SuperCoach BBL pre-season stocktake: Who’s hot and cold
Find out which players you should start – and avoid – in SuperCoach BBL with this foolproof guide to recent form, injuries and early availability.
SuperCoach BBL
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Form, availability and the fixture.
Nailing all three is the key to SuperCoach BBL success.
As BBL14 draws closer, we’ve done the hard work for you by examining whose stocks are rising and falling.
Find out which players you should start – and avoid – with our foolproof guide to the recent formlines and early availability concerns.
ADELAIDE STRIKERS
STOCKS UP
Jamie Overton $207,700 BAT-BWL
The burly all-rounder was one of the stars of SuperCoach in BBL13, finishing third for total points behind teammate Matt Short and T20 superstar Glenn Maxwell. Most SuperCoaches had ruled a line through Overton for this summer due to back stress fractures which stopped him bowling for several months. But he was back at the bowling crease during England’s recent tour of West Indies, returning 1-17 from four overs in an ODI and 1-27 in a T20 in the Caribbean. The Strikers have a double in round 2 of BBL14.
STOCKS DOWN
Jordan Buckingham $39,500 BWL
One of the rising stars of Aussie fast bowling looked to be set for plenty of BBL opportunities this season. But after suffering a side strain playing for Australia A, his chances of breaking into the Strikers’ team at the start of BBL14 have been taken a hit. New Adelaide coach Tim Paine is on record that he wants to prioritise spin and Brendan Doggett (who took 6-15 against India A) has likely jumped Buckingham in the pace pecking order.
BRISBANE HEAT
STOCKS UP
Max Bryant $102,300 BAT
There are whispers Bryant could return to the top of the order and partner Colin Munro as an opener after turning down rival offers to ink a new deal with the Heat. His chances of batting in the top three have been boosted by Nathan McSweeney being called up to the Test squad to take on India. McSweeney, who likely would have batted in the top four, will miss most of the BBL due to Test duties. There’s a spot available at the top of the order after BBL13 finals hero Josh Brown’s move to Melbourne Renegades.
STOCKS DOWN
Michael Neser $175,400 BAT-BWL
Just as he looked set to bowl himself into contention for the Test squad, Neser went down with a hamstring injury in Australia A’s second tour match against India. While he still has about a month to recover and be fit for Brisbane’s BBL opener against Melbourne Stars on December 18, Neser will have an interrupted preparation for the tournament. It’s worth holding off until Brisbane’s round 3 double before trading him in so you can assess his fitness.
HOBART HURRICANES
STOCKS UP
Shai Hope $152,000 WKP-BAT
The experienced West Indian batter didn’t feature in the recent T20s against England. That could open the door to him being available for the Hurricanes’ round 1 match against Melbourne Renegades on December 19, although it still appears a long shot. Hope is West Indies’ ODI captain and his side’s three-match series against Bangladesh doesn’t finish until December 13. Hope scored his 17th ODI ton against England on November 2, hitting eight boundaries and four sixes in his knock of 117 from 127 balls.
STOCKS DOWN
Caleb Jewell $70,000 BAT
The powerful left-hander has struggled for runs this season, scoring one 50 in seven innings for Tasmania. Jewell has averaged 19.1 across the ODI and Sheffield Shield competitions for the Tigers since the start of September. Hobart doesn’t have a SuperCoach double until round 8, so there are better cash cows to start with.
MELBOURNE RENEGADES
STOCKS UP
Mackenzie Harvey $58,500 BAT
The 24-year-old is a strong chance to get first crack at the No.4 or No.5 spot in the Renegades’ batting line-up after blazing 134 from 110 balls against Victoria earlier this month. Harvey opened BBL11 with scores of 56, 19 and 71 but has been a reserve batter in recent seasons. His form – and SuperCoach price – will make him an attractive option if he’s in the team for round 1. Harvey’s hopes were boosted by Jacob Bethell being named in the England squad to tour New Zealand.
STOCKS DOWN
Jacob Bethell $117,500 BAT-BWL
One of the rising stars of English cricket, Bethell was the bolter in England’s squad to tour New Zealand when it was announced in October. The 21-year-old has already played eight ODIs and four T20 internationals. The third Test between New Zealand and England finishes on December 18, which rules Bethell out of the Renegades’ opening round double. Target him for round 4, when the Renegades again play twice in SuperCoach.
MELBOURNE STARS
STOCKS UP
Usama Mir $124,600 BWL
After being touted for selection in Pakistan’s white-ball squads to tour Australia, leg-spinner Mir missed the cut. His loss looms as Melbourne Stars’ gain, with Mir likely to be available from the opening round of the BBL. All eyes will be on Pakistan’s squad to tour South Africa, with white-ball games scheduled until December 22. Although, after Pakistan’s historic ODI series win in Australia, it seems unlikely Mir will break into the squad.
STOCKS DOWN
Scott Boland $84,700 BWL
Recent history suggests the chances of Boland being released from the Test squad to play in the BBL are slim. The veteran seamer was named in the 13 for the first Test against India as the back-up quick behind Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitch Starc. Boland has featured only five times in the past three BBL campaigns, during which he has established himself as a regular in the Test squad. Consider Mark Steketee, Brody Couch and Joel Paris for your SuperCoach team instead.
PERTH SCORCHERS
STOCKS UP
Matt Hurst $117,500 WKP-BAT
The Scorchers’ decision to draft the English wicketkeeper-batter looks inspired after Josh Inglis was chosen in the squad for the opening Test against India. If Inglis stays with the Test squad throughout the Indian series, he won’t be available to Perth until mid-January. While that would be a huge blow to the Scorchers’ hopes of a sixth BBL crown, it would present an opportunity for Hurst to stamp himself with the bat and gloves.
STOCKS DOWN
Josh Inglis $140,600 WKP-BAT
The Aussie white-ball gloveman is one of the form players in the country and his recent runs spree was rewarded when he was named in the Test squad to face India. But if that puts him out of action until mid-January, it will force thousands of SuperCoaches back to the drawing board. If the Aussie selectors release Inglis for the BBL, then lock him in to your team.
SYDNEY SIXERS
STOCKS UP
Kurtis Patterson $62,400 BAT
The two-time Test batter went some way to answering the question about who could replace the injured Daniel Hughes in the Sixers’ line-up with a timely return to form earlier this month. Patterson scored 91 and 66 in New South Wales’ Sheffield Shield clash with Queensland. Hughes is set to miss the start to the BBL with an elbow injury. which will open the door for Patterson – or possibly all-rounder Jack Edwards – to open with James Vince.
STOCKS DOWN
Sean Abbott $131,800 BWL
The BBL’s all-time leading wicket-taker had a tough time with the ball in the ODI series against Pakistan. Abbott finished the series with one wicket from 14 overs and an average of 83. Abbott had one of the leanest campaigns of his BBL career last summer, taking 11 wickets in nine matches. But with the Sixers having an early double, he’s still likely to be a popular starting pick in SuperCoach.
SYDNEY THUNDER
STOCKS UP
Sam Konstas $39,500 BAT
The batting wunderkind of Aussie cricket looks to be in a battle with Nic Maddinson and Matt Gilkes for one spot in the Thunder batting line-up. Anyone who had Konstas pegged as a red-ball prospect were given a wake-up call when he upped the ante to finish with 73 not out against India A. The 19-year-old hit seven fours and a six against the tourists to help Australia A clinch victory at the MCG.
STOCKS DOWN
Cameron Bancroft $103,400 WKP-BAT
Bancroft has picked the worst possible time to be out of form after two run-filled summers. The 31-year-old compiled 71 from 83 balls against New South Wales in September but has since scored 80 runs in 11 innings – including four ducks. Bancroft made 230 runs at 25.5 in BBL13 and in his current rut, it would be a huge gamble to start him in SuperCoach.
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