In what is shaping up to be the most vital round in the SuperCoach season, there are so many high-priced options which have great appeal. But there is an inhibitor; our budgets.
It is very difficult to have Glenn Maxwell, Xavier Bartlett, Akeal Hosein and Ben Dwarshuis whilst keeping Jamie Overton and Will Sutherland.
Fortunately here at Devil’s Advocate, we look at things differently to the rest of SuperCoach;
Sydney Sixers Trade Targets
The first name on this list is Jack Edwards, who has inherited a golden role for SuperCoach, an all-rounder who bats in the top 3 (assuming Kurtis Patterson stays away), bowls 4 overs and bowls with the new ball and at the death! Only in the days of prime Marcus Stoinis did we see a role like this, and anytime it emerges it must be talked about.
Another high-priced Sixer Ben Dwarshuis, has been elevated to number 7 twice now, and has performed on both occasions. He is also taking regular wickets which is healthy for his role. Fun stat: Ben Dwarshuis also averages 146ppg in his last 3 Double Game Rounds (DGRs).
Finally, Akeal Hosein is simply unplayable for the vast majority of batters right across the world, being the #1 T20I bowler according to the ICC rankings. A solid return of 2-23 off 4, and 64pts puts him in a good position for success this double, especially with his average of 125 against the Heat and 54 against the Stars. He’s pricey at 196k, but well worth it if you ask me.
Brisbane Heat Trade Targets
The Heat have a couple of budget options which could help finance your trades this round, especially Matt Renshaw. Off the back of an 89 last round, he heads into this double at $82k and a negative breakeven (-5).
Renshaw also has the added advantage of batting in the top 4, with Jimmy Peirson likely to move to number 5 to accommodate Tom Banton, who is the next trade target on this list. He’s averaged 49.8 SuperCoach points per game in the recent T10 league that took place in Abu Dhabi, and has averaged around 50 in previous BBL stints. A price of $117.5k sits him with a 40 average, meaning that based off current form and historical output, he’s 10 points undervalued.
Then, there’s Nathan McSweeney who is batting with a point to prove right now after being dropped from the Aussie Test Squad. Another Heat batter with a negative breakeven (-16) on a double, I think McSweeney goes large this round.
Next on the list is Paul Walter, who has had a quiet start to the season, resulting in his price dropping down by around $30,000. Walter has a good role as a top 6 batter who bowls 3-4 overs including the all-important death overs, so his ceiling remains despite his poor form early. Many will be deterred by that but based off of role, Walter could have a bounce-back round here in Round 3.
Finally, it’d be remiss of me not to mention Xavier Bartlett, who continues to look a class above the majority of batsman in the BBL, picking up their wickets for fun. You will have to pay over $200k for him, but it’s a price that is certainly worth it for someone who is in form.
Then there’s big left-armer Spencer Johnson who is set to return from a toe injury in Perth. He’s priced at only $121k which seems a bargain after winning Player of the Series against Pakistan in the November T20Is. He’s capable of big bags of wickets and he’ll bowl up front against a Perth side whose openers have struggled. The burning question is that is he fully fit enough for 2 games in 4 days? There’s some risk but it’s a great price point for a player of his quality.
Melbourne Stars Trade Targets
Hopefully you have kept a few Melbourne Stars players from Round 1 but if you haven’t, a good place to start would be to trade in Glenn Maxwell. He looked dangerous with the bat until he got himself out and picked up a wicket with the ball. Maxi undoubtedly has the highest ceiling of any player in the competition, so selecting him is good business if your aspirations are to win.
To fund bringing in these gun players, you’ll have to find cash somewhere, enter Sam Harper. He’s had back-to-back good scores, and at just $81k, will release around $100k if you trade Seifert to him, allowing you to spread that cash elsewhere in your trades. His breakeven is 25, so should keep climbing.
Lastly, Usama Mir will play on Boxing Day and could be a great POD move on the double if you felt like going in a different direction to the rest of the crowd. We have seen ball dominate the bat this year, so a good round from Mir certainly isn’t out of the question.
Finally, here’s a quick guide to some of the captain and vice-captain options for Round 3 that have the ceiling to make or break your round. I have listed when they play in the round to justify whether or not a VC or a C is justifiable:
VC options
- Glenn Maxwell (plays the first game of the round vs Sixers)
- Jack Edwards (plays the first game of the round vs the Stars)
- Marcus Stoinis (plays the first game of the round vs the Sixers)
- Akeal Hosein (plays the first game of the round vs the Stars)
- Ben Dwarshuis (plays the first game of the round vs the Stars)
C options
- Xavier Bartlett (plays the second game of the round vs Scorchers)
- Paul Walter (plays the second game of the round vs Scorchers)
Thank you for reading another Devil’s Advocate, Happy Christmas to all of you, and all the best for the round ahead!
Cheers, Nathan (SuperCoach Guns)
About The Author
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