Watchlist: Positional rankings, team, trade plans, Rd 6

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 5 Update

Another decent round for The Wendells, scoring 1030, moving me up into 671st overall.

My team

Wicketkeepers: Philippe, Gilkes

Batters: M Short, A Agar, Kerr, Webster, Stoinis, Cam Green, Rossouw

Bowlers: Hosein, J Richardson, S Khan, Ur Rahman, Sams, Abbott, K Richardson 

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Updated watch list and rankings

Wicketkeepers

1. Ben McDermott*
2. Matthew Wade
3. Baxter Holt

Removed: Nil

Added: McDermott, Wade, Holt

I could be tempted to go early on McDermott in Round 7 and slot him in as an emergency loop if playing. I prefer him to Wade, as he’s shown a higher ceiling. 

*However he’s been ruled out of Round 6 due to a niggling hamstring injury so do not go early this round.

With Matt Gilkes cementing his spot in the Thunder side of late, Holt looks the best looping option at WK. I like him for round 7, when the Thunder play the last game of the round.

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Batters

1. James Vince
2. Luke Wood (bat/bowl)
3. Will Sutherland (bat/bowl)
4. James Bazley (bat/bowl)

Removed: Guptill, Connolly

Added: Vince, Wood, Sutherland,Bazley

No interest in Guptill now the Gades double has passed. I have my eye on another high upside bat in James Vince. I think he’s a nice stash in prep for round 8. 

Wood keeps finding ways to get wickets. I think he could be a keeper in the bat position. 

Congratulations if you picked up Sutherland for his 138 double game performance last round. He looks a very handy hold given his dual status. Even after the double, I’m considering before his price skyrockets. 

Bazley comes right back on the radar following his 148 round 5 performance. Most impressively from an SC point of view, he bowled the 20th over and batted at 7. I’d like to see another round or two to confirm his role though. 

Connolly I’ve been looking at for a loop option. However it sounds like he may not be far off getting a run, so I’ve removed him for now.

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Bowlers

1. Riley Meredith
2. Nathan Ellis
3. Joel Paris
4. Henry Thornton
5. Andrew Tye
6. Ben Dwarshuis
7. Lance Morris

Removed: Renegades’ bowlers

Added: Meredith, Dwarshuis, Thornton, Ellis, Paris

Majority of these bowlers are with an eye to the round 8 Hurricanes’ double. Thornton and Tye are the exceptions to this as out-and-out guns.

Meredith tops the the list for me after tonning up in round 4. He’s the type of player who can grab a bagful of wickets, which makes an excellent emergency loop option. For this purpose, the Canes play the first match in the next two rounds. 

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Ellis or Paris could be utilised for the same purpose. Ellis has averaged over 50 the last 2 seasons and will likely be a must own for round 8. Paris doesn’t have as strong a track record but could be a value play at sub $70k.

There is a big decision to be made on the competition leading wicket taker Thornton this round. He’ll cost you over $200k, but we’ve seen his ceiling and it wouldn’t take much for him to grab a bag full against the Stars.

I think Tye is in the top 5 bowlers this season, it’s just a question of whether to grab him now or closer to the Scochers’ round 9 double.

Dwarshuis looks back to the peak form that’s seen him average 55+ for the last 2 seasons. I would have him on top of this list, except for the rotation risk we saw with Abbott. Unfortunately the Sixers play the last game in round 6, increasing the risk to your side if there’s rotation.

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Trade thoughts 

Meredith, Wood and Vince/Sutherland are my primary targets this round, with Agar, Webster and Ur Rahman likely to make way. 

Next round I’m eyeing up McDermott, Holt and Ellis, with Gilkes, Rossouw and Hosein on the chopping block.

I’m also tossing up Thornton as a trade in option, but this could be difficult to afford in the short-term.

Happy trading and enjoy rounds 6 & 7!