Watchlist: Positional rankings, team, trade plans, Rd 4

Each round of the Big Bash season I’ll reveal my current team and trade plans for the upcoming round.

To do this, I’ll provide a watchlist ranking of every position, listing the players on the edge of cracking into my squad.

I find this a great way to keep myself on track with trades and planning, so I don’t get too caught up in the hype for any player. 

Note that if the player is already in my team, they won’t be included in the watchlist rankings.

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Round 3 Update

I’m writing this midway through round 3, which has mostly been positive for my side.

Peirson delivered as a POD in game 1 and I jumped on Neser, but flunked with Bazley as VC. I’m confident that my remaining, including Jhye Richo as skipper, will get the job done for a small green arrow from 2000th. 

My team

Wicketkeepers: Peirson, Gilkes

Batters: M Short, A Agar, Bazley, Webster, Neser, Inglis, Rossouw

Bowlers: Thornton, J Richardson, S Khan, Zampa, Sams, Stoinis, Cam Green

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Updated watch list / rankings

Wicketkeepers

1. Josh Philippe
2. Sam Harper 

Removed: Billings

Added: Harper

Philippe is the top option now and needs to be traded in this round or next. Going early on him for the Sixers game vs the Stars is likely the only way to gain rank by owning him, as almost everyone will own for round 5. 

Sam Harper could be a cheaper alternative at the Keeper position for the round 5 double.

It would take a brave soul to anti-POD Philippe though. I can only see Harper becoming a genuine option if he goes off in round 4 to generate cash over the double. 

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Batters

1. Hayden Kerr (bat/bowl)
2. James Vince
3. Aaron Finch 
4. Martin Guptill
5. Shaun Marsh
6. Cooper Connolly (bat/bowl)

Removed: Heat players

Added: Finch, Fraser-McGurk, Guptill, Kerr, Vince

Last season’s breakout star Kerr is top of my list, due to his excellent role and high upside.

Who could forget his 98 n.o. in the Finals last season?

This came when opening the batting and Kerr is currently batting 7 of course.

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Nonetheless, the 26-year-old is a gun with both bat and ball in a strong, albeit slightly out-of-form Sixers’ side.  

James Vince could be a value play at sub $100k. He has four T20 centuries to his name during his career and could go large at any stage.

Due to value, at the moment I prefer Vince to the likes of Finch (approx 140k) and Guptill (160k). 

If he’s back in time, Shaun Marsh (121k) could be the best value of the Renegades’ batters. Whilst he’s coming to the end of his career at 39 years old, his T20 record is impeccable, averaging 37.5 with the bat at a strike rate of 128. 

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Bowlers

1. Akeal Hosein
2. Sean Abbott
3. Chris Jordan
4. Mujeeb Ur Rahman
5. Kane Richardson
6. Tom Rogers
7. Lance Morris

Removed: Heat players, Dooley, Naveed

Added: Hosein, Rogers, K Richardson, Jordan

I missed a trick by not looking closer at Hosein earlier in the season. Batting at 7 and taking bags of wickets, he looks like a great VC option with the Gades playing the opening game of the round.  

Chris Jordan could get the coveted death bowling role for the Sixers when he arrives.  

He’s had an up and down BBL SC career, with season averages of 29, 52, 38 and 75.

$At 125k I think he’s well worth the punt and could even be a round 4 trade in (before he potentially even gets named to play) to activate a loop.

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Sean Abbott and Kane Richardson are two more players who will be must-haves for round 5. However, I think they are both likely to have relatively high breakevens for round 4.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman is excellent value at around $100k for a player who has averaged 60 in BBL SC in the past.

Getting both him and Hosein looks a solid play to me, as I think both the Renegades spinners are capable of grabbing bags of wickets. 

Tom Rogers showed what he’s capable of this round, scoring 114 SC points against the Heat.

I think he’ll be hard to fit in given the number of other Renegades and Sixers options. However, he’ll make some cash following the big round 3 score, so is worth considering. 

I’ve removed Naveed from the watchlist, as I’m concerned about his job security, having rotated out for Todd Murphy in the game against the Hurricanes.  

An impactful knock from Josh Philippe to get the Sixers on the winner's list! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/DSyLn6Xy4Y

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) December 22, 2022

Trade thoughts 

It’s all about Renegades and Sixers for me, as I’m content with my line-up for the round 4 single-game round. 

Philippe, Hosein and Kerr are my main targets. Looking at Thornton, Bazley and Peirson out to fund them. 

Happy trading and enjoy round 4!