10 Value SuperCoach BBL Options You Need To Consider In BBL|11 & Why
SuperCoach BBL officially opened on Tuesday, enabling coaches to start mocking up their squads for BBL|11, so having assessed the prices we’ve listed off 10 players who appear good value.
Mitch Marsh ($132k BAT/BWL)
The Scorchers all-rounder looms as a must-have to start the season, given price, all-round ability and recent form, dominating for Australia in recent T20 series, as well as a Marsh Cup century for WA. The question mark on Marsh is always durability but if he’s fit (able to perform both disciplines) for Round 1, you wouldn’t want to not own him. His price has been deflated after being unable to bowl for a few games last season. One flag, monitor his T20 World Cup form, to ensure his current confidence is still sky high.
Ashton Agar ($89k BAT/BWL)
If someone said to you there’s an Australian T20 all-rounder available for less than $90k you’d jump at it, right? So, after missing the entirety of BBL|10 with injury, Agar is an absolute bargain. He’ll likely bat seven for the Scorchers and bowl 3-4 overs, offering their spin option alongside Peter Hatzoglou after Fawad Ahmed’s release. Agar also fields in dangerous spots, so adds some points with catches.
Michael Neser ($127k BAT/BWL)
Neser, who missed most of last BBL as part of Australia’s Test squad despite not actually playing, moved from the Strikers to the Heat in the off-season. Brisbane has an all-rounder void, with Lewis Gregory not returning and arguably not sufficiently filling it in BBL|10, so Neser’s role is spot-on, likely batting at seven and bowling four overs. The question mark is if he’s part of the Test squad. If not, with a double game first up, he appears a lock especially given Brisbane’s susceptibility to a top-order collapse.
Joel Paris ($62k BWL)
Another player to swap clubs this off-season is two-time ODI rep Paris, who left the Scorchers for the Hurricanes chasing opportunity. Hobart appear to be looking for someone to fill the all-rounder role at number seven with Paris’ recruitment, after James Faulkner’s release and with Johan Botha, Will Jacks and Keemo Paul not re-signed. Paris, who has a Sheffield Shield century to his name, is capable with the bat. In terms of competition for the role, Mitch Owen and Josh Kann are arguably too raw but monitor Hobart’s last international signing.
Aaron Finch ($62k BAT)
The Aussie T20 skipper is a cut-price bargain after a disastrous BBL|10 campaign where he scored only 179 runs across 13 innings, averaging an awful 17.6 in SC BBL. But he averaged 64.6 and 41.4 in the previous two SC BBL seasons, so if he can re-discover some form, he’s definitely worth more than that starting price. Monitor him during the T20 World Cup, which will provide a good guide, but he’s basically priced as a rookie so you could simply place him on your bench and see how he goes.
Xavier Bartlett ($97k BWL)
BBL|10’s perennial X-factor is likely to be upgraded into the Heat’s best XI this season, especially if Mitch Swepson, Mark Steketee or Neser are part of the Test squad. Morne Morkel won’t be around this season to take his spot nor coach Darren Lehmann with his crafty ideas. Bartlett showed glimpses of his quality in BBL|10 but his average was hampered by his role, subbed out a handful of times after only one over, infuriating owners. That’s deflated his price. With a double first-up, he’s got to be on your radar.
Jimmy Peirson ($89k BAT/WKP)
Promoted to Heat skipper after Chris Lynn stood down, Peirson is an intriguing option, with the Heat’s double game in Round 1 making him enticing given price. Peirson only averaged 28.8 SC BBL points in BBL|10 and there will be better wicketkeepers across the campaign, but he has a high ceiling with scores of 104 and 83 last season. His batting position will be important, but if he’s in the top 4-5, he’s worth consideration.
Sandeep Lamichhane ($103k BWL)
Bowlers tend to score better than batsmen, so finding a few cheap ones is important to your starting side and Nepalese spinner Sandeep appears to fit this category, given he seems locked in Hobart’s best XI. Sandeep scored 40+ in four of the eight rounds he played in last season, averaging 33.1 SC BBL points. But he is available for the entirety of BBL|11, unlike last season when he arrived late, so with more continuity and a proper lead-in you could justifiably expect a rise in his average output.
Matthew Wade ($145k BAT/WKP)
The Hurricanes skipper isn’t exactly cheap but with his Test days appearing over, he’s set to be available all season for the first time in years, making him very attractive. Wade has a great track record in the BBL (averaging 65.1 and 63.2 SC BBL points in BBL|09 and BBL|10 respectively), will open the batting and should wear the gloves, offering a few avenues to scoring. He can be volatile and is a decent price for someone who doesn’t have a double game until Round 6, but he’s also someone you don’t want to miss out on when he goes big as he has a high ceiling.
Ollie Davies ($74k BAT)
The Thunder batsman will be in a lot of starting teams given his price after dazzling in his first two games last season, with BBL SC scores of 71 and 83. He’s the most likely player to take the departed Callum Ferguson’s role in the Thunder top four which is significant. Sadly things turned sour for Davies after his sensational opening few games, as opposition bowlers worked him out, with his average dropping down to 23.8 SC BBL points, hence his low price, but he’s a talent with a likely starting role.
*With the Sixers having a DGW first up too, Carlos Brathwaite ($117k BAT/BWL) and Daniel Hughes ($78k BAT) are worth flagging in terms of value. Note, Brathwaite’s role may be impacted by Tom Curran’s return. Hughes should still bat in the top 3-4 if Moises Henriques is available.
