a straight swap, while his absence could also help you afford one of the returning Test stars such as Sean Abbott ($219,700 BWL).
Whichever way you go, ensure you have a plan to bring Sams back into your team for finals — pending Sydney Thunder’s qualification and his fitness.
KFC SuperCoaches have unlimited trades for finals which will make fitting Sams into your budget an easier task.
IS RENEGADES SKIPPER A BARGAIN OR A TRAP?
You would have been laughed at for suggesting Aaron Finch could ever be available for rookie price in KFC SuperCoach BBL.
Yet in Round 11, the Australian one-day and Twenty20 captain is set to cost less than most cash cows started BBL10 at.
Finch started the season at more than $180k in KFC SuperCoach but his form issues have caused his price to plummet in the past four rounds.
The Melbourne Renegades skipper has 35 runs in his past five innings and just 27 KFC SuperCoach points in his last four outings.
Many KFC SuperCoaches will be asking the same question ahead of Round 11 — is he a bargain or a trap?
There will surely come a point where Finch’s form slump ends, although his second-ball dismissal against Melbourne Stars in Round 10 was a concern.
We’ve asked a few of our experts for their views on whether trading for Finch ahead of Round 11 will be the right move:
@azzajewell (Jock Reynolds BBL expert): Finch hasn’t scored more than 50 in his past 20 T20 matches, only going past 20 on seven of the past 20 occasions. However, looking at James Vince, Daniel Hughes and Andre Fletcher as examples, great things can come from cheaper options, and you won’t find better value at this time of the season. Bring him in, stash him on your bench and fingers crossed his form turns around so you can take full advantage when it does.
@bricemitchell (KFC SuperCoach stats guru): Finch has been in horrible form in BBL10, but given his talent, I expect he will turn it around for 1-2 good scores (at home) to finish the season. He is the Australian T20 captain and opening batsman for a reason. His price is so cheap, he is an enabler to get two other higher-priced players in for Round 11. I’m not ready to trust him on field though, so I would be aiming to bench emergency loop his score as the Renegades have the first game in rounds 11 and 12.
@thephantomsc: It’s not very often you can trade so far down, make money, and still be left with player with a scoring ceiling like Finch. But, while he appeals to those in need of cash, he shouldn’t be at the top of your trade target list. It’s all about form now — not wild second-ball swings.
At an approximate price of $60k in Round 11, Finch might be the difference between grabbing a top-priced star such as Dan Christian or settling for a mid-pricer.
The beauty for KFC SuperCoaches is you can use the emergency loophole to take a look at Finch’s score as the Renegades play in the first game of Round 11 and Round 12.
If he fires, bank that score and move on.
If he bombs, no damage done.
BEST TARGETS, BARGAINS OF ROUND 11 ASSESSED
The KFC SuperCoach finish line is in sight.
The last double game week of the season has been played and the remaining seven rounds are all about loading your team with the BBL’s premier point scorers.
SuperCoaches will walk a tightrope in the remaining rounds as they balance their budgets, trades and trying to differentiate their teams from coaches near them in the rankings or to triumph in league finals.
Avoiding negative PODs (point of difference picks) is important.
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Rarely does being unique just for the sake of being different pay dividends in KFC SuperCoach.
But get your POD pick right and it could provide the impetus for league glory or a late rankings surge.
The beauty for KFC SuperCoach teams is with three trades to play with — until unlimited trades kick in for finals — it should be possible to ensure your team has all the big guns.
That includes some stars who due to injury or form have plummeted in price and will help free up cash to grab the top scorers at more than $200,000.
Here’s five must-haves and our pick of the bargains for your team in Round 11.
FIVE MUST-HAVES
1. Glenn Maxwell (Melbourne Stars) BAT-BWL
The Stars skipper is a triple threat, capable of racking up KFC SuperCoach points with bat, ball and in the field. Maxwell scored more than 143 KFC SuperCoach points three times in the first five rounds, just in case we needed a reminder of his incredible points ceiling. He’s regularly bowling the three overs required to be eligible for the economy rate bonus and has batted as high as No. 3 in the second half of BBL10. All signs point to a huge finish to the regular season from Maxwell as he looks to launch the Stars towards a breakthrough title.
2. Josh Philippe (Sydney Sixers) WKP-BAT
The Sixers gloveman has surged ahead of Alex Carey as the must-have wicketkeeper from Round 11 onwards. Philippe has smashed 64 and 84 in his past two innings and also has knocks of 95, 48, 48 and 41 this tournament. He’s scoring at a strike rate of 149 too, which ensures he banks extra KFC SuperCoach points as soon as he reaches 20. With dangerous spinners Lloyd Pope and Stephen O’Keefe in the line-up, Philippe also has the most dismissals after 10 rounds (12).
3. D’Arcy Short (Hobart Hurricanes) BAT-BWL
It’s surely only a matter of time until we see the best of Short with the bat in BBL10. To Round 10, the Hurricanes opener was averaging 19.5 runs with a strike rate of 121, well below his career BBL numbers of 40.8 runs and a strike rate of 140.7. He salvaged a KFC SuperCoach average of 52.5 to Round 10, largely due to his increased role with the ball. Short had three SuperCoach tons in his first nine games but also four scores of 16 or less. It’s been a real feast or famine for Short this season, but he’s too dangerous to go without.
4. Dan Christian (Sydney Sixers) BAT-BWL
What a summer the evergreen all-rounder is having. KFC SuperCoaches were clearly foolish to wonder whether Christian’s best was behind him after a quiet BBL09 with Melbourne Renegades. The Renegades must be looking at Christian as the one that got away as he continues to showcase his T20 prowess with bat and ball for the Sixers. Christian has been bowling at the death and his role as a power hitter at No. 6 is ideal for the KFC SuperCoach strike rate bonus. To Round 10, Christian had the highest strike rate (191.6) of any BBL batsman with more than 100 runs.
5. Marcus Stoinis (Melbourne Stars) BAT-BWL
The Stars have been hinting for several rounds Stoinis will be back bowling soon. Haris Rauf’s inclusion in the Pakistan Test squad and hasty exit from the BBL will only increase the likelihood of Stoinis being a regular with the ball for the rest of the BBL. Stoinis has justified his spot in KFC SuperCoach teams on batting alone in recent rounds, belting 97 not out, 34 and 47 in consecutive games from rounds 7-9 for KFC SuperCoach scores of 132, 69 and 67. One big score in the remaining rounds will leave you a long way behind if you don’t have him.
FIVE BARGAINS TO CONSIDER
Kane Richardson (Melbourne Renegades) BWL
One of the best bowlers in BBL history will be available for under $150k in Round 11. Richardson has not scored less than 25 in KFC SuperCoach this season and his lowest total strangely came during the Renegades’ Round 6 double. The Renegades quick offers reliability, particularly in his role. In a side with so many young players, there’s never any doubt about him bowling four overs. The Gades play in the first game of Round 11 too, so you can use the emergency loophole to assess his score.
Zahir Khan (Melbourne Stars) BWL
He won’t come as cheap as he did during the Round 10 double, but Zahir is still worth considering for around $100k. The Afghani spinner will likely benefit from Haris Rauf’s Test call-up, which opens a role in the Stars’ bowling line-up. He showed last round he can be a weapon for the Stars in the power play and that bodes well for his job security. While Adam Zampa is the No. 1 tweaker in Melbourne, Zahir isn’t far behind at his best. Like Richardson, you can use him as an emergency loophole option in Round 11.
Peter Siddle (Adelaide Strikers) BWL
The veteran seamer’s price jumped to $179,300 after his five-wicket haul against Hobart Hurricanes early in BBL10. Siddle has averaged 39 KFC SuperCoach points since his 169-point haul in Round 2, producing three scores of 50+ and two under 10. He hurt his hand against Melbourne Renegades in Round 8 but if he’s anywhere near his best, Siddle is a good buy at less than $150k.
Aaron Finch (Melbourne Renegades) BAT
He has to turn it around at some point doesn’t he? The Renegades and Australian skipper has cut a frustrated figure for much of BBL10 and has struggled to have a meaningful impact with the bat. But Finch is surely too good a player not to compile a big score or two this BBL. He got down to $68k last round, about $120,000 less than his starting price. That’s going to be hard to pass up.
Tim David (Hobart Hurricanes) BAT-BWL
David has taken the mantle of Hobart’s ‘finisher’ from James Faulkner. The power surge perfectly suits his aggressive style and he’s been one of the main beneficiaries from KFC SuperCoach’s strike rate bonus. A No. 6 batsman is never guaranteed to feature, but Hobart’s top-order struggles have ensured David has had plenty of opportunity. And he’s seized on that too, with seven of his first 10 innings of the tournament returning 21 runs or better. His price got as high as $129k but in Round 10 had dropped to $81k.
KFC SUPERCOACH ROUND 11
Renegades v Stars — Wednesday, January 20, Marvel Stadium, 7.15pm
Strikers v Heat — Thursday, January 21, Adelaide Oval, 7.15pm
Hurricanes v Scorchers — Friday, January 22, Marvel Stadium, 4.05pm
Sixers v Thunder — Friday, January 22, Adelaide Oval, 7.15pm
Originally published as KFC SuperCoach BBL: Five must-have players, best bargain trades for Round 11
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