Watchlist: Ranking every club’s trade targets, Rd 3

Each round this season, I’ll share a list of my trade targets, ranked in order of priority and value.

This season I’ve separated them out by team, to assist with trade planning double game and bye rounds. 

(Note prices are before this round’s changes)

Adelaide Strikers 

1. D’Arcy Short (67.5k bat)
2. Jamie Overton (125k bat/bowl)

Removed: Matt Short, David Payne, Wes Agar, Henry Thornton, Chris Lynn, James Bazley

I’ve removed the majority of the Strikers following the completion of their double game, with two exceptions:

• D’Arcy Short could still be a decent cash grab, depending on how he goes tonight. 
• Jamie Overton’s role was excellent in game 1 of this round, bowling 4 overs and batting at 6. If this continues in the Strikers’ second game, he’s definitely an option moving forward. The Strikers have another double game in round 6, so he could be bought and held through until then. 

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Brisbane Heat 

1. Paul Walter ($116k bat / bowl)

Added: Paul Walter

Removed: Mitchell Swepson

Tall Paul! He’s looking like this season’s Supercoach MVP. 

Well done if you started with him. If not, I’d prioritise getting him in, although this can wait until round 4 with the bye this round. 

I think the horse has now bolted on Mitch Swepson,  even though he’ll still have a low B.E. coming into the next round. 

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Hobart Hurricanes

1. Nikhil Chaudhary ($42k bat/bowl) 
2. Chris Jordan ($105.4k bowl)

Added: Nikhil Chaudhary, Chris Jordan

Removed: Corey Anderson, Ben McDermott

Chaudhary comes into consideration as a dual position cheapie, he looked fantastic with the bat against a quality Perth Scorchers’ attack. He’ll make cash but might not be a play in XIs batting at 6 and only bowling the odd over or two. 

If the Hurricane’s top-order batting form continues, Chris Jordan will get plenty of opportunities with the bat, making him a viable pick. I expect he’ll still be a good price post-lockout for a player of his quality and role. 

Corey Anderson only bowled the 1 over in the loss against the Scorchers, so I wouldn’t be buying. 

I’d be looking at any of the double-game options from the Renegades or Scorchers before considering McDermott now. 

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Melbourne Renegades

1. Jake Fraser-McGurk ($72.4K bat)
2. Will Sutherland ($181.5k bat/bowl)
3. Mujeeb Ur Rahman ($109.6k bowl)
4. Kane Richardson ($128.8k bowl)
5. Adam Zampa ($139.8k bowl)
6. Joe Clarke ($128.3k wkp/bat)
7. QDK ($171.2k wkp/bat)

Removed: Tom Rogers

With the Stars currently struggling for form, many coaches will be looking to their Melbourne counterparts for better double-game options. 

JFM looks like a cheat code at the moment. He’ll see a big price rise but I’d still be jumping on if you haven’t already. 

Will Sutherland won’t see a massive price rise this round following a low score. His role still looks great and he’s a genuine captaincy option if your Stars VC fails. 

Mujeeb was the pick of the Gades’ bowlers in round 2 but will still be priced at around 100k and so looks the best value from their attack.

I still trust the quality of K Richo and Zampa. They’re options if you don’t already own them. 

Perhaps the most intriguing option from the Gades this round is QDK. He’s yet to make a start in his two innings, but what happens if he does? With a high ceiling, his success or failure could define rank movements this round.

If you don’t already own Joe Clarke, I favour him over QDK based on price. 

Tom Rogers got a handy strike rate bonus in round 2, but with so many other options from the Gades, I’d look elsewhere now. 

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Melbourne Stars

1. Glenn Maxwell ($130k bat/bowl)
2. Mark Steketee ($118.5k bowl)
3. Sam Harper ($112.1k wkp/bat)
4. Marcus Stoinis ($106.8k bat/bowl)

Added: Sam Harper

Removed: Haris Rauf

Maxwell is still the best option by far at the Stars, provided that he plays. 

Steketee has been a perennial SC weapon but had a down season in 2022/23. Therefore, he comes in at a good price and looks to be the clear second-best option. 

Sam Harper is still a good wkp option despite some low scores in round 1. Opening the batting and playing two double games in the next three, form is a concern but he could well be worth a punt. 

As discussed last round, Stoinis continues to frustrate SC owners. If his role looks good in the opening game of round 3, he could be a trade-in, but I’d approach with caution. 

It sounds like Haris Rauf (120.2k) and Mir (121.2k) will be departing prior to the Stars’ round 5 double. They are still ok options but I’d probably look elsewhere rather than creating this headache for later on. 

I’m not interested in Beau Webster at $163k, given he didn’t bowl in his first game of the season.

Perth Scorchers 

1. Sam Whiteman ($62.5k wkp/bat)
2. Cooper Connolly ($82.9k bat/bowl)
3. Hamish McKenzie ($56.1k bowl) 

No changes to the watchlist from last round for the Scorchers. Their guns will be great options following their round 4 and 5 byes. Until then it’s just about cheapies and loop options, for which Whiteman, Connolly and McKenzie are all still options.

Connolly looks to have beaten out Eskinazi for the opening bat spot for now and will still be cheap after only scoring 6 this round. 

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Sydney Sixers

1. Jack Edwards ($76.1k bat)

A watch on Jack Edwards’ role tonight following the news that Tom Curran has been suspended for four games. If Edwards bowls his four overs like in the second game of round 1, he could be a cash-gen option. 

Sydney Thunder 

1. Tanveer Sangha ($103.3k bowl)
2. Alex Hales ($117.6k bat)
3. Cameron Bancroft ($157.2k bat)

Added: Alex Hales, Cameron Bancroft

Tanveer Sangha will still be relatively affordable in round 3. Whilst he only scored 25 in round 2, he still looked great on the eye test and I expect he’ll easily get back to his past season averages of 40-45 SC points. 

Alex Hales is close to bottoming out in price, so I see no harm in going early on him. With his massive ceiling, he looks good for the Thunder’s round 4 double. If you’re getting him this week, though, it would be best to use him as an emergency loop on your bench in case he nicks off early. 

Cameron Bancroft caught my attention in round 2, having continued his excellent form from last season, when he averaged 51 SC points. He’s priced at $157.2k and rising following his 94 SC points. He’s quite steady and consistent as a T20 batter, meaning he often reaches the 20 run threshold for a strike rate bonus. 

Nathan McAndrew ($158.4k bowl) grabbed a strike rate bonus for his quickfire 20 against the Strikers. He batted at 8 in the Thunder’s first game but moved up to 7 for round 2. He’s yet to grab a wicket with the ball though, so I don’t know that he’s worth going early on. 

We can wait for Dan Sams to bottom out in price in time for Thunder’s round 4 double, following another low score in round 2. 

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