Seeing Double: SC prospects with double lives, Canes/Heat

• EPISODE 85: SC Playbook podcast, Round 5/6
• TALKING TACTICS: Five keys to SuperCoach success

After a single game week in round 5, the doubles are back!

And just because we were starved of them for one round, there’s two teams on the double game week (DGW) in round 6 and plenty of juicy options for coaches looking to go big or even take a punt on a POD.

Both the Brisbane Heat and Hobart Hurricanes have the double, and no team has the bye.

Both teams also don’t have a bye in round 7 (Hurricanes have the bye in round 8) so there’s no reason to avoid going heavy with your trade ins and grabbing three targets.

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There’s already been rewards for those who went early with six Heat and seven Hurricanes players scoring over 50 SuperCoach points in the round 5 single game week! Well done to those coaches.

Given there’s two teams to choose from, there’s a couple of factors to consider when targeting your players for trade ins. Firstly, match-ups and secondly – and most importantly for the first time this season – weather. 

The ‘Canes take on Adelaide at Adelaide and the Renegades at Marvel – two certified strugglers, with both games looking like great scoring options. The Heat conversely take on the Stars (@ Gabba) and the Sixers (@ SCG), two much more difficult games. 

While the ‘Canes games seem clear weather wise, there’s concerns the Heat may run into weather for their first match against the Stars and potentially in Game 2 as well.

Given Hobart play the first match of the round, it may be worth leaning that way.

Some other factors:

• The last two matches at AO and Marvel have produced first innings totals over 200 which might mean big opportunities for Hurricanes batters at those grounds.
• The Renegades and Strikers have brittle batting line-ups which might provide opportunities for Hurricanes bowlers. This might also be amplified by risky batting should they be defending a big total, as was the case in the last match against the Stars.
• The Hurricanes and Heat face off next round at Blundstone, which is a favourable match-up for the Hurricanes

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Hobart Hurricanes

vs Adelaide Strikers @ Blundstone Arena, vs Melbourne Renegades @ Marvel

Best bat: Matt Wade, Ben McDermott, D’Arcy Short

Best bowler: Nathan Ellis, Riley Meredith, Tom Rogers

POD: Rogers, McDermott

Matt Wade: BAT/WKT

24% ownership before the DGW and likely to be close to his starting price in the low $140ks, Wade’s flexibility as a BAT/WKT will interest plenty.

None of the ‘Canes batters are a lock, but Wade’s a genuine superstar at a great price and seemed to look fluid with McDermott as his opening partner in his side’s last start.

His highest ever SC score was against the Strikers, and he also boasts an average of 65 against the ‘Gades. A great pick-up, and someone you could hold for the season as a batting emergency loop.

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Ben McDermott: BAT/WKT

The forgotten man, McDermott always seems to fly under the radar despite some seriously impressive skills.

At only 7% ownership ahead of the round, and likely to cost at least $30k more than other batting options, McDermott will be avoided by many, but we all know he can go huge on his day.

He has scores of 76, 8 and 107 to start the year after missing the first games through injury.

He was in sublime form in the one-day cup to start the year too. He’s higher risk given the price, but he could be a fantastic way to differentiate yourself from the pack. Is a rocks or diamonds guy but DGW is a great time to chase upside.

D’Arcy Short: BAT/BWL

The most-owned ‘Cane at over 40%, D’Arcy has not looked himself with the stick this year, but he does always offer some safety to owners with his fielding and bowling.

For example, his 57 points in round 5 included 31 points with a catch, wicket and dot ball.

Despite pacing 20 with the bat and batting during the surge, he only finished with 26 from 24 balls.

They always say form is temporary, and he could come good, but it is possible not to own him this season. He has only bowled in three of five matches this year, and his batting S/R for the season is just 103.

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Nathan Ellis: BWL

Safe and sexy enough is the death bowler Nathan Ellis. He is guaranteed his eight overs during the double, and bowls at the right time to get wickets.

He has also batted as high as number eight for the ‘Canes due to the lack of batting depth.

He has a low score of 33 and a high score of 67 so far this SC season. He’s at surprisingly low-ownership too at under 6% prior to this round.

Riley Meredith: BWL

On the comeback from injury and thankfully only bowled one over in his first game two matches ago, meaning he’s affordable and will boast a low BE for the double, reducing the risk of ownership.

There’s a chance he doesn’t play both matches, albeit a risk most will take given his ability.

82 SC points against the Stars last round highlights his potency. He doesn’t always bowl death, but it doesn’t seem to bother him too much.

Tom Rogers: BWL

A genuine cheapy POD who has gotten away from everyone.

Rogers was the last player signed by the ‘Canes but has shown great form (and most importantly durability) to hold his place in the side and become the leading SC scorer for the club this season through the first five rounds.

He’s no longer cheap at $130k, and wouldn’t be in the team if Scott Boland was around, but he has a good role and is in good touch.

Others:

• Sandeep Lamichhane: Dirt cheap around $90k for an international spinner, but he’s stats have been poor this year. He has been desperately unlucky with several drops and missed stumpings off his bowling so he could come good.
• Jordan Thompson: A bits and pieces all-rounder, don’t be fooled by the SC tonne in round 4. Thompson is not guaranteed a bat or bowl and is unlikely to replicate that return. He is a super POD but could be an expensive mistake.
• Peter Handscomb: Not a great role, and seems to dine out in some punters minds on a feat from six seasons ago. On his day he’s handy, but his SC average this year of under 25 tells the story.

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Brisbane Heat

vs Melbourne Stars @ Gabba, vs Sydney Sixers @ SCG

Best bat: Chris Lynn, Sam Heazlett

Best bowler: Mark Steketee

POD: Bryant, Heazlett, Guthrie

*Caveat all this information with a high likelihood of a rain affected match at the Gabba*

Chris Lynn, BAT

The great man could be less than $100k in this round, which seems ridiculous. He’s on that Aaron Finch slide from last year.

He’s shown small glimpses of form, but none of the restraint which made him an astute SC player last year. Still, he could be worth a throw at the stumps at that price.

Sam Heazlett, BAT

Under 7% ownership ahead of the round, and with SC scores of 74, 84, 5 and 101 a lot more people should be talking about this man.

Sadly, being in a crap team and with a poor historical record, he’s hard to trust. SC wouldn’t typically mean looking too closely at a guy who doesn’t bowl and bats middle order, but the Power Surge now means Heazlett can get his eye in before going bonkers late.

Priced over $140k he’s not cheap, but few will look his way.

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Mark Steketee, BWL

One of the unsung heroes of the BBL, Stek does it the ugly way but always does it effectively.

He has scores of 108 and 92 already to start the year and bowls the death overs for the Heat.

Stek is the next cab for the Test side should another bowler go down. He will cost around $200k but should still boast a low BE.

Others:

• Xavier Bartlett: Job security and workload seemed to always be looming. Despite his high scores this year, they’ve mostly come from the bat and with Steketee and the emergence of Bazley and Guthrie, he’s not a realistic trade in target after being dropped last start.
• James Bazely: Has become a very viable option for coaches to play week-in and will be nearly $150k ahead of the DGW, so well done to the coaches who held since round 1. A good role, albeit there’ll perpetually be questions around job security.
• Liam Guthrie: One of the better $42k cheapies this year, if selected Guthrie has a good role with the new ball and bowling death. Suffers the same job security concerns as the two players mentioned above and could seemingly be on rotation between them.
• Max Bryant: If there’s ever a time, it’s now. He’s a genuine cheapie and looked in good touch finally. If you’re desperate for a POD route, he could be your guy.
• Mujeeb Ur Rahman: Struggling to take wickets this tournament, but had a stellar campaign last season and warrants consideration. Very cheap from his starting price of over $200k.