BBL|14 is less than a fortnight away with clubs finalising their squads plus availability and injury timelines becoming clearer, enabling us to start predicting Round 1 line-ups.
Melbourne Renegades
Ins: Josh Brown (Brisbane Heat), Gurinder Sandhu (Sydney Thunder), Laurie Evans (Perth Scorchers), Jacob Bethell, Tim Seifert, Hassan Khan (overseas replacement player), Marcus Harris (Perth Scorchers), Xavier Crone
Outs: Shaun Marsh (retired), Aaron Finch (retired), Nic Maddinson (Sydney Thunder), Joe Clarke, Quinton de Kock, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Akeal Hosein (Sydney Sixers), Peter Siddle (Melbourne Stars)
Unsigned from BBL|13: Ruwantha Kellapotha, Jordan Cox
Draft Insights
Draft picks: Laurie Evans, Tim Seifert, Jacob Bethell
Renegades head coach Cameron White said about Bethell: “Young player from Warwickshire. Just been picked in the England white-ball squad. Exciting prospect. Three-dimensional player, fields unbelievably well. Left-handed batter and bowls a couple of overs as well. All-round package.”
Squad (17 of 18 signed):
Batsmen: Josh Brown, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Laurie Evans, Jacob Bethell, Harry Dixon, Mackenzie Harvey, Jon Wells, Marcus Harris
Wicketkeepers: Tim Seifert
All-rounders: Will Sutherland, Hassan Khan (overseas replacement player)
Bowlers: Kane Richardson, Tom Rogers, Adam Zampa, Gurinder Sandhu, Fergus O’Neill, Nathan Lyon, Xavier Crone
Availability Concerns
Captain Will Sutherland is the big one in terms of injury clouds, although he’s confident about his ability to be fit for Round 1. He has played as a batsman-only recently for the Victoria 2nd XI and is expected to play for Prahran in Saturday’s T20s. Whether that’s enough to warrant selection in the BBL remains to be seen, but he’s a far less attractive SuperCoach option if he’s not bowling, so monitor that one closely.
Jacob Bethell will definitely miss the Round 1 double on England duty having ascended into their Test XI in New Zealand, meaning overseas replacement Hassan Khan comes firmly into contention.
Spinner Nathan Lyon is also out with Australia Test duty and likely to be unavailable until Round 7 at the earliest.
Josh Brown and Laurie Evans both recently played in the Abu Dhabi T10 League where neither overly impressed with the bat. Tim Seifert will arrive soon after his wife last month given birth to their second child.
Round 1 XI
1J.Brown
2 T.Seifert (wk)
3 J.Fraser-McGurk
4 M.Harvey
5 L.Evans
6 W.Sutherland (c)
7 Hassan Khan
8 T.Rogers
9 F.O’Neill
10 K.Richardson
11 A.Zampa
The Gades will be relevant early with three games in the first two rounds. They have revamped their line-up after missing the finals last season, namely their batting options which is full of flexibility. Jake Fraser-McGurk opened in the IPL but was mainly used at first drop last BBL so we’re anticipating that’ll continue.
Recruit Josh Brown from the Brisbane Heat should be at the top of the order, alongside NZ import Tim Seifert who typically bats anywhere in the top 3. Marcus Harris and Harry Dixon appear to be cover for those 3, with Harris the next in, while Dixon is more a future prospect.
Laurie Evans and Jacob Bethell are good middle-order bats but the latter will be unavailable early after a shock England Test call-up, which opens the door to overseas replacement player Hassan Khan or cheapie Mackenzie Harvey getting an early game or 2 to press their claims. Harvey recently scored an impressive one-day century for SA, while Khan seems for attractive given he’s a genuine all-rounder, easing worries over Will Sutherland’s fitness and primarily his ability to bowl following a side strain. Khan also adds a second spin option at Marvel.
Among all that, it’s interesting to note none of the top 6 – with Bethell out – bowl much, so someone like Brown could come into contention to be their 6th bowler. He has bowled a bit lately for Victoria and in club ranks.
The batting does look a bit weak with Sutherland and Khan at 6/7 but the likes of Tom Rogers and Fergus O’Neill are handy with the bat.
The bowling line-up is steady, with Gurinder Sandhu and O’Neill likely to battle it out for the final spot, although we’ve got the latter ahead based on form and his opening bowling role for Victoria. Xavier Crone looks to be cover only.
Spinner Adam Zampa has been a frustrating own in recent seasons but he should be fresh this BBL after a less hectic year. Kane Richardson is a year older and probably more likely to be rotated in and out given their bowling options. Both offer some value, although the latter seems a big rest risk.
View all the predicted BBL line-ups here
Strikers – Heat – Hurricanes – Renegades – Stars – Scorchers – Sixers – Thunder
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