Final Word: Trades, tactics, weather, RD 5

• GUN SHOW: Last year’s SuperCoach champ fires word of warning
• POD HUNTER: Unique players to find an edge on rivals

We’re well into the SuperCoach Big Bash season and as such our teams are really beginning to take shape and grow stronger across the board as overall value grows.

After a frustrating start to the season, the Cooma Stallions scored 1,102 points in Round 4 for a ranking of 154^th, moving into the 5,000s overall.

Still not where we’d like to be, but certainly more respectable. I’ve been able to grow team value fairly well in the process so hopefully the rise can continue.

Here’s the Final Word ahead of Round 5, starting at 6.10PM on Tuesday.

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WEATHER WATCH

All weather is courtesy of the Bureau of Meteorology as of Tuesday, 12PM. All times are in AEDT. Forecasts are subject to change.

TUESDAY

6:10PM: Renegades v Sixers, Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast

Forecast: Partly cloudy, 29 degrees, 20% chance of a slight shower.

7:15PM: Thunder v Stars, Manuka Oval, Canberra

Forecast: Possible shower, 21 degrees, 40% chance of rain, becoming less likely in the afternoon.

WEDNESDAY

7:15PM: Hurricanes v Heat, The Gabba, Brisbane

Forecast: Shower or two, 27 degrees, 60% chance of 1-5mm of rain.

THURSDAY

7:15PM: Strikers v Scorchers, Adelaide Oval

Forecast: Sunny, 29 degrees, 0% chance of rain.

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SUPER PODS

Each week one of our contributors will provide a full analysis on the point of difference (POD) players to consider.

In the Final Word, we’ll look at the super POD options, the players at under 5% ownership (or around about) that could send you soaring (or falling) up the overall ranks.

They come with big risk, but the reward is immense if it comes off.

In last round’s article, Nicholas Pooran went bonkers with 100 points at just 2% ownership, while Mujeeb Ur Rahman was decent with 37 points.

Dawid Malan

Malan is the world’s top ranked T20 batsmen, he’s ranked on 915 points which is a ridiculous 95 points clear of second placed Babar Azam.

In his first BBL game of the campaign for the Hurricanes he scored 35 points from 15 runs and a pair of catches.

He’s currently at 4.5% ownership which will grow quickly, but with people focusing on the upcoming double game week sides he will hopefully remain a super POD in the meantime.

As soon as he comes out and belts a big knock he’ll have coaches flocking to him.

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Adam Milne

The Kiwi quick has been extremely impressive in two games to date.

He has scores of 40 and 73 and has been extremely economical in the process.

He’s relatively affordable at $133k, had the double in Round 8 and has the potential to go big.

Due to his late start to the competition he’s in just 1.6% of all teams!

I’m a big fan and will strongly consider he and Malan in my side this week.

LOOKING AHEAD

We have another round without a double game week, before turning our entire attention to the Renegades and Sixers for their Round 6 double.

We have six trades between now and then, and you’ll likely want a minimum of five players between these sides, so they have to be a part of your trade plans this week.

There are no more byes this season, while the Heat and Thunder have the Round 8 double, so start factoring these guys roughly into your plans.

In particular the likes of Ollie Davies and Tanveer Sangha who may be invaluable for that double, but will likely be too expensive when that times comes, so it may be worth jumping on at their current price.

While it’s not a huge issue, note that the Strikers and Hurricanes are the only sides without another double game week this season.

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TRADES

As I write this I’m still genuinely torn on my exact trades at this stage.

I’ll provide my thoughts, and try update the article before game one begins.

I only have one Sixers/Gades player (Nabi) in my side at this stage, and ideally I want five/six for Round 6.

Will Sutherland will come in as he has the double next week and opens up some cap space at just under $75k.

He’s opening the bowling and batting at eight so he may get a chance with the blade, especially with the way the Gades are playing.

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He’ll come in for Matt Renshaw which is a no-brainer with Renshaw now looking unlikely to bowl many overs with Briggs hitting his straps.

I really want Aaron Finch as I know I’ll be trading him in either this week or next regardless.

He has a breakeven of over 100 though, so there’s every chance he drops value again.

Dan Hughes has a breakeven of -63 and will make tons of cash.

I want Hughes for cash, but I think Finch is the man for the job and will score more points… Tough.

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Josh Philippe will likely come in next week as he has a breakeven of 125 and should drop significant cash, but there’s an option to go Alex Carey to him this week.

Kane Richardson is another I’ll have next week at the latest, but all of a sudden there’s a lot of cash needing to be freed up to sign all these players.

I’m tempted to go a POD such as Milne or Jhye Richardson, but these are all decisions I’m weighing up.

I have players such as Phil Salt, Xavier Bartlett, Max Bryant and Ollie Davies who all have very small breakevens and will make big money in coming weeks, so ideally I need to wait a week at least to move them on.