Tim Williams
SC Playbook founder, 2nd NRL 2020, 43rd BBL 21/22'
Final Word: Trades, tactics, skippers, RD 2
We have the final say on the major Round 2 plays, including super PODs, captaincy options and plenty more.
Final Word
December 12, 2020
The opening round of SuperCoach Big Bash is just about in the books.
With no time to spare between rounds, we’re well and truly looking ahead to Round two which begins on Sunday at 2.10pm.
Some squads will be in disarray, particularly with a few hugely popular players like D’Arcy Short and Will Jacks hitting the skids big time.
If you’d listened to the SC Spy’s advice you may have been able to avoid some of that carnage, but fear not, the same tactic can be taken into the remainder of the year.
*Please note that due to the quick turnaround of BBL SuperCoach rounds that many articles will be published before the current round has ended, meaning teams/analysis are subject to change. We’ll update as soon as possible when required.
Embed from Getty ImagesWEATHER WATCH
All weather is courtesy of the Bureau of Meteorology as of Saturday, 10am. All times are in AEDT. Forecasts are subject to change.
SUNDAY
2:10PM: Strikers v Hurricanes, Blundstone Arena, Hobart
Forecast: Sunny, 27 degrees, 0% chance of rain.
7:15pm: Sixers v Renegades, Blundstone Arena, Hobart
Forecast: Sunny, 27 degrees, 0% chance of rain.
MONDAY
7.15pm: Thunder v Heat, Manuka Oval, Canberra
Forecast: Cloudy, 23 degrees, 20% chance of a shower.
TUESDAY
7:15pm: Hurricanes v Strikers, University of Tasmania Stadium, Launceston
Forecast: Shower or two, 28 degrees, 50% chance of 0-3mm of rain most likely in the afternoon to evening.
WEDNESDAY
7:15pm: Scorchers v Stars, University of Tasmania Stadium, Launceston
Forecast: Cloudy, 19 degrees, 50% chance of 0-5mm of rain.
Embed from Getty ImagesSUPER PODS
Each week one of our contributors will provide a full analysis on the point of difference (POD) players to consider.
In the Final Word, we’ll look at the super POD options, the players at under 5% ownership (or around about) that could send you soaring (or falling) up the overall ranks.
They come with big risk, but the reward is immense if it comes off.
Kane Richardson
Richo isn’t technically a super POD at 8.5% ownership, but I wanted the opportunity to slip him into my column.
In the past three seasons he’s averaged 56, 74.5 and 67 (two games).
In 2018/19 he played 14 games, and had a mind-blowing six centuries, a 95 and a top score of 174.
In just eight games last season he had top scores of 134 and 145, huge!
With an enormous ceiling like that he’s surely worth serious consideration?
Colin Munro
The Kiwi and Scorchers top order bat is currently at just 2.9% ownership but is another with huge upside on his day.
In 270 T20 matches he averages 29.21 runs at a blistering strike-rate of 144.32, including four centuries.
Vital to his SuperCoach prospects is the fact he’s bypassed the New Zealand domestic T20 competition and will play the entire tournament for the Scorchers.
Form shouldn’t be an issue, with the opener recently averaging 34.55 with a strike-rate of 133.53 in the Caribbean Premier League across eight matches.
He’s also capable with ball in hand having taken 31 career T20 wickets.
While I don’t expect him to bowl, with Mitch Marsh not currently bowling and Ashton Agar out of action he may jag the odd over which would be a bonus, but certainly don’t bank on it if recruiting.
Embed from Getty ImagesLOOKING AHEAD
Most of us will be loaded up with Melbourne Stars players following last round’s double.
They’re on the bye in Round 3 next week, meaning we have six trades to clear the majority of them out.
If possible, try shed three of them this week, because if you leave it until next week and other issues arise you could find yourself short a player next round which would be diabolical.
The Strikers and Hurricanes are on the double this week and will play each other twice-in-a-row.
Obviously they’re the focus, and the Strikers again have a double next round so make them your priority.
Be aware, the Australia A game runs until December 13, and these two sides play their second game of the round on December 15.
There’s speculation players won’t return until December 16, so several will be available for one round at absolute best and are certain to miss at least the first game of Round 2.
These include: Alex Carey, Harry Conway and Ben McDermott, so tread with caution in that regard.
Looking further ahead, there will be no more byes in the entire season after Round 3, while there are no doubles in Round 4 and 5 which will make for a very exciting few weeks of SuperCoach.
Following that, the Renegades and Sixers have the Round 6 double, so start factoring these players into your plans over the next few weeks.
CHEAPIE WATCH
We’ll have a weekly cheapie column for the rest of the season, but we ran out of time to get it out this weekend with the tight turnaround.
Here are a few to consider for Round 2:
Tim David
Congratulations to anyone who nabbed David in Round 1 and hopefully played him in your starting side.
He’s $62,500 (pre-changes), scored 103 points and now has the Round 2 double, absolute magic!!!
He rescued the innings coming in at number six scoring 58 off 33.
Don’t expect the same numbers, but he’s a must-have at the price in Round 2.
Harry Nielsen
I’ll reiterate what I said about Nielsen in last round’s column as he’s actually more relevant this week coming off the bye into the double game week.
His last five Sheffield Shield scores are 114, 0, 43, 40 and 64, while he also notched some runs in the Strikers’ trial game.
The Strikers have the Round 2 double, he will play the first game, then there’s a question mark over Alex Carey returning for game two (as per above).
You could pick Nielsen at $62,500 to free up coin, bench him for that first game of the double round, and if he scores well you can AE loophole him.
Then there’s the chance he actually plays both games in the round regardless.
Jack Edwards
While I wouldn’t say he was convincing, Edwards opened for the Sixers in Round 1 and hit 47 off 39.
His SuperCoach score of 82 was hugely inflated by three catches for an additional 30 points.
Job security is a huge issue as players return from injury and Aus A duty, but at $62,500 (pre-changes) he’s worth consideration if other options fail to crop up.
Embed from Getty ImagesCAPTAINS
D’Arcy Short
Captaincy choices will largely fall between two players this round, D’Arcy Short and Rashid Khan.
Short had a barry crocker in Round 1, scoring just 3 points, however the overall signs were fairly promising.
As expected he opened the batting and did role the arm over despite a few concerns he may not with the Hurricanes’ plethora of bowling options.
He got a golden duck with the bat, and bowled reasonably effectively (0/15) in two overs.
Unfortunately he wasn’t eligible for the economy rate bonus having bowled just two overs.
With the current line up he may struggle to receive more than two overs as he plugs a hole in the middle of the innings.
The fact he’s relatively out of touch of late with the bat, and is unlikely to bowl max overs, means he isn’t a lock as skipper as we thought he may have been.
Regardless, he remains a great option.
Rashid Khan
Khan will play both games and is among the elite bowlers in world T20 cricket.
He averaged an enormous 67.2 SuperCoach points last tournament, and 70.6 the year prior.
Last season he took 19 wickets with an economy of 7.15.
In the recent IPL campaign he played 16 matches and took 20 wickets at a mind-blowing economy of 5.37 against the world’s best batsmen.
He’ll be a massive play as skipper, and I can see many SuperCoaches having plenty of headaches working out who to go with between him and Short.
Risky options
James Faulkner
I’ll admit I wasn’t too keen on Faulkner last round, but the veteran showed he’s still very SuperCoach relevant.
He scored 72 points, made up primarily from two wickets and 11 dot balls.
He also came in at seven, meaning he should get a few chances with bat in hand and with some luck a few decent strike-rate bonus points when scoring 20+, although I certainly wouldn’t be banking on it.
He bowled very well in the opening game and is a sneaky option.
Embed from Getty ImagesPhil Salt
I’ll go on record early as saying I won’t be going Salt as skipper, but there’s HUGE upside for anyone who likes to live on the edge.
Last season he scored 361 runs at 25.78 with a stunning strike-rate of 164.09.
In eight games for Sussex in the recent Vitality Blast, he scored 211 runs at 26.37 with a strike-rate of 167.46.
If he can go 50+ runs at least once at that strike-rate there’s big points on offer.
Avoid
Will Jacks
I sung the praises of the all-rounder Jacks during the pre-season, but was concerned that a deep bowling attack could cruel his output.
As it turned out, he didn’t bowl at all in Round 1 and looks limited for opportunity as such.
He’s coming off a duck on BBL debut, and without the reassurance of a few bowling points to his name he is way too risky to skipper.
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