Discussion BBL|12: Planning Thread

Which of the more expensive players on a double do you have for round 1?

  • M Short

    Votes: 38 55.1%
  • R Khan

    Votes: 68 98.6%
  • Boult

    Votes: 23 33.3%
  • Sams

    Votes: 66 95.7%
  • J Sangha

    Votes: 16 23.2%
  • Thornton

    Votes: 1 1.4%
  • Clarke

    Votes: 24 34.8%
  • Siddle

    Votes: 36 52.2%
  • Sandhu

    Votes: 5 7.2%
  • Doggett

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    69
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BBL need to look at external financial backing if they want the tournament to actually have the big names, mediocre cap size ends up with a system like this that largely underwhelms the general fan.
You're probably right, and I know Khawaja among other luminaries have been making similar noises - thing is though, "external backing" is really just going to mean "IPL ownership" and it'll just be an extension of that as many of the other leagues have become. I can understand CA not wanting that to be part of their strategy even if it does come at a cost of the very best players.

Honestly the BBL is a huge speculator's market anyway. So many players, particularly the English bats, have struggled out here as marquee players that you can almost understand from the clubs' perspective their reticence to fork out so much of the salary cap on them. And yet so many unfancied players have come up trumps - Jofra and Haris Rauf the two that come immediately to mind that were huge punts that paid off handsomely. I think if CA can do a better job of telling that story there might be a way forward yet.
 
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You're probably right, and I know Khawaja among other luminaries have been making similar noises - thing is though, "external backing" is really just going to mean "IPL ownership" and it'll just be an extension of that as many of the other leagues have become. I can understand CA not wanting that to be part of their strategy even if it does come at a cost of the very best players.

Honestly the BBL is a huge speculator's market anyway. So many players, particularly the English bats, have struggled out here as marquee players that you can almost understand from the clubs' perspective their reticence to fork out so much of the salary cap on them. And yet so many unfancied players have come up trumps - Jofra and Haris Rauf the two that come immediately to mind that were huge punts that paid off handsomely. I think if CA can do a better job of telling that story there might be a way forward yet.
For every Jofra and Rauf 20 duds come out on the cheap, not the way to move the BBL forward for mine but each to their own, hope enough Aussie players make themselves available for the back half of the tournament as theres going to be a massive drop off in talent when all these internationals leave at the pointy end of the comp, not sure what the exact answer is but getting the best spectacle for the fans needs to be the focus surely with crowds and general interest freefalling the last couple seasons.
 
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Open mind to External/Sponsor based financial backing and a shorter tournament and you'd get triple the quality of tournament, why CA seem so stubborn to do it all themselves is a bit beyond me.
Needed private ownership involvement years ago , will just continue to fall further behind.

Either need to change the dates of the SCG Test and open up a "clean" window for our Test players or completely move the BBL to Oct-Nov , unfortunately I doubt they will do either.

Local stars will be asking for more $ if some of these OS guys are getting big bucks for 2-3 weeks (and rightly so) otherwise they will just do a deal similar to Lynn and leave part way through themselves.
 
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For every Jofra and Rauf 20 duds come out on the cheap, not the way to move the BBL forward for mine but each to their own, hope enough Aussie players make themselves available for the back half of the tournament as theres going to be a massive drop off in talent when all these internationals leave at the pointy end of the comp, not sure what the exact answer is but getting the best spectacle for the fans needs to be the focus surely with crowds and general interest freefalling the last couple seasons.
Cummins & Starc have already announced they won't be participating , Hazlewood unlikely , Smith probably not but CA have said he maybe able to be a LRP for the Sixers if they need one.

No idea when the CSA T20 auction/draft is on could even lose more of the OS players that were drafted tonight in any case.

Not sure why only 7 of the 12 Platinum players got drafted but that certainly wouldn't be a positive sign for the powers running the show , Scorchers completely snubbing a Platinum selection adds further embarrassment.
 
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Inside BBL Draft night: How Andre Russell and Faf du Plessis were snubbed and Sam Billings was overlooked

Andre Russell was on the verge of being pencilled in, before a brutal call was made on one area of his game. Ben Horne takes you inside a BBL club’s draft night.

Ben Horne

The astonishing snub of Andre Russell was sealed just hours before the Big Bash broadcast went to air, when Sydney Thunder officials made a final call to scratch him.
Word had filtered down that Russell – one of T20 cricket’s greatest ever matchwinners and biggest drawcards – was likely to slip through.

The news shocked the Thunder brains’ trust who had been resigned to Russell being snapped up well before their first round pick arrived at No.7.

But now he was set to be available, it was time to seriously consider changing plans for a rare kind of superstar, who usually wouldn’t just fall gift wrapped off the back of a truck.

Russell’s availability for just nine games wasn’t ideal, but the reality was the West Indian international was coming cheaper at $260,000 (the other $80,000 paid for by Cricket Australia) than he did last summer when he played for the Melbourne Stars.

Thunder list manager Tim Cruickshank, general manager Andrew Gilchrist, coach Trevor Bayliss and his assistant Shawn Bradstreet and head of cricket at Cricket NSW Michael Klinger essentially pitted Russell against their preferred man, English all-rounder David Willey, and worked through the pros and cons.

“It was probably weighing up someone who could potentially win you more games off his own bat on a given night (Russell), versus someone who could play the whole tournament and finals and help you win a grand final (Willey),” Klinger told News Corp.

“The Thunder thought Willey could do both.

“Probably not as dynamic with the bat, but could give you more with the ball and you can guarantee four overs out of him all the time rather than Dre Russ being more of a No.4 or 5 batter who could only give you a couple of overs.”

Willey admits Bayliss didn’t know who he was when he first took over the England job years’ ago and he found himself introducing himself to his new coach as, “David Willey, opening bowler.”

Therefore it’s fitting that it was Willey’s bowling ability even more than his availability for the entire tournament which won the Thunder’s vote and is why when the ‘On Air’ lights went on at Fox Sports studios in Melbourne on Sunday night, Russell was never going to get picked up.


FAF DU PLESSIS
Just sixty minutes before show time at Fox Sports studios, the cat was set amongst the pigeons for the Thunder when producers informed them that no one on their drafting table would be permitted to wear an ear piece connecting coach Bayliss, who was over in the UK.

As Thunder star Jason Sangha puts it, Bayliss is “old school” and modern technology is not his strong point. Just ask Willey, who reckons the congratulatory message he got from his long-term mentor Bayliss on Sunday night was the first text he’s ever got from him.

So teaching him the intricacies of sending messages on Microsoft Teams was going to be an impossibility at such short notice, and an 11th hour decision was made to instead hook Bayliss up on a call with Klinger – who was not part of the on-screen team – with Klinger to then communicate direct messages to the drafting table on Bayliss’ behalf.

This wisdom paid dividends at a critical moment in the draft when pick No.15 arrived for the Thunder and South African superstar Faf du Plessis was still on the table.

Again the Thunder expected du Plessis to have been already snapped up by this point and a serious chat took place about whether to take the former Proteas skipper at gold level in round two and take the risk that the Hobart Hurricanes wouldn’t take Alex Hales at pick No.16.

As long as the Hurricanes passed on Hales with that pick, the Thunder could then snap the Englishman up at Silver in round three.

However, in the end, the Thunder decided that risk was too great, as Hales was their No.1 retention priority for the draft and a fan favourite.

“Basically we saw Hales and David Warner as one player. It works out perfectly that Hales leaves and Warner comes in, so we have one opening batter right through now,” said Klinger.

SAM BILLINGS
There was surprise in the room when the Brisbane Heat stole England international star Sam Billings at pick No.4 and the Thunder decided not to activate their retention pick, despite the keeper-batsman being such a hit in western Sydney last summer.

This is when it’s handy to have the former England World-Cup winning coach doing the scouting report on the British stars.

“He was probably in Trevor Bayliss’ mind a month or so ago. But no doubt there was a slight concern that he could get picked as a second keeper for England’s Test series against Pakistan in December,” said Klinger.

“That would mean he’d only be available for after the 21st of December, and given he was already only playing until the 9th of January, he would have only been available for a maximum of five matches.

Of course he might not get selected, but a lot of thought went into it.

“We were thinking with Jonny Bairstow killing it with the bat for England and Brendan McCullum as his coach, who had his best batting days when he stopped keeping – that as a coach he’s probably going to be saying that to Bairstow (concentrate on batting).

“Ollie Pope the other spare keeper is a No.3 batter so we didn’t think they’d be giving the gloves to him.

“And Sam Billings in the subcontinent is a very good gloveman and player of spin. He’s the obvious choice.

“Also there was another concern that if you were to use your retaining card on Sam, that Alex Hales would have got picked up before the 7th pick in round two.

“Certainly there was a feeling we could get the best of both worlds by signing South African Rilee Rossouw, who is a No.4 batter.”

DAVID WILLEY
As the only platinum level player who nominated for the entire Big Bash tournament, Cricket Australia is hoping Willey will become an inspiration for other internationals in the future.

Willey had a big money deal in front of him from the new South African T20 league which he could have gone for, but told BBL clubs that provided he was picked at platinum and not gold, he would stay in Australia for the entire competition.

The 32-year-old has a young son, and Cricket Australia and the Thunder will work with Willey to find him school tutoring while the family is in Sydney – and hope the family friendly lifestyle benefits will convince other superstars that decisions over T20 leagues should be about more than just money.

“This last calendar year, I think I spent 16 out of 18 weeks away at the start of the year with the Pakistan Super League and the Big Bash and I’ve got two young children,” Willey said.

“Although I could have potentially made myself partially available and then gone and played in the South Africa league, I think for me personally and my circumstances from a family point of view, it was important we were together for an extended period and doing that in one country I think certainly helps that.”
 
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Seems a great finisher maybe hoping Tim David 2.0? and David gets moved up to 4. Punter I think has been big on David moving up the order.
Thanks for the response , did some more reading after posting, seems like Chuck had a fair say in the recruitment given his involvement in the PSL.

Might be a case of McDermott & Wade opening, with David & Short floating at 3 & 4.

3 Pakis & 5-7

followed by 4 out of Boland , Ellis , Meredith, Paris & Stanlake

no room for Handscomb (not contracted yet) :unsure:

get as many games as possible from the Pakis and the quicks stay fit, looks a strong team on paper
 
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Thanks for the response , did some more reading after posting, seems like Chuck had a fair say in the recruitment given his involvement in the PSL.

Might be a case of McDermott & Wade opening, with David & Short floating at 3 & 4.

3 Pakis & 5-7

followed by 4 out of Boland , Ellis , Meredith, Paris & Stanlake

no room for Handscomb (not contracted yet) :unsure:

get as many games as possible from the Pakis and the quicks stay fit, looks a strong team on paper
I noticed this comment from Ponting post the draft:

"Asif Ali's a powerful middle-order player, we really want to strengthen our power in the latter overs with Tim David, him, Shadab and (Matthew) Wade, so he fits the bill really well.

Wade going down the order to be a late over hitter?
 
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I noticed this comment from Ponting post the draft:

"Asif Ali's a powerful middle-order player, we really want to strengthen our power in the latter overs with Tim David, him, Shadab and (Matthew) Wade, so he fits the bill really well.

Wade going down the order to be a late over hitter?
Lots of options , just hope the openers/3 don't bat too long.

Short back opening again.

Extremely strong team on paper.
 
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Ali can really smash them if he gets going, my only slight question mark is I think they now have too many of that finisher type and maybe should have targetted a genuine batsman to slot into that top 4, David,Ashraf,Ali and even Shadab Khan all really play the same finisher sort of role, now one of them probably has to bat at 4 and slightly change the way they play especially if they lost wickets early.
 
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Ali can really smash them if he gets going, my only slight question mark is I think they now have too many of that finisher type and maybe should have targetted a genuine batsman to slot into that top 4, David,Ashraf,Ali and even Shadab Khan all really play the same finisher sort of role, now one of them probably has to bat at 4 and slightly change the way they play especially if they lost wickets early.
Not sure if it’s right but haven’t seen that boland is signed yet? Could there be a world they run Jewell at 4, keep David at 5 and have the Pakistan guys 6-8 and rely on the all-rounders for the last 4 overs?

Can’t say I know much about the internationals though
 
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Not sure if it’s right but haven’t seen that boland is signed yet? Could there be a world they run Jewell at 4, keep David at 5 and have the Pakistan guys 6-8 and rely on the all-rounders for the last 4 overs?

Can’t say I know much about the internationals though
while Hurricanes have only named 14 of 18 of the squad public. They have already signed 17 (3 yet to be announced) and the 18th likely to be Tim Paine pending fitness.

Yet to sign at the Canes from last year Mac Wright, Tom Andrew, Scott Boland, Josh Kann, Peter Handscomb and replacement players in Ian Carlise, Gabe Bell, Will Sanders.

If I was a betting man (which I am and suck) I'd bet Boland has signed and Stanlake will take Bolands place in the side while Boland is on Test duties.

Really hope Handscomb doesn't sign wastes way too many balls.
 
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Not sure if it’s right but haven’t seen that boland is signed yet? Could there be a world they run Jewell at 4, keep David at 5 and have the Pakistan guys 6-8 and rely on the all-rounders for the last 4 overs?

Can’t say I know much about the internationals though
How they split the overs is my main thing to watch, see them easily having 6 or 7 genuine options between Boland,Ellis,Meredith,Khan,Ashraf,Short and David each game and Stanlake and Paris are there aswell and will surely get opportunities at some stage.
 
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How they split the overs is my main thing to watch, see them easily having 6 or 7 genuine options between Boland,Ellis,Meredith,Khan,Ashraf,Short and David each game and Stanlake and Paris are there aswell and will surely get opportunities at some stage.
With the draw they are probably a good team to wait on and see what the lineup looks like and who gets the overs. They probably have a few really good options that will emerge quickly.
 
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Handscomb on the final list (318) of players for the SA20 auction.

Dunk & Fawad look like the only other 2 Australian players included.

Mills , Naveed , Rossouw & Salt look like the only other ones with BBL contracts that are on the auction list.

Still no clarification if the South Africa v England ODI series will be held in January as scheduled, part of the CWC Super League so surely they won't forfeit that series as well.

SA20 reportedly starting January 23rd.
 
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