SuperCoach BBL: Tim Michell reveals his team for BBL14 as he plans with and without Glenn Maxwell

Tim Michell is taking a huge risk with his starting SuperCoach BBL team for BBL14. Will it be a gamble that pays off or leaves him chasing the pack? SEE HIS TEAM HERE

My final SuperCoach BBL team has never rested so much on one man’s hamstring.

Glenn Maxwell was the first player I chose for BBL14 when SuperCoach opened and I was willing to pay whatever he cost considering Melbourne Stars’ early draw.

Then he went and pinged a hamstring on a cold night in Hobart and my plans were thrown into disarray.

Maxwell is still a chance to feature in round 1, but injury might mean that he doesn’t bowl or is limited in the number of overs he bowls.

And at $247,400, I don’t need half of Glenn Maxwell – I need the full Maxwell experience.

If he’s named I’ll start him, but I’m worried.

The big risk I’m taking is not starting Matt Short, who scored 173 SuperCoach points more than any other player in BBL13.

It’s a huge risk, especially when he’s such a popular starting pick.

And, it also means my three trades in round 2 will be all about bringing him in for the Strikers’ round 2 double.

But with so much value around this year (the likes of Sean Abbott and Jhye Richardson in particular) I am willing to take the punt and forego Short for round 1.

So, here are my two starting teams for SuperCoach BBL this summer – one with Glenn Maxwell and one without.

Now, Maxi hamstring watch is officially on.

SuperCoaches are on Glenn Maxwell injury watch.

WITH GLENN MAXWELL

Starting Maxwell takes up almost 12.5 per cent of the SuperCoach BBL budget, which means sacrifices need to be made elsewhere.

We all know future planning is crucial, which is why I’ve tried to sneak in a few Scorchers, Strikers and Sixers for their early doubles.

Matt Spoors is the bolter after becoming relevant in the past few weeks after injuries to Ashton Agar, Cooper Connolly and Ashton Turner.

There’s a serious chance Spoors, a Canadian international who plays grade cricket in Western Australia, is picked for round 1 now.

I’ll need to pivot if Beau Webster stays with the Test squad, but for now I’m happy to stick with him.

Tom Curran should be in every side, while Marcus Stoinis is cheap enough to take a punt on with five games in the first three rounds.

And yes, I know, we’ve said that plenty of times before.

Aaron Hardie and Jamie Overton give me a vice-captain and captaincy option for round 2 which is why I’m happy to pay up to start both, although I’ll likely trade Matt Short in anyway.

Regardless, there’s so much value from the Renegades and Stars – who both have the round 1 double – that you can afford to forward plan and pay up for two gun all-rounders.

The whisper is that Nic Maddinson will likely start the season in Sydney Thunder’s top order, but I suspect it won’t be long before Sam Konstas breaks in.

Tim’s team with Glenn Maxwell.

WITHOUT GLENN MAXWELL

Not starting with Maxwell – or Short – frees up significant money to have serious depth in your SuperCoach team.

In this scenario, I’ve used the Maxwell money to bring in Sean Abbott for more than $110k less, then traded Spoors to Hayden Kerr and Konstas to Fabian Allan.

These moves will hopefully put me ahead of the pack for rounds 2 and 3 when the Strikers and then Sixers play twice.

If you’re playing SuperCoach BBL for the first time, forward planning is one of the key to success.

You’ll end up being caught short if you invest too heavily in one round and don’t take a look and what’s coming up.

That’s what not starting Maxwell allows you to do – set up your team for three rounds rather than just focus on one.

Then your trades in the first third of the SuperCoach season can be about picking off value players and the best cash cows instead of chasing players on the double.

Tim’s team without Glenn Maxwell.

Originally published as SuperCoach BBL: Tim Michell reveals his team for BBL14 as he plans with and without Glenn Maxwell