Tim Williams
SC Playbook founder, 2nd NRL 2020, 43rd BBL 21/22'
Squad Breakdown: Hurricanes analysis, predicted XI
We've analysed every player in the Hobart Hurricanes predicted starting XI for the upcoming Big Bash SuperCoach season.
Pre-season
November 30, 2020
- POSITIONAL ANALYSIS: Bowlers to consider in each price bracket
- TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: SC Spy doubles down early on
The Hobart Hurricanes will continue their quest for a maiden Big Bash title in the 2020/21 edition of the tournament.
They’ve twice been runner-up in the tournament, while they finished first two years back but couldn’t go on with the job.
They made the finals last season before being knocked out in the eliminator by the Sydney Thunder.
They have a friendly SuperCoach draw with the double game week in Round 2 and no byes this season.
Embed from Getty ImagesBig recruits for the season include Peter Handscomb, Sandeep Lamichhane, Colin Ingram, Will Jacks, Dawid Malan and Keemo Paul.
However, a number of the international stars won’t be available at certain stages of the tournament.
The world’s top ranked T20 batsmen, Malan, won’t be available until the back half of the tournament along with Lamichhane.
Ingram will play the early stages before Malan arrives, while Paul may only play a small stint in the middle stages of the tournament due to international duties with West Indies.
Matt Wade and Tim Paine are unlikely to feature until the back end of the tournament at best.
Bellerive Oval is very batsmen friendly which is something to consider when looking at Hurricanes players.
Here’s how we see the side lining up for the early stages of the tournament.
PREDICTED XI (In batting order)
D’Arcy Short (BAT / BWL) // $245,200 // BBL09 SC Ave: 85.7
Short is priced through the roof, but when you average 85.7 SuperCoach points you can’t argue.
He actually finished last season at over $300k!
With the double game week in Round 2 I can’t see how you leave him out of your initial team, and barring extremely poor form he shouldn’t really be leaving your side all year.
He’ll open the batting, and with Lamichhane unavailable until later in the tournament there’s no real threat to his overs, he may even bowl the maximum four at times if 18-year-old leggie Wil Parker struggles to find his rhythm.
In nine games last campaign he scored 357 runs at 44.62 and an economy of 131.25.
He bowled 17 overs in that time, taking six wickets, which did include a 5/21.
His economy was through the roof at 9.94, however his career T20 economy of 8.30 is more appealing.
Leaving him out would be the ultimate POD play, but you’d have to have a screw loose in your head…
Embed from Getty ImagesWill Jacks (BAT / BWL) // $148,000 // BBL09 SC Ave: N/A
I’m extremely excited about the prospects of Jacks who will be available the entire tournament.
The Englishman will either open the batting or come in at number three, and he’s likely to bowl his four overs each game.
He was recently named Player of the Tournament in the Vitality Blast for Surrey having scored 309 runs at 34.33 with a ridiculous strike-rate of 149.27, along with 13 wickets at an economy of 6.46… yes please.
If he appears to adapt to Australian conditions in his opening round match (a very small sample size), he’s an enormous POD captaincy option for the Round 2 double over Short.
Ben McDermott (WKP / BAT) // $89,700 // BBL09 SC Ave: 31.3
McDermott is expected to take the gloves and bat at number three, potentially four, to begin the tournament.
He scored a respectable 265 runs at 26.50 last tournament, and can match his value early on with the double game week in Round 2.
UPDATE: McDermott has been called up for Australia A and is likely to miss the Hurricanes first three games.
Peter Handscomb (WKP / BAT) // $97,600 // BBL09 SC Ave: 34.1
I’m finding it more and more difficult to pass up Handscomb at the price, although the news that McDermott is tipped to take the gloves and likely bat at three is a bit of a blow.
Historically he hasn’t averaged too well in SuperCoach, recording 34.1, 41.6 and 22.5 (two games) in the past three seasons.
However, he didn’t do a lot of keeping at the Stars and was further down the order due to the stacked batting line up, so I think it’s rather misleading.
He will see stacks more opportunity with the willow in his new colours and can enhance his scoring.
To emphasize his lack of opportunity at the Stars last season, he actually scored 188 runs at 31.33 with a top score of 65*.
It could be a good play to bench him for the opener, play him for the Round 2 double, then sell in Round 3 hopefully at a nice price rise.
UPDATE: With McDermott likely to miss the first three games, Handscomb should bat at number three and take the gloves.
Colin Ingram (BAT) // $125,000 // BBL09 SC Ave: N/A
The 35-year-old South African played two tournaments back for a respectable average of 44.4 SuperCoach points.
He may come in at three, but he was batting in the middle order in the Pakistan Super League prior to Covid hitting.
He was in decent touch there, hitting double figures in six of his past seven innings, with top scores of 63* and 41.
He’s likely to be underdone in terms of time at the crease, but hopefully his experience counters this a touch.
It’s a risk, and maybe one worth taking for Round 2.
Mac Wright (BAT) // $154,100 // BBL09 SC Ave: 59.8
An absolute revelation of last year’s tournament, in six games Wright scored 149 runs at 49.66 with a strike-rate of 125.21.
The 22-year-old is loaded with potential but remains fairly raw at this stage of his career.
He hasn’t played first-class cricket since last year’s tournament.
I think he’s very poorly priced and can’t consider him as a purchase, however there is a chance he opens alongside Short which would bring him into contention.
If he does this in Round 1 I’ll reassess for the Round 2 double.
James Faulkner (BWL) // $155,800 // BBL09 SC Ave: 54.4
‘The Finisher’ is ironically not even listed as an all-rounder this season which is somewhat annoying for anyone interested in his services.
He was very good with the ball in seven matches last campaign, taking 10 wickets at an economy of 7.66.
Unfortunately he rarely batted as high as number eight in the order, so you’re banking on him accumulating his points with the ball.
He hasn’t played first class cricket since last tournament, so unless he earns an unlikely promotion up the order I think he’s another who is poorly priced and hard to consider.
Scott Boland (BWL) // $171,500 // BBL09 SC Ave: 59.9
Boland played 10 games last season, proving very effective with 15 wickets at an economy of 8.28.
Can he maintain that wicket-taking rate this season and continue to score well?
Perhaps, but he’s priced similar to the likes of SuperCoach royalty in Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell, so I find it difficult to justify buying at the price.
That being said, he’s been in form in three Shield innings thus far this season, taking 11 wickets including a 6/61.
Not for me at this stage, but I’ll reassess for the double week if he can open his campaign in style.
Embed from Getty ImagesNathan Ellis (BWL) // $113,000 // BBL09 SC Ave: 39.5
In 15 games last season Ellis took just 12 wickets at an economy of 7.94.
It doesn’t make for fantastic reading, but he’s far more affordable than the quicks around him.
In five Shield innings this season he’s taken 12 wickets which is encouraging, allbeit in a vastly different format.
He’s also provided very handy runs with scores of 41 and 31, so maybe he gets a few more chances with the willow.
The 26-year-old is a player on the up and I won’t rule him out for the double game week.
Riley Meredith (BWL) // $184,600 // BBL09 SC Ave: 64.5
Meredith is a player I’m unsure of as I think he’s a touch overpriced like Boland.
However, as an express bowler at just 24-years-old I see far more upside than his fellow quick.
He played six games last campaign and took an impressive 10 wickets at a stunning economy of 6.68.
That’s a serious return for a rapid bowler in T20 cricket.
His recent Shield form has been horrendous with returns of 1/13, 0/90 and 1/162 which is a bit of a concern.
I’m leaning towards leaving him out for the double game week purely due to the huge price tag, but he can change my mind if he fires in the opening round.
Wil Parker (BWL) // $42,000 // BBL09 SC Ave: N/A
Provided he’s picked, Parker has a huge role to play as the side’s main spinner until Lamichhane arrives.
The 18-year-old leg-spinner will likely deputise for Qais Ahmed who hasn’t been retained by the Hurricanes, and in a huge win for SuperCoaches he’s at bottom dollar!
Provided he plays, I think you have to start with him as a bench player. If he looks the goods in Round 1 he becomes an obvious play option for the Round 2 double.
Parker has a quality wrong’un that is sure to cause a few headaches in the Big Bash.
He’s an extremely exciting prospect for Australian cricket and the show of faith from the Canes suggests he’s worth a gamble in SuperCoach sides.
Embed from Getty ImagesOTHERS
Johan Botha – $85,000 – Will push for a Round 1 spot but is very underdone for game time.
Jake Doran – $62,500
Dawid Malan – $175,000 – Unavailable until after Christmas
Sandeep Lamichhane – $138,300 – Unavailable until after Christmas
David Moody – $92,200
Nick Winter – $42,000
Keemo Paul – $125,000 – Unavailable for start and finish of tournament
Matthew Wade – $181,000 – Likely unavailable until very late in tournament
Tim Paine – $90,000 – Likely unavailable until very late in tournament
Caleb Jewell – $71,000
Charlie Wakim – $42,000
This is my first season doing BBL SC and the team i currently have is:
Wkt – Philippe (Pfeffer)
Bat – Short (VC) Stoinis Fletcher McDermott Bryan (Salt Wildermuth)
Bowl – Maxwell (C) Zampa Jacks Coulter-Nile Ellis (Hussain Owen)
Salary $10,800
I had Holt, Khan – Stars and Ahmed but recently swapped them out.
Thoughts?
Just glad you don’t have Lynn. Fletcher is an interesting pick. I like how you have Ellis. I think if you’re going to be picking Hussain, you’d either back him to score enough in his double-game or don’t pick him at all. So, if you’re going to put him on, you may need to substitute Jacks in the batting section and maybe ditch Phillipe (swap Fletcher up there). Eh… Just don’t care for the whole Philippe prospect. Always touted to break-out, but never really seems to be star-worthy. All round, you have a good team — especially for your first year.
Thanks, appreciate it. Now with the news McDermott is out, i might have to change a few things up. Damn it why always days out things change lol – i’m familiar with SC AFL.