SuperCoach BBL: Best trade targets for round 9

The final round of SuperCoach BBL is upon us, with league titles and the $25,000 grand prize on the line. TIM MICHELL names the trade targets to take you to glory.

SuperCoach BBL grand final week has arrived for BBL14.

There’s no time left for playing it safe. Your trades for the final round of the season – which starts Friday, January 17 – need to be about getting players with huge ceilings and shooting for a finals rankings rise, league glory or the overall prize of $25k.

Two popular players won’t feature in the SuperCoach grand final, with Jamie Overton and Jacob Bethell departing the BBL for England white-ball duties.

If you own both, it will ensure you have plenty of money to play with in round 9 to target three top scorers and finish the season on a high.

Here are our top trade targets for round 9 of SuperCoach BBL, with every team playing once.

SEAN ABBOTT BWL

The leading wicket-taker of all time in the BBL returned to the Sixers with scores of 99 and 94 after spending time with the Test squad during the India series. Abbott has averaged 67 points in his last three games against Sydney Thunder and will be crucial to the Sixers’ hopes of sealing a place in this season’s Qualifier.

JASON BEHRENDORFF BWL

The Scorchers remain an outside chance of sneaking into the top four and Behrendorff is one of the main reasons they are still in that mix. The 34-year-old has taken 14 wickets in nine matches and only had one score below 40 in SuperCoach this season. The Scorchers finish the season on their home deck.

MATT SHORT BAT-BWL

Thousands of coaches jumped on the Strikers skipper in round 8 hoping for a repeat of the century he scored against Brisbane Heat. Short was ranked ninth for total points heading into round 8 despite only featuring in five rounds. He fell early with the bat but importantly, he was back bowling in the loss to Sydney Sixers.

Steve Smith on his way to a big score against the Strikers. Picture: Sarah Reed/Getty Images

STEVE SMITH BAT

Smith has looked a class above the BBL since returning from the Test side. He scored a century against Perth Scorchers and then toyed with Adelaide’s bowlers on his way to 52 from 31 balls. He could be the difference-maker in a SuperCoach final, especially as captain, if he goes big again against the Thunder. It was only a few seasons ago he scored 170 SuperCoach points against Sydney Sixers’ round 9 opponent.

GLENN MAXWELL BAT-BWL

Maxwell put the feet up during the Stars’ round 8 bye after his derby heroics, but will return in round 9 for a must-win clash against Hobart Hurricanes. The Stars superstar has scored 65, 113 and 135 in his past three matches, having a huge impact with the bat and in the field. He hasn’t bowled in four matches, but that can be forgiven when he’s striking the ball so well and taking regular catches in the field.

Even a tricky pitch couldn’t slow down Glenn Maxwell in the Melbourne derby. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

SPENCER JOHNSON BWL

If you thought Spencer Johnson was dangerous already, wait until he’s unleashed at Marvel Stadium in round 9. Melbourne Renegades’ home ground is one of the juiciest decks in the BBL and Johnson would be licking his lips about the prospect of bowling at a ground where quicks have feasted this tournament. The Renegades could be in for a torrid time.

XAVIER BARTLETT BWL

Targeting Heat quicks bowling on the Marvel pitch will be a popular strategy this week. Bartlett is slightly cheaper than Johnson, having had a mixed summer with the ball. He has two SuperCoach scores of 50, a 90 and a 137, but has also produced scores of 25 and 14 in the past two rounds. Expect him to bounce back with a vengeance against the Renegades with Brisbane’s season on the line.

Is this the round to pounce on Xavier Bartlett? Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

MICHAEL NESER BAT-BWL

The third of Brisbane’s pace-bowling trio, Neser even found himself batting at the top of the order when Colin Munro was injured against Adelaide. While that’s unlikely to happen again, Neser has a great role for SuperCoach as a bowler who is guaranteed four overs in most games and bats in the top seven for the Heat. He stands out as a captaincy option for round 9.

BEAU WEBSTER BAT-BWL

Speaking of prime roles for SuperCoach scoring, it doesn’t get much better than Webster batting at three and bowling four overs in Melbourne Stars’ derby win over the Renegades. Make sure you check out the Stars’ line-up for their round 9 match against Hobart before jumping on, but if Webster is locked in to that same position then he’s a great trade-in option.

Originally published as SuperCoach BBL: Best trade targets for round 9