Squad Breakdown: Scorchers player-by-player analysis

Entering the tournament as prime contenders to walk away with their fourth Big Bash League title, the Perth Scorchers have been hit hard by injury and international selections leading into the new season.



Among the most consistent performers in the history of the BBL, the Scorchers will be aiming to go one further than last year’s defeat to the Sydney Sixers in the decider.



However, they’ll have to do it without a host of stars early on, including Jhye Richardson, Josh Inglis, Mitch Marsh and Ashton Agar who were named in either the Australia or Australia ‘A’ squads.



Further, international recruit Brydon Carse suffered a recent injury which has ruled him out of the tournament, leaving the Scorchers with another spot to fill.



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The fixtures have been kind to them in regards to SuperCoach, with double game weeks in Round 4 and 9, followed with a bye in Round 11.



Newest SC Playbook contributor and cricket whiz Max Bryden has done the hard yards to predict the starting XI of each team, I’ll be running my analysis off these forecasts.



Note that the starting XI’s will alter throughout the season as new signings land, form alters and injuries strike, we’ll do our best to update as the news drops.



KURTIS PATTERSON (BAT) // $62,500 // BBL10 SC Ave: 20.0



An opening bat at just $62k is always going to be tempting, but there are a few red flags around Patterson who looms as a potential trap.



His job security is very weak for starters, particularly with another international to be named.



He played just the one game last season where two catches were his only scoring points.



The season prior, he played three games for a SC average of 19.3.



Suited to the longer form of the game, T20 has never really been his arena.



In 30 games he averages just 19.23 with a top score of 48.



In two recent Shield matches he has scores of 2, 24, 48 and 4, while he hasn’t featured in the Marsh Cup this season.



This isn’t to say he isn’t capable of exceeding expectations in the short-form, especially at the price, I’d just be a little concerned with him in my side.



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CAMERON BANCROFT (BAT/WKP) // $92,000 // BBL10 SC Ave: 29.5



While not overly keen on Bancroft, I’d arguably pick him of the two Scorchers openers despite the price difference.



He will likely take the gloves while Josh Inglis is out for at least the first three games, in doing so he should jag some valuable extra points. Further, his job security is far stronger.



In eight games last season he had a SC average of 29.5, while the season prior was almost identical.



The season before in 2018/19 was more promising, averaging 42.5 SC points across 11 games.



He enters the tournament in red-hot form having belted an unbeaten 124* in his most recent Marsh Cup appearance for WA.



Across 71 career T20s he averages a very respectable 31.20 at a strike-rate of 123.10.



Not for me without the double until Round 4, but you could make a case to say he’s undervalued.



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COLIN MUNRO (BAT) // $135,300 // BBL10 SC Ave: 43.3



Munro is one that’ll certainly fly under the radar in the early stages and is a sneaky POD at number three for the Scorchers.



The veteran is a T20 specialist nowadays, and he finished last season as the tournament’s fifth top run-scorer with an average of 31.64 at a strike-rate of 128.03.



Across 311 career T20s he has a strike-rate of 140+, so anything closer to that would be massive for his SR bonus.



In his past 10 knocks all in the T20 Caribbean Premier League, he has returns of 28, 9, 47, 41*, 14, 34, 32, 1, 40* and 8.



While there’s plenty of talk around high-risk, high-reward batsmen such as Alex Hales and James Vince, why not consider Munro at a cheaper rate?



Certainly one for the POD Hunters outside of the double game week.



LAURIE EVANS (BAT) // TBC



The 34-year-old veteran should get a decent role arguably higher up the order early on than expected due to international selections.



Across 184 career T20s he has a strong average of 33.85 with a strike-rate of 133.88.



While it’s always a risk chasing Englishmen playing in Australian conditions for the first time, Evans does have a wealth of experience behind him which will help.



Most recently across England’s The Hundred competition and Vitality blast he has quality returns of: 4, 67*, 9*, 7*, 28*, 8, 0 and 58.



He was batting primarily at five or six though, so a top four spot isn’t assured, and it’s likely he’ll drop once the likes of Marsh and Inglis return.



If he’s under $100k once given an official price by the SuperCoach site you may consider him, but I think it’s a huge risk and I can’t justify taking the gamble.



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ASHTON TURNER (BAT) // $84,700 // BBL10 SC Ave: 27.1



Turner is one that could be a big winner from the international call ups.



He has so much promise as a SuperCoach player due to his all-round ability and explosive batting style, although he’s only listed as a batter.



If he were to bat above Evans at four it’d make him a serious Round 1 option particularly if he rolls the arm over too.



He averaged 22.80 with the willow last season at a monster strike-rate of 152.00, granted he was often pinch-hitting later on in the innings.



Recent form is outstanding in the Marsh Cup, producing returns of 71*, 0, 100 and 46.



He bowled during Australia’s mid-year T20 series with Bangladesh, but has been limited since due to a lingering injury.



He’s a massive watch leading into the tournament, if he bats at four in any warm-ups or bowls he’ll be a great option at a bargain price of $85k, although the return of the internationals would likely rule him out of contention from Round 4 onwards.



AARON HARDIE (BAT/BWL) // $103,100 // BBL10 SC Ave: 33.0



Capable with bat and ball, Hardie is another teetering on SuperCoach relevance, but he may just be a step under at this stage despite a likely improved role to begin the tournament.



In 17 games last season Hardie took 10 wickets at an economy of 9.02.



His top grade cricket has been extremely limited since last season’s Marsh Cup, so form is a little hard to gauge.



However, he did just belt 99* off 60 balls and 48 off 27 in T20s in WA Grade cricket, so that’s hard to ignore despite the obvious step down in class.



For me he’s a watch on role in the warm-ups, and probably more so Round 1, before potentially picking up for a few weeks before internationals return.



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AJ TYE (BWL) // $133,800 // BBL10 SC Ave: 42.8



Tye is a player I’ve always had stacks of time for, particularly in the SuperCoach arena.



I actually started with him as a POD last season, he of course started slow before producing a few big hauls later in the tournament.



In 17 games the veteran took 21 wickets at an economy of 7.99.



He’s been a SC weapon of years gone by, prior to missing the 2019/20 edition due to injury.



In 2018/19 he averaged a respectable 52.1, and 50.6 in 2016/17. Injury has plagued him at different stages of his career.



He does have the ability to take big hauls of wickets which obviously results in large SC outings.



In a show of his class, he featured in Australia’s T20 series against Bangladesh, returning figures of 3/18, 1/27 and 1/22.



In three Marsh Cup games this season he’s had 3/46, 0/29 and 4/39.



He enters the tournament fit and in red-hot form and is a serious POD option.



JASON BEHRENDORFF (BWL) // $138,100 // BBL10 SC Ave: 44.2



I absolutely love Behrendorff as a cricketer, unfortunately he’s another Australian quick whose had his career plagued by injury.



It was great to see him accumulate 16 games for the Scorchers last season, taking 16 wickets at an excellent economy of 7.03.



If he keeps himself fit I can see him increasing significantly on that wicket tally and bumping up his SC average. Across 11 games in 2018/19 he averaged 49.6.



With Jhye Richardson out for at least the first three rounds there&#8217;s a chance he bowls death which would be huge, however, Matt Kelly may be preferred.



He’s been up and down in recent Marsh Cup outings with returns of 1/52, 1/48 and 4/39.



Playing for Australia in the mid-year T20 series against the West Indies he had 0/46 and 0/24.



I’m tempted by him as a Round 1 POD, however the smart play is probably to wait until the double.



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MATTHEW KELLY (BWL) // $101,400 // BBL10 SC Ave: N/A



Richardson&#8217;s call up to the Australian squad is fantastic news for Kelly who has a far more solid role and will likely ball death alongside Tye.



Across 21 career T20s he has 27 wickets at 8.17 which is okay, but there&#8217;s a touch of class about him, like there is with most quicks produced out of WA.



In four recent Marsh Cup outings he has returns of 2/40, 2/37, 1/34 and 0/32.



You can never rule out a bowler who can take a bag on any given day, especially when given a nice role.



At the time of writing he&#8217;s in super POD range at just 1.6% ownership, however, I think his stocks have plummeted with the signing news of English quick Tymal Mills who may take Kelly&#8217;s death bowling role when available after quarantining on arrival in Australia.



PETER HATZOGLOU (BWL) // $131,000 // BBL10 SC Ave: 41.9



The Gades’ cult hero moves west this season and should be the first choice spinner with Ashton Agar unavailable.



In 13 games last season he took 17 wickets with an economy of 8.27.



Despite a similar enough role to start this year I see him as another that’s very awkwardly priced to be taking a gamble on outside of a double game week.



If he goes wicketless early and drops cash you’re left in a tough spot.



He hasn’t played any top grade cricket since last season’s Marsh Cup where he struggled for any great impact late on.



Again, he could go nuts should things fall his way, but there’s plenty of others I’d opt for first.



LANCE MORRIS (BWL) // $62,500 // BBL10 SC Ave: 2.0



Morris starts dirt cheap and is a minor option for Round 1 if looking to free up cap space elsewhere.



His position in the side is far from assured with the signing of Mills, but he may sneak into the side, however David Moody could also take the final bowling spot.



The former Stars quick has two Marsh Cup games to his name this season, producing returns of 1/36 and 3/91.



He’s also been fairly strong in two recent Shield games, taking four and three wickets respectively.



He’s not one I’d want playing in my XI, but there’s every chance he acts as a decent cash cow early on with loop opportunity, and if he could sneak in the Round 4 double it’d be very beneficial.



OTHERS



Mitch Marsh // Josh Inglis // Aston Agar // Jhye Richardson



All four men present serious SuperCoach relevance on return, but there availablity is uncertain at this stage.



Marsh, Inglis and Agar will hopefully all be available come the Round 4 double and will be close to must-haves for that week.



Richardson is in Australia’s Ashes squad but would also be a must-have for that week if on deck.



We’ll provide more analysis down the track once we know a little more about their returns.



Tymal Mills (BWL) // $125,000 &#8211; Likely available from Round 2 or 3 after completing quarantine.



David Moody (BWL) // $62,500

Squad Breakdown: Scorchers player-by-player analysis

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