In fact, until undertaking this team reveal exercise, I still had Rashid Khan in my team, despite SuperCoach erasing him from of the game!
However, with a few days left til BBL starts, the time has come. Needless to say, with the daily news coming through (stay tuned to Honeyball for all that … and the Herald Sun of course), it’ll change a whole heap more before the first ball on Thursday.
It’s nothing new to say the premise of my side is trying to maximise the fixture to my advantage, with an obvious lean towards Brisbane Heat players with their Round 1 triple, while the rest of my starting 11 are on doubles. But I’ve tried not to overcommit on too many players in any one fixture, so there’s a spread of teams plus exit trade plans team-by-team moving forward.
There’s also some planning on the bench with Adelaide Strikers for their stand-alone Round 2 double and some cash generation options on the pine too. One of them, however, may need to go if my VC pops and I need a non-playing player (NPP).
That’s a problem for later though.
I do want to emphasise every player has a purpose in my squad. Points on field are critical in a nine-round season, but so too is quick cash generation, so it’s a balancing act. I’ve also avoided the six most expensive players, which is risky with Jhye Richardson and Sean Abbott but I just think their value will slide.
WICKETKEEPERS
Billings/McDermott
I’m not 100 per cent sold on Billings’ inclusion as he’s a 30-point-a-game kind of guy, but if he manages that three times on a triple that’s a good score — noting back-to-back SC BBL champ Andrew Langley’s target of 55 points per score involvement. I’d look to trade Billings pretty quickly after Round 1 though. He certainly shouldn’t drop much in price.
Ben McDermott looks a big cash gen option, sitting second for Marsh Cup runs this season. We’ve seen his massive ceiling previously too. Should bat top 3 for Hobart.
BATSMEN
Hardie/Munro/Maxwell/Walter/Maddinson – D.Short/Wood
I wouldn’t normally pick a bat-only like Munro but a Round 1 triple is too irresistible. English all-rounder Paul Walter is an unknown as a BBL newb but the price, probable role and triple is good enough to take a punt on ‘Tall Paul’. I certainly wasn’t scared off when studying his T20 Blast and The Hundred numbers for the Honeyball magazine (you should buy this!).
Maxy is a no-brainer and VC option, while Perth’s bowling shortage has led me to paying high for all-rounder Aaron Hardie who I think should get some overs and may be a captain option given the timing of Perth’s games, allowing you to get a look at two games from a Heat VC. Nic Maddinson is my biggest POD but I love the Gades’ early fixture with five games in the first three rounds, plus I think he’ll open with QDK out early and may bowl some overs. When QDK returns, I think he’ll still bat top 4. I am a little concerned he’s just returned from an ACL injury.
Assuming Jack Wood gets named up on Thursday, I’ll try loop him. D’Arcy Short is a bargain and ready for the Round 2 double.
BOWLERS
Neser/Tye/Curran/Sutherland/Zampa – T.Sangha/Manenti
Michael Neser’s situation needs to be on your radar. He’s the most attractive Heat player from a SuperCoach perspective on the triple and if he’s suddenly available, you need him. But there’s a lot of ifs, revolving around his fitness having withdrawn from the four-day PM’s XI game due to soreness. He may play game 1 but miss game 2 given the injury so it’s not without risk.
I think death overs specialist Andrew Tye is a little overpriced but he looms as a captain option similar to Hardie. Tom Curran and Will Sutherland look set for good roles, batting 6-7 and bowling 3-4 overs and both have doubles. Adam Zampa’s World Cup form, price and fixture are enough to win me over too.
With Rashid Khan out, Ben Manenti is in my side. I’m not fully sold on this pick. He’s never been great at BBL level but it’s all about the Round 2 double. I may still change him.
Tanveer Sangha is stashed away as a cash gen pick given he missed all of last season. He’s also someone you’ll want to get cheap before the Thunder’s Round 4 double.
If you liked that squad or reasoning, head to Honeyball.com.au for more info, news and insights. Become a HB member or buy our SC BBL magazine.
DAMO’S TEAM REVEAL
Follow Damo at @damosc on Twitter/X and Damo’s SuperCoach on YouTube
I can’t remember the last time so much has been unknown, especially with all the hullabaloo about player availability.
There hasn’t been a day I haven’t tinkered with my team, but I think I have finally settled on something I like.
I thought I was crazy in not selecting any Sixers, but when two-time winner Andrew Langley revealed his team, I was glad I wasn’t alone in the thought.
Test players being available, and then not available has thrown a spanner in the works.
The Prime Minister’s XI has also deprived us of Michael Neser who I was hot on starting until his selection against Pakistan.
WICKETKEEPERS
Sam Billings (Brisbane Heat $116,900 BAT-WKP)
Ben McDermott (Hobart Hurricanes $88,000 WKP-BAT)
McDermott at under 100k is too good to leave out, but a less than ideal BBL last summer was the reason we get such a bargain. His early fixture isn’t great, but doesn’t need a lot of chances to make money for us at his low price.
I had planned for Quinton de Kock, but him being out of the opening round has caused me to shift to Billings as my keeper and bring in Aaron Hardie.
BATTERS
Will Sutherland (Melbourne Renegades $158,400 BAT-BWL)
Colin Munro (Brisbane Heat $156,100 BAT)
Aaron Hardie (Perth Scorchers $178,300 BAT-BWL)
Glenn Maxwell (Melbourne Stars $118,300 BAT-BWL)
Cooper Connolly (Perth Scorchers $70,500 BAT-BWL)
D’Arcy Short (Adelaide Strikers $67,500 BAT)
Sam Whiteman (Perth Scorchers $62,500 BAT-WKP)
Colin Munro would be hard to leave out with Brisbane Heat having the triple game week first up, and his form leading up to the BBL is also hard to ignore with the Kiwi hitting boundaries for fun in competitions around the world.
I was already picking Gades all-rounder Will Sutherland, and he should play a key role in the Renegades campaign. An injury cloud over Kane Richardson opens the door right open for Sutherland to take up residence in the Renegades bowling attack, if he wasn’t already, as he has been a regular wicket taker at state level for Victoria in both the Sheffield Shield and Marsh Cup.
Maxwell has been in excellent form, and not much needs to be said that hasn’t already been said, while Billings will keep and bat top order while Jimmy Peirson is unavailable for the Heat.
Cooper Connolly should continue where he left off for the Scorchers, especially in the absence of Ashton Agar, while D’Arcy Short and Sam Whiteman have cash cow potential.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ar0rj1rOYT0
BOWLERS
Jhye Richardson (Perth Scorchers $247,000 BWL)
Jason Behrendorff (Perth Scorchers $177,600 BWL)
Adam Zampa (Melbourne Renegades $131,900 BWL)
Spencer Johnson (Brisbane Heat $125,500 BWL)
Paul Walter (Brisbane Heat $105,000 BAT-BWL)
Tanveer Sangha (Sydney Thunder $83,800 BWL)
Peter Siddle (Melbourne Renegades $75,500 BWL)
Perth bowling pair Richardson and Behrendorff are in form and raring to go. The Dorff has bowled two maiden overs against India for Australia, and has been Kryptonite for the Indian batting attack, while Richardson appears to be over his injury troubles, for now, with 4 wickets and 10 maidens in the Sheffield Shield against Queensland.
Adam Zampa is going to do what he’s always done and was locked into my team early on, while Spencer Johnson and Paul Walter should play all three Brisbane Heat games in round one.
Tanveer Sangha is as cheap as he’s ever going to be, and you’d want him for the Sydney Thunder’s round 4 double so may as well grab him now and enjoy the cash rise in the meantime, while Peter Siddle is another who could benefit from Kane Richardson’s glute injury.
I haven’t quite settled on my VC/C for round one, and there’s still time to work that out, but I’ve given myself plenty of options.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ng0ntu8ibPs