Team reveal: Max Bryden drops his Supercoach BBL squad

My favourite time of the year is upon us. 

The sun’s out, the World Cup is back on our shores and we’re gearing up for the home summer of Cricket. 

As I write this, I’m beginning two months of parental leave which will last over the entire regular season of BBL and I could not be happier with the timing.

Picking a Round 1 Team is tough and let’s face it – I’ll be tinkering until the last second – but as far as my best endeavours go, this is how I’m planning to line up for this season’s BBL SuperCoach season. 

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Now my core principles of building a side remain the same as previous years. They include:

• Find bowlers for the batters slots: Batting in SuperCoach is so volatile, that finding allrounders who can take one of the batters slots can help increase the floor of your squad. Michael Neser, Dan Sams, Tom Curran to name but a few are typically the type of player I want to build around, especially for the handful of players that you’ll set and forget.

• Find value: building team value is so crucial in the early rounds. We already know how critical it is in the longer formats of SuperCoach like NRL and AFL, but it’s something we cannot ignore either. So all prospects should be assessed against their starting price for consideration as to whether they’ll hold or make money in the early rounds. Between the likes of Maxwell, Stoinis, Zampa, Philippe, McDermott and co, there’s a ton of value options for Round 1 squads.

• Play the draw: this is obvious but still underrated. Planning around the draw is the fundamental tenet of success. With a 9 round season most of your planning can be done before the first ball is bowled, and I’ll build my squad around trying to get as many DGW players as possible. In previous seasons, I’ve looked at teams with no ‘bye rounds’ as a huge favourable factor – this year, I’m seeing that as too conservative. 

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So step one is following these principles, and step two is assessing the draw. Here’s what I’m thinking off the bat around this year’s fixtures:

• The Heat Triple is intriguing but looms as an awkward one with the potential for guys to come in and out of the Final XI. Beyond the many injuries in the squad, there’s the Governor General’s match to contend with too. Marnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja are also expected to play game one, making things even tricker. As such, I want a few but not too many players.

• The Renegades and Stars excite me with their doubles in Round 1 and 3. I’m keen to carry 2 or 3 players from each squad accordingly.

• The Sixers offer a lot of interesting players, but I’m keen to avoid where I can given their lack of Doubles after Round 1. By the same logic, I don’t want Hurricanes with no double until Round 7.

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Wicketkeepers:

Sam Billings, Brisbane Heat, $116,900

The Heat on the Triple Game week will have a few selections in my Round 1 team and the first is Sam Billings. 

‘Bilbo’ is an absolute gun when he’s on, and given how much uncertainty there is around the Brisbane line up to start the season, I want to lock in a sure thing. 

With Jimmy Pierson wearing the gloves in the Governor General’s XI team, Billings will take the gloves which could see him earn some decent fielding points. 

The price is good and he should be easy enough to turn into a ‘Striker’ for Round 2.

Reserve

Sam Whiteman, Perth Scorchers, $62,500

After a couple of forgettable seasons at the Thunder, Sam Whiteman is back and looks set to hold an openers spot at the Scorchers for their Round 1 DGW. 

He’s cheap, in good form and potentially becomes a NPR when Zak Crawley arrives for their second match. 

I’m not banking on a huge return from Whiteman but his price gives me great freedom to make moves elsewhere.

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Batsmen

Tom Curran, BAT/BWL, Sydney Sixers, $180,000

An absolute stud at his pomp, Curran could bat as high as 6 this season to go with his death bowling. 

On paper, this could be the best role in SuperCoach and with a Round 1 DGW I could not be more excited to own. 

The only drawback is that, at his price I will need to use him as a trade out candidate for premium DGW players after Round 1, but I might not want to.

Joe Clarke, WKP/BAT, Melbourne Renegades, $139,600

A new ‘Gade and a player who can achieve rare consistency with the bat in the BBL. 

I have been a fan of his over the past two seasons and he’s a better value option than Quinton de Kock to start the year. 

I’ll need to hold my Renegades until at least round 4 so hope he can find some runs in his first five matches.

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Glenn Maxwell, BAT/BWL, Melbourne Stars, $118,300

With a double game week (DGW) and this starting price, you’d be made to leave out Glenn Maxwell. I don’t think much more needs to be said.

Paul Walter, BAT/BWL, Brisbane Heat, $105,000

One of my more uncertain choices so far this preseason is Englishman Paul Walter. 

When the Heat are all fit, I’m not convinced he fits into their best XI, but with Neser and Pierson unavailable for likely the first two matches it gives him good job security. 

He should bat 6 and bowl a couple of overs. It’s a volatile role but at this price could be a punt worth taking. A big candidate for a trade in round 2.

Jack Edwards, BAT, Sydney Sixers, $62,500

A cheapie candidate just about every year, this summer is shaping up as his breakout. 

He’s been earmarked to fill the vacant ‘Dan Christian’ role of number 6 bat and occasional bowl which, at his price, makes him undervalued. 

His best case is actually holding down the number 3 spot given the form of current projected top order bat Kurtis Patterson. 

There’s a fitness concern around his heel which might keep him out of Round 1, in which case I’ll reassess.

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Reserves

Marcus Stoinis, BAT/BWL, $116,700

Feels cheap for a genuine gun, but with an uncertain role I am keen to loop Stoinis in Round 1.

Will he open? Will he bowl? 

For his price, we can afford to hold for round 1 and get the answers. The Stars draw makes them a relevant club with three doubles in the first five rounds and I’d rather own then find out I need him when he’s too expensive.

Nikhil Chaudary, BAT/BWL, $42,000

This year’s ‘Cooper Connolly’. Chaudary is a middle-order bat and spin bowler who’s down the depth chart at the ‘Canes. His dual player positioning (DPP) gives him flexibility in my squad and I hope to use him as my loop.

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Bowlers

Lance Morris, BWL, Perth Scorchers, $157,200

Averaged over 70 in his four appearances last year but is priced at an average of 50. 

Morris presents great value and if selected could score well and make money before being traded early doors. 

I prefer him over other Scorchers options based on the value he offers. If not named, it’ll likely force a downgrade to his teammate Ashton Agar or Cooper Connolly.

Kane Richardson, BWL, Melbourne Renegades, $143,300

We know the best teams score more SuperCoach points. 

I think the Renegades are one of the best teams this season. Kane seems very reasonably priced and with two doubles in the first three rounds, I want a piece of the attack. 

He’s been locked in since day 1 for me and with low ownership I hope not too many people read this 😉 

Adam Zampa, BWL, Melbourne Renegades, $131,900

More ‘Gades and a guy who is again reasonably priced. I expect Zampa to improve on his efforts for the Stars given the supporting cast around him is significantly improved. 

An attack of Kane, Zampa, Mujeeb, Tom Rogers and one of Sutherland/Siddle is excellent and he should make some coin and score well.

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Spencer Johnson, BWL, Brisbane Heat, $125,500

Last year’s surprise packet and playing a key role in a team on the triple in Spencer J. 

There’s questions around his fitness, but if he’s named in round 1 I can’t wait to own him finally. 

If unavailable it’s a sideways move to Xavier Bartlett or downgrade to Jack Wildermuth.

Matt Kuhnemann, BWL, Brisbane Heat, $104,000

Locked in as the main spinner at the Heat after usurping Mitch Swepson, Kuhnemann hasn’t had many huge wicket hauls in the BBL, but it feels like he’s not going to get cheaper. 

The triple is the main drawcard here and he only needs to average ~34 points across the three games to get the price rises started.

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Reserves

Matt Short, BAT/BWL, Adelaide Strikers, $244,100

No doubt controversial, but the value hunting across the board has left me with plenty of funds to get Short onto my bench for Round 1. 

You just know you’ll need him for Round 2 but with a game against the understrength Brisbane Heat to begin, I hope to find a way to use him as a loop.

Jamie Overton, BAT/BWL, Adelaide Strikers, $125,000

See this is getting ahead on my trade plans, going early on a Striker.

I initially had Rashid Khan locked in here, but his withdrawal has forced an early change. 

I’m comfortable with the Englishman on my bench for now, while Usama Mir is another I’m considering in this spot.

A slightly different tact then last year but one built on the principles we know work so well in SuperCoach. 

There’s still a lot of water to go under the bridge between now and the first match but I feel confident if these guys are fit that this squad will do a job for me.

All said and done, here’s my Round 1 Team for the BBL13 season: