Trade management plan + captaincy picks

• EPISODE 42: SC Playbook podcast, Round 4/5 preview
• GUN SHOW: Last year’s champ eyes the guns to target/avoid

G’day troops!

I’m writing this with two games still left in Round 3, so there’s a bit to unfold still, but I feel like it’s been pretty tough going with a bunch of batting collapses and a few ordinary performances for my team of late (Short, Jacks, Renshaw, Siddle) all not going great this round.

Add in some wet weather and it’s been a battle all round.

Salt and Weatherald were decent for me and I’m hoping for a big Strikers win and a huge display from my skipper Rashid Khan who has been taken to town a little bit in the early parts of the BBL with batsmen looking to sweep him and go long.

He will be fine, but on current form he may not be the absolute mega gun he has been in year’s past. He will surely crack a big ton soon though!

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Full credit to those who took the punt on Dan Christian who has been unbelievable with the bat and contributing well with the ball.

Sadly he was in my initial squad before being taken out. Generally, I feel that maximising those players who have a double game week (DGW) still makes the most sense, but it’s still a matter of picking the right guys and hoping the ones you wanted (but couldn’t fit in), don’t go mad.

Of course balance is key and there is no right or wrong answer to the number of guys you need from a team on a double game week.

Personally I think three as an absolute minimum is required, but up to six/seven or so is fine, you just need to hope the team plays well by scoring a bunch of runs and picking up wickets. That’s unlike some of the recent batting collapses.

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The next few weeks

With that being said, we have two upcoming rounds that have no teams with the double game week (DGW) and I think this is good for SuperCoach as it brings in more variety.

The next DGW is Round 6 with the Melbourne Renegades and Sydney Sixers with the double opportunity.

Again I think three from each team would be nice (Or four and two). But even something like four and four is even better if you can make it work.

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If you theoretically have no players currently from the two sides then you can use three trades in the two weeks leading in to get you those six players.

Or you may wish to use a couple of your trades this week to prepare for that round. Josh Phillippe makes sense if you don’t already own him.

I like a straight swap from Alex Carey to him and then using my two other trades to assess the landscape.

Dan Christian lit it up with the bat last night, but this unusual bowling tactic became a talking point as well #BBL10 pic.twitter.com/X46RLCx6d9

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 21, 2020

You can pick up an upcoming DGW stud now in the form of Kane Richardson, Aaron Finch, Ben Dwarshuis or Dan Christian (on current form) to use over the next two weeks and have them ready for the DGW.

That way it gives you maximum opportunity to utilise trades and confirm how many you want from each team come Round 6.

You could end up with five from one team and four from the other and really have a crack at a big Round 6!

But don’t be afraid to take a single game week player instead. I like the look of Ben McDermott from Hobart who is in super form and not too expensive.

You could also get back Glenn Maxwell or Marcus Stoinis (when he returns from break). There is a plethora of talent around the BBL.

It will all depend on money, who you want to keep/drop and how many from each team you own. It will vary for everyone. Above all, back yourself.

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Captains

Below, I will name a few blokes who I personally have in mind for skipper this coming Round. It will be in order of when they play so the guys with early games you are able to make vice-captain and use the loophole if they go mad.

If they fail you then get a second shot at captain. This only works if you have a non-player on your bench who you can utilise.

Game 1

Daniel Sams – A gun. Loves a wicket and as we saw the other night can explode with the bat. A great vice-captain option in the first game of the week. Or straight skipper if you are unable to do this.

Aaron Finch – Perfect VC play because he could obviously get a duck but could also whack a stunning 100 (possibly 150+ SC score).

I wouldn’t straight captain him though unless you are brave!! Kane Richardson is another option as he has the ability to take three to five wickets.

Game 2

Maxwell, Stoinis or Nathan Coulter-Nile – All three have potential to score large. The Stars are so talented. Even Nicholas Pooran is a sneaky POD play if you happen to own him. I may bring him in.

Philippe – As we saw early in the tournament he can really get cracking when he gets a start. He could be worth an early VC option along with someone like Ben Dwarshuis or Christian.

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Game 3 – (Harder to use the loophole now)

Ben McDermott – Hobart players seem to be hard to pick at the moment. Ben McDermott is the pick of the batsmen at the moment (Ingram also looks good).

Sadly I went Carey over him this week at the last minute and now Carey is out for the Strikers second game after McDermott outscored him by 110 so far this round!

Of course you can hope D’Arcy Short comes good, but he isn’t himself at the moment so it’s brave and he isn’t bowling as much as last year. Personally I’d probably steer clear of Hobart.

Jack Wildermuth or Chris Lynn – I’d prefer Wildermuth, but obviously Lynn is highly capable of going bonkers at any time!

Game 4 – (Straight captain required)

Rashid Khan or Jake Weatherald – Khan despite not being quite as dangerous on current form is always a great option, while Weatherald is a high-risk, high-reward guy if you are brave. He looks in fantastic touch!

Mitch Marsh – Keep an eye out if he is likely to bowl because there is talk he is close. If so, he becomes a top option. Outside of this you could take a swing at any of their top three who are all attacking and capable. Inglis, Munro and Clarke.

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Conclusion

After a good start but a quiet second week I may have a crack at a POD or two to try and pull things back.

I’m thinking possibly McDermott, Pooran and Philippe into my side. My VC will likely be Pooran or Philippe with the skipper on Khan or Wildermuth as backup if he looks good again in Round 3.  

I will have to have a hard look however at Dan Christian and Aaron Finch who could come in to do a job now and be ready for the DGW later.

Good luck all!