Tim Michell reveals his pre-season SuperCoach BBL team for BBL13

SuperCoach BBL expert Tim Michell — a four-time top-1000 finisher — has locked in his first line-up of the BBL13 pre-season. Check out his team and advice here.

If in doubt, pick the bowler.

It’s a theory that has stood the test of time in KFC SuperCoach and one which was at the forefront of my thinking when choosing my first SuperCoach BBL team for BBL13.

The batting line features five all-rounders — Tom Curran, Michael Neser, Will Sutherland, Hayden Kerr and Glenn Maxwell.

Of those, Maxwell is the only player best known for his batting.

The reason for favouring bowlers over batters is simple.

A wicket is worth 20 points, while a run is worth one.

Bowlers also score a point for every dot ball and can pick up an economy bonus too.

If you stack your team with players such as Curran, Neser and Sutherland who also bat in the top-seven, you maximise your chances of scoring big points.

There were two other big considerations when locking in this team — which wicketkeeper to start with and how many Brisbane Heat players to choose.

The Heat plays three times in round 1, which has been billed as the SuperCoach BBL super round.

Neser was the first player I picked for that reason, although there’s a chance he could be in the Test squad and miss round 1.

Matt Kuhnemann could be a make-or-break option for round 1. Picture: Brendan Radke

There’s also a Prime Minister’s XI game in early December he’d be in the mix for.

I’m pretty confident he won’t be in the final team for the first Test, so Neser’s availability might come down to Anthony Albanese.

Relying on the Prime Minister to decide your round 1 SuperCoach captain — now I really have heard it all.

The other Heat players I have are Matt Kuhnemann, Mitch Swepson, Sam Billings and Spencer Johnson, but I am leaning towards picking a few batters instead.

There’s every chance both Kuhnemann and Swepson won’t play all three round 1 games and Mike Hussey tells me Johnson has been carrying a niggle.

Hayden Kerr is set to play an important role against for the Sixers. Picture: Brett Hemmings/Getty Images

Billings battled for form throughout The Hundred, but at $116,900 looks a great option with that round 1 triple.

He probably only needs one decent SuperCoach score to hit his break even and will surely get three chances to bat.

I’ve got Sam Whiteman as his back-up due to Perth being one of four teams which play twice in round 1, but I hate that I’ve left out Ben McDermott.

McDermott is a crazy price at less than $90,000, but I just keep coming back to the fact Hobart doesn’t have a double until round 7.

The Hurricanes slugger could have about 400 runs by then, but history tells us that targeting players with a double will pay off more often than not.

Here’s where my team is at, subject to the many changes that are likely between now and the first ball of BBL13 on December 7.

Tim Michell’s pre-season team for BBL13.

TIM MICHELL’S TEAM

WICKETKEEPERS

Sam Billings (Brisbane Heat) $116,900 WKP-BAT

Bench: Sam Whiteman (Perth Scorchers) $62,500 WKP-BAT

I would love to have chosen Quinton de Kock considering his ridiculous form at the World Cup or even his Renegades teammate Joe Clarke. But ultimately, three games should be better than two. You could also just pick Josh Philippe in this position who is very cheap and plays twice in round 1.

BATTERS

Michael Neser (Brisbane Heat) $194,000 BAT-BWL — captain

Tom Curran (Sydney Sixers) $180,000 BAT-BWL

Will Sutherland (Melbourne Renegades) $158,400 BAT-BWL

Hayden Kerr (Sydney Sixers) $141,400 BAT-BWL

Glenn Maxwell (Melbourne Stars) $118,300 BAT-BWL

Bench: Josh Philippe (Sydney Sixers) $102,700 WKP-BAT, D’Arcy Short $67,500 BAT

Read above for why there are five BAT-BWL players selected as my batters. The change (or changes) I may consider here will be bringing in Brisbane Heat batters who are guaranteed to play all three games in round 1 such as Colin Munro or Matthew Renshaw. Will Sutherland is the player most likely to make way if the Renegades play all of Tom Rogers, Kane Richardson and Peter Siddle as that will eat into his overs.

BOWLERS

Andrew Tye (Perth Scorchers) — $185,400 BWL — vice-captain

Spencer Johnson (Brisbane Heat) — $125,500 BWL

Haris Rauf (Melbourne Stars) $125,000 BWL

Matt Kuhnemann (Brisbane Heat) $104,000 BWL

Mitch Swepson (Brisbane Heat) $71,300 BWL

Bench: Mujeeb ur Rahman $126,300 BWL, Mark Steketee $118,500

I’ve got concerns about whether Kuhnemann and Swepson will both play three matches, so will likely look to start only one Brisbane spinner. The other big consideration I am giving to my bowlers is finding a way to squeeze in Rashid Khan — even if it’s on the bench. The Strikers play twice in round 2, when he will be a must-have, and I will likely need all three trades to get Matt Short in. Starting Rashid means I don’t have the headache of trying to fit them both into three trades. I really like Mark Steketee at the Stars where he should be a death bowler, so Mujeeb is probably the player who becomes Rashid between now and round 1.