The SuperCoach BBL season is just over a month away and we’re all scrambling for a bit of value to slot players into our squads, so we’re flagging a handful of cheapies to keep an eye on.
It’s worth noting, we expect plenty of replacement players and late signings to be added to rosters around the $42k-$62k mark but for now, here’s five players whose form and probable roles you need to monitor.
Josh Brown ($42k BAT)
With Chris Lynn departed and Test duo Marnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja to miss the first half of the season, the Heat’s top order is a mystery. They have signed power-hitting Northern Suburbs opener Brown as a local replacement player, having crunched a competition-high 447 runs with a strike rate of 212 in the Queensland’s T20 Max competition which brought together plenty of top domestic players in August. The 28-year-old posted a century last round in Queensland First Grade cricket too, so he’s firmly in the mix for that Round 1 Heat side.
Oliver Davies ($62k BAT)
Similarly it’s all about role and opportunities for Davies at the Thunder, with Khawaja having left along with Sam Billings, while David Warner will be absent for the first half of the season. Davies has huge potential and was hugely hyped this time last year yet disappointed, but he is 12 months wiser now. He’s not played for NSW this season but reminded selectors of his quality with a century for Manly Warringah last round. Alex Hales and Rilee Rossouw will definitely bat in the Thunder’s top four but who else? With the Thunder having back-to-back doubles to start the season, he needs to be considered.
Lance Morris ($62k BWL)
The Western Australian ‘Wild Thing’ is in great form this season, taking 2-23 against India in an exhibition T20 in October, along with 15 wickets in three Sheffield Shield games. But, of course, the Scorchers bowling attack is tough to crack, with Jhye Richardson, Jason Behrndorff, Andrew Tye, Matt Kelly, Tymal Mills and Peter Hatzoglou ahead of him. Plus they’ve Mitch Marsh an Aaron Hardie for additional cover. But keep an eye on Morris, should there be an injury or national call-up to one or two of the above players. He’s next in line and ready to go. There’s scope to carry him in Round 1 for your loop with a Round 2 double to come.
Will Sutherland ($62k BAT-BWL)
Probably the biggest tease over the past few years in BBL, the Renegades all-rounder has all the attributes to be a T20 star but is yet to put it all together. He’s had plenty of opportunities too. But Sutherland is showing signs of meeting his potential this season, with a Sheffield Shield century along with six wickets with an economy rate of 5.59 in four Marsh Cup games. He also scored a half-century for Prahran in Victorian Premier Cricket on the weekend too.
Izharulhaq Naveed ($62k BWL)
Little is known of the Afghan right-arm leg-spinner whom the Sixers plucked from obscurity in August’s BBL Draft. But what is known of Naveed, who turned 19 on Thursday, is he took 12 wickets in 10 games in Afghanistan’s Shpageeza Cricket League in July and August. He’s represented Afghanistan at junior level and also had a CPL deal this year with the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots but didn’t play. He’s a mystery and often those types get a game early in BBL seasons, when opponents don’t know what’s coming. The Sixers other spinners are veteran Steve O’Keefe and Todd Murphy with Lloyd Pope not yet re-signed. Once he lands in Australia, stay tuned for Sixers pre-season game updates. That will be indicative.
