Head-scratchers
*Ownership stats current as of November 19.
Will Pucovski (BAT, $42,500) | Melbourne Stars | Ownership (%): 35.3
Pucovski has set tongues wagging after his
outstanding batting feats in the Sheffield Shield. It has him in the box seat for a Test debut in Australia’s series-opener against India, which is just six days after the Stars’ first Big Bash game. Uncertainty surrounds the BBL availability of those in the Test squad and even if he can play BBL, they may opt to give him an uninterrupted preparation. However, it goes without saying that Pucovski is a must-have if selected for the Stars in Round 1. While
Cameron Green ($62,500, 36 per cent ownership) is less likely to be given the nod, he is in a similar boat.
Tom Curran ($204,700, BAT/BWL) | Sydney Sixers | Ownership (%): 32.8
Despite being a mainstay in BBL SuperCoach teams across the past two seasons, 34 per cent of coaches are advised to trade Curran – unless you want a Round 1 donut. The all-rounder has been
picked for England’s white-ball tour of South Africa, which finishes a day before the Sixers’ season-opener against the Hurricanes. Look to pick him up as soon as he returns to the Sixers’ camp.
Rashid Khan (BWL, $192,300) | Adelaide Strikers | Ownership (%) 32.2
Opposition sides are bound to get a leg-up on those who fork out $192,300 for a player with a Round 1 bye. While it is a clever strategy to have some Strikers on the bench considering they have two double game rounds in succession, looking cheaper than Khan shapes as the best move. Coming off 20 wickets in the Indian Premier League and recording the best economy (5.37) in the tournament, Khan becomes trade target number one coming off the bye.
Dan Christian ($105,000, BAT/BWL) | Sydney Sixers | Ownership (%) 23.2
Christian will likely receive greater bowling opportunity at the Sixers, particularly early on while Mitchell Starc and Tom Curran are on international duties, but his BBL09 record was underwhelming at best. The 37-year-old frustrated owners, producing an average of 24.9 points across the first eight rounds for the Renegades. While he presents value, will the veteran have enough impact with bat and ball?
Matthew Wade ($181,000, BAT/WKP) | Hobart Hurricanes | Ownership (%): 16.5
Yes, the Hurricanes have the double in Round 2, but Wade may not be donning the purple for a while. Wade has the number six spot in the Test side – barring a shake-up of the batting order – and we are unsure if he will be able to return to the Big Bash regardless. You want more certainty when forking out $181,000.
Marnus Labuschagne ($64,400, BAT/BWL) | Brisbane Heat | Ownership (%): 15.6
Marnus will be doing what he does best against Jasprit Bumrah and his Indian counterparts all summer. Could be a nice cheapie to finish the season.
Mitch Marsh ($164,000, BAT/BWL) | Perth Scorchers | Ownership (%): 15.8
Marsh suffered a syndesmosis injury during the IPL and is in a race against time to be fit for the beginning of BBL10. It is unknown when he will back in the Scorchers outfit and coach Adam Voges has indicated he will return as a batter-only until he builds fitness. Even if he does manage to play in Round 1, it is a hefty price to pay for a player lacking match fitness who’s likely to bat at number four.
Liam Livingstone ($166,000, BAT/BWL) | Perth Scorchers | Ownership (%): 11.9
Like Curran, Livingstone is on the plane to South Africa and has been picked in both the T20 and ODI squads. The Englishman finished BBL09 with a bang and will certainly enter calculations once he is in the Scorchers’ XI.
Jonny Bairstow ($175,000, BAT/WKP) | Melbourne Stars | Ownership (%): 12.1
Perhaps the most high-profile recruit of BBL10, the Stars have declared that they don’t expect Bairstow to feature until after Christmas. Keep that in mind when preparing your trades for rounds 4-5.
Sean Abbott ($219,700, BWL) | Sydney Sixers | Ownership (%): 11.5
Abbott received a Test squad berth after a stellar run of Sheffield Shield form with both bat and ball. He is unlikely to earn a baggy green unless injury strikes, but until his availability is confirmed, leave the pricey paceman out. He could well be playing for Australia A against in during Round 1.
Undervalued
Will Jacks ($148,00, BAT/BWL) | Hobart Hurricanes | Ownership (%): 5.9
The ownership of Jacks is sure to rise after being signed by the Hurricanes last week — he might just be the most popular player in BBL SuperCoach once coaches catch a glimpse of him. Jacks has the hitting power of fellow Englishman Tom Banton and is also a crafty spinner. The all-rounder was named player of the tournament in the England’s Vitality Blast after smashing 309 runs at a strike rate of 149, all while claiming 13 scalps at 16.07 with an economy of 6.46. Did we mention he clubbed a century off just 25 deliveries in a practice match in Dubai? The 21-year-old is a must-have considering the Hurricanes’ Round 2 double and he will be licking his lips at the prospect of clearing the short boundaries in Bellerive Oval.
Nathan Coulter-Nile ($138,600, BWL) | Melbourne Stars | Ownership (%): 15.7
Coulter-Nile has a double game round to start the season and proved he can be a threat with the bat as well as the ball last season. Used as a powerplay big-hitter and providing fireworks late in the innings, Coulter-Nile is a player who can produce a great return for his price in Round 1. He is coming off a strong finish to the IPL, taking 2-29 in the final. It is worth noting he amassed 140 points in one of his double game rounds last year.
Colin Ingram ($125,000, BAT) | Hobart Hurricanes | Ownership (%): 3.2
Ingram has been parachuted into the Hurricanes line-up to replace Dawid Malan, who will not feature until after Christmas. It means coaches can grab the experienced South African for Hobart’s Round 2 double. Ingram has posted 610 runs at a strike rate of 139 across 25 BBL games.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman ($105,900) | Brisbane Heat | Ownership (%): 8.6
The opportunity to grab the second-ranked T20 bowler in the world at this price should not be sniffed at. Ur Rahman has gone at 6.09 runs per over across his 18 BBL matches and taken 15 wickets. He’s a bowler who racks up dot balls and economy rate bonuses for fun and could have greater responsibility if Heat leg-spinner Mitch Swepson isn’t released from the Test squad.
Noor Ahmad ($62,500, BWL) | Melbourne Renegades | Ownership (%): 8.8
Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Qais Ahmad and now Noor Ahmad. The 15-year-old (yes, 15!) left-arm wrist spinner is the latest Afghan tweaker to burst onto the T20 scene, signed by the Renegades after taking 19 wickets across 15 T20s. He will fill the void of South African spinner Imran Tahir until late December and is an underrated cheapie who could take the BBL by storm, as his compatriots have before him.
Chris Green ($107,900, BWL) | Sydney Thunder | Ownership (%): 6.4
Remember this guy? Green sat out the majority of BBL09 after copping a three-month ban in all Cricket Australia competitions for an illegal bowling action. Since having his action cleared, Green impressed in the Caribbean Premier League with nine wickets while going at an economical 5.68 runs per over. His tidy bowling gives him appeal at his discount price, often opening the bowling for the Thunder, and he is handy with the stick down the order.
Josh Lalor ($134,300, BWL) | Melbourne Renegades | Ownership (%): 0.9
Lalor always seems to fly under the radar in KFC BBL SuperCoach despite being a consistent wicket-taker. He joins the Renegades, where he and Kane Richardson will form a formidable pace duo until James Pattinson returns. Lalor is in less than 1 per cent of teams and could be a surprise packet in new colours.
Rilee Rossouw ($160,000, BAT) | Melbourne Renegades | Ownership (%): 1.2
The South African international set the Pakistan Super League alight earlier in the year, blasting a 44-ball century and scoring 212 runs at a strike rate of 142. He is one of the leading all-time run scorers in both the PSL and Bangladesh Premier League and will join the Renegades for the entire season. He should bat in the top three and his career strike rate of 136 makes him a nice point-of-difference pick.
Ben Dunk ($62,500, WKP/BAT) | Melbourne Stars | Ownership (%): 13.4
Has looked to be past his prime in recent BBL seasons but turned back the clock with 289 runs at a blistering strike rate of 179.8 in the Pakistan Super League. The Stars’ double game round to begin could see Dunk provide serious value for money, especially if he is bumped up the order on the back of his PSL heroics. A choice between Dunk and teammate Seb Gotch ($62,500) as wicketkeeper seems likely for Round 1.
