Finding the value SC BBL beneficiaries from the Ashes & Australia A selections
Wednesday’s Ashes and Australia A squad announcements provided a lot of clarity for SuperCoaches ahead of the new BBL season, but it also had plenty scrambling and some even starting afresh.
The key info is the Ashes squad has been named for the first two Tests, ruling those players out for the first five rounds at a minimum. It’s reasonable to expect most of that squad will remain for the entire series, rendering them unavailable for the whole BBL regular season.
The Australia A cohort will miss the first three rounds. There is scope one or two could be added to the Ashes squad, pending injury or form issues, so that’s a flag.
We’ve weighed up the implications of selection for probable Round 1 XIs, throwing up some potential beneficiaries whose SC BBL value may have skyrocketed as a result.
Adelaide Strikers
Ashes: Head
Aus A: Carey, Renshaw
Free: –
Adelaide’s top order has been significantly impacted by selections, especially given opening batsman Phil Salt hasn’t been retained. There’s an opening slot available as well as top four positions, with Harry Nielsen ($76k WKP/BAT), Ryan Gibson ($65k BAT) and Matt Short ($62k BAT) among the contenders for an elevated role which will create better SC BBL point-scoring opportunities.
Expect Jake Lehmann (BAT) and Nathan McSweeney (BAT) to come into calculations as replacement signings.
Brisbane Heat
Ashes: Labuschagne, Neser, Swepson
Aus A: Steketee
Free: Wildermuth
Some major implications with three key bowlers ruled out early, opening the door for Xavier Bartlett ($97k BWL) to lead the line, while James Bazley ($96k BAT/BWL) and Matthew Kuhnemann ($85k BWL) are firmly in contention to play both games in their Round 1 double. Newly added rookie Connor Sully ($42k BWL) is a sniff but less likely given he’s quite raw. Tall quick Matt Willans ($42k BWL) seems further back based on state selections.
Jack Wildermuth ($155k BAT/BWL) played for Australia A last year but was overlooked and becomes an enticing option, given his senior status among an inexperienced brigade of bowlers combined with his batting ability, although will probably come in around seven.
Labuschagne opened the batting last season when available, so there’s a role open for either Max Bryant ($117k BAT) or Sam Heazlett ($97k BAT) at the top of the order. Tom Abell is out early too on English Lions duty, so Tom Cooper ($62k BAT) might be in the mix for a middle-order role.
Hobart Hurricanes
Ashes: –
Aus A: Boland
Free: Wade, McDermott, Handscomb
Explosive opening batsman Matthew Wade ($145k BAT/WKP) must loom large on your SC radar, having had his availability for the entirety of BBL|11 freed up after being overlooked. Seems under-priced too. Ben McDermott is available too after being excellent at first drop last season too. Harry Brook will miss the early rounds on English Lions duty, with Caleb Jewell ($62k BAT) or Mac Wright ($112k BAT) his probable replacement.
Scott Boland’s Australia A selection should’ve firmed up Joel Paris’ Round 1 chances but injured has intervened, although there’s no obvious back-up. Expect young Tasmanian bowler Neil Lawrence-Smith (BWL) to be their final domestic signing and come into the side early. He was a Sixers replacement player last season but didn’t play so should be priced at $42k. Alternately they could use an extra spinner with Wil Parker ($62k BWL) supporting Sandeep Lamichhane but that would depend on conditions.
Melbourne Renegades
Ashes: Harris
Aus A: Maddinson
Free: –
No major surprises with the Renegades, although new skipper Nic Maddinson probably would’ve firmed for a batting role around five in the order. That combined with Shaun Marsh’s calf injury, ruling him out until Christmas, may open up a better opportunity and role for Jake Fraser-McGurk ($65k BAT) or Mackenzie Harvey ($97k BAT).
Marcus Harris isn’t in their best XI so his Ashes selection is largely irrelevant. James Pattinson has retired from Test cricket, meaning they have good bowling stocks.
Melbourne Stars
Ashes: –
Aus A: –
Free: Burns, Cartwright
No impact for the Stars, with fringe Test hopefuls Joe Burns ($91k BAT) and Hilton Cartwright ($110k BAT) overlooked.
Perth Scorchers
Ashes: Richardson
Aus A: Agar, Inglis, M.Marsh
Free: Bancroft
Major implications with value options Ashton Agar and Mitch Marsh to miss the first few rounds, while BBL|10 leading wicket-taker Jhye Richardson looks like he’ll be unavailable all season.
Matt Kelly ($101k BWL) is Richardson’s obvious replacement in the XI, although it does put speedster Lance Morris ($62k BWL) into the mix. Aaron Hardie ($103k BAT/BWL), who is returning from off-season elbow surgery, replaced Agar capably last season and Marsh’s absence means he may bowl plenty of overs early, but that’s pending his injury.
On the batting front, Perth’s top order is in disarray, with Jason Roy and Liam Livingstone not returning and no confirmation on their final two imports, while Inglis and Marsh won’t be available early. Pending those last import signings, Cameron Bancroft ($92k BAT/WKP) could be elevated to open, possibly alongside Colin Munro, with Kurtis Patterson ($62k BAT) coming into calculations along with Nick Hobson (BAT) who has reportedly signed. But still quite uncertain as we really need to wait on Perth’s final signings.
Sydney Sixers
Ashes: Lyon
Aus A: Abbott
Free: Henriques, Philippe
Dodged a fair few bullets with Moises Henriques and Josh Philippe overlooked, meaning they should take up their batting roles in their top four, the latter opening. Henriques’ availability means Jack Edwards ($76k BAT) will have to wait for an opportunity, having deputized in his absence last season.
Sean Abbott is in the Australia A squad but missed Ashes selection, meaning he could come into the side from Round 4 onwards, with implications to how many overs all-rounders Tom Curran, Carlos Brathwaite and Dan Christian will bowl.
Lyon’s Ashes selection wasn’t unexpected, but Lloyd Pope ($73k BWL) and Ben Manenti ($76k BWL) will battle it out to be Steve O’Keefe’s preferred back-up spinner.
Sydney Thunder
Ashes: Khawaja
Aus A: –
Free: –
Usman Khawaja’s absence as opener is a big one, given the Thunder’s lack of batting depth. Matthew Gilkes ($62k WKP/BAT) has opened for NSW in one-day cricket recently and could benefit. There’s a school of thought explosive all-rounder Ben Cutting ($132k BWL/BAT) could move up the order, but that feels unlikely alongside the aggressive Alex Hales.
Fast bowler Saqib Mahmood is on English Lions duty early, while Brendan Doggett has a side strain meaning there may be an early spot for Chris Tremain ($86k BWL) who earned a NSW recall this week.
