KFC SuperCoach BBL: The ultimate beginner’s guide on how to play
The best fun of the summer is taking on your mates in fantasy cricket. Here’s everything you need to know to join the action inKFC SuperCoach BBL.
SuperCoach BBL
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KFC SuperCoach BBL is back for another incredible season, and whether you’re a fresh starter to the game or a seasoned veteran, this helpful starter’s guide is for you.
So, let’s kick it off with the real basics, what is KFC SuperCoach BBL and how does it work?
KFC SuperCoach BBL is an online cricket fantasy game in which entrants take on the role of coach and selector. Using a salary cap of $2 million, you select a team of 16 players to play each round. These players will score points based on their real-world actions in BBL12.
There are some great new features this season and, as always, it’s free to enter.
You can play alongside friends, family and work colleagues, and there’s heaps of prizes to be won – including $25k for the winner.
So, what are you waiting for? Sign up now at SuperCoach.com.au
Getting started
Once you’ve signed up, you need to select a team using your $2 million salary cap. a KFC SuperCoach BBL team consists of:
2 wicketkeepers (1 on-field, 1 on the bench)
7 batsmen (5 on-field, 2 on the bench)
7 bowlers (5 on-field, 2 on the bench)
As has been customary for a number of seasons, certain players have dual-position status, meaning they can be selected in more than one section (ie. wicketkeeper-batsmen or batsmen-bowlers).
Players salaries vary across the board, with the most expensive player coming in at $246,400 and the cheapest players, also known as ‘rookies’ coming in at $42,000. Salaries change after each round, so much like the stockmarket, you’ll want to buy, sell and invest wisely.
If you are having trouble selecting your side, KFC SuperCoach has an “auto-fill” option that helps you complete your team – it even intelligently knows to throw in some of your favourite BBL team’s players.
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The pre-season
You’ve selected a side, now what?
Well, up until the start of Round 1 on December 13, you can change your side as often as you like.
Use this time wisely to research. Look at how players have been faring domestically, in international competitions such as the Hundred, IPL, CPL etc and of course in the current T20 World Cup.
You’ll also want to ensure that you’re across the complex KFC SuperCoach BBL schedule. Unique to KFC SuperCoach BBL, teams can play twice in one round, which means you’ll score points for BOTH matches, making players featuring in these rounds high value targets and perfect captaincy options.
And then there’s the availability of international players, too. With international series and T20 competitions taking place all the time, some Australian national players and overseas players may not be available for the entire BBL season. For example, Liam Livingstone, who was pick 1 in the recent BBL International Draft, is no longer available for the start of the BBL season due to international duties with England.
His English teammate Phil Salt won’t be playing either – and then there’s Glenn Maxwell who will miss the summer after breaking his leg.
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To Round 1 and beyond!
It’s December 13, and you’re settled on your team. Before lockout – when the players from the first two teams are locked as the first ball is bowled – commences, you need to ensure that:
You have filled every position (2 wicketkeepers, 7 batsmen, 7 bowlers)
You haven’t exceeded the salary cap of $2 million.
You have made sure you’re happy with the 11 players you’ve selected on field.
You have selected a captain and a vice-captain.
Over the next 13 rounds, you’ll have a total of 39 trades to build your side into the ultimate KFC SuperCoach powerhouse. At the conclusion of each round, you’ll have a maximum of 3 trades to use, or 4 if you activate the new trade boost.
Yes, for those that played SuperCoach AFL or NRL, the trade boost has made its way to KFC SuperCoach BBL. The trade boost provides the ultimate flexibility for when you need that extra change to win an important head-to-head match-up, or you need to get out of a pickle with a late or unexpected out.
You will have a maximum of 3 times where you can activate a trade boost for a 4th trade to use for that particular round. It can be activated right through the round, all the way up until the start of the last match. It is up to you to choose whether you use all, some or none of your three available trade boosts during the season.
To help you further with your trading is the all-new trade assist, exclusive to SuperCoach Plus members.
Whether you choose to make one, two or more trades for the week, Trade Assist will seek out the best options to trade out and in based on the most popular moves across the competition and the current make up of your side.
To get access to exclusive insights, tools and articles, sign up for SuperCoach Plus here.
EASY GUIDE: HOW TO NAVIGATE THE SUPERCOACH BBL FIXTURE
Points scoring
So, we’ve covered team structure, salary cap, fixture headaches, the all new trade boosts – the last thing to discuss is how points are scored.
Each KFC SuperCoach BBL player scores points based on their real-world actions. Score a run, score 1 SC point. Score 40 runs off 10 balls, you get 65 SC points (40 points for 40 runs and an extra 25 points for the strike rate bonus. Score 12 runs off 8 balls, take 4/12 off 4 overs, including 14 dot balls and a maiden, and take a catch?! A whopping 166 points.
Now can you see why all-rounders are incredibly valuable….wink wink.
Below is how it all works – and don’t worry you don’t have to add it all up yourself.
Points are awarded based on a participant’s starting 11 players and any ‘emergency’ player who replaces a non-playing member of the starting 11.
A substitute who comes on and off the field temporarily (i.e. fielding) in a match will NOT be deemed to have played, and will NOT be awarded any points.
Final thoughts
Sign up to KFC SuperCoach BBL if you haven’t already and join SuperCoach Plus to gain access to exclusive insights, tools and articles.
Select 16 players with $2,000,000 salary cap (2 WK, 7 BWL, 7 BAT) one of whom should be Daniel Sams.
You have unlimited trade until Round 1, then a total of 39 trades to use for the rest of the season.
Keep a close watch on the availability of international players.
Follow KFC SuperCoach BBL on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube for the latest developments and news.
And me, too, if you like – @azzajewell
Have fun and enjoy!
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Originally published as KFC SuperCoach BBL: The ultimate beginner’s guide on how to play
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