Watchlist: Positional rankings, trade plans, Rd 10/11

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 9 Update

An up and down round for me so far. I captained Short and jumped on Behrendorff who killed it. However, I went Bancroft over Inglis and also went without Hardie. With any luck I’ll hold rank at around 400th.

My team

Wicketkeepers: McDermott, Bancroft

Batters: M Short, Philippe, Kerr, Agar, Lynn, Webster, Cam Green

Bowlers: Tye, Behrendorff, Thornton, Abbott, Ellis, Wood, K Richardson 

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Updated watchlist and rankings

Wicketkeepers

1. Baxter Holt
2. Alex Carey
3. Josh Inglis

Removed: Clarke

Added: Holt

With no teams doubling this round, Holt is right back on my radar to enable keeper/bat loops. 

If Carey opens he’ll be hard to pass up. In previous seasons he’s averaged 50-60 SC points and opening increases his upside. 

Inglis is a gun, as he showed again in round 9. Averaging over 60 batting at 4 is elite. I may need to ride the call of going Bancroft over him though.

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Batters

1. Marnus Labuschagne (bat/bowl)
2. Travis Head (bat/bowl)
3. David Warner
4. Daniel Sams (bat/bowl)
5. Caleb Jewell
6. Will Sutherland (bat/bowl)
7. Steve Smith
8. Usman Khawaja

Removed: Hardie, de Grandhomme

Added: Labuschagne, Sams, Jewell, Sutherland, Warner, Smith, Khawaja

If history is anything to go by, it won’t take Marnus long to adapt to the T20 format. When he had an extended run of BBL games in 2020-21 he averaged 88! The Heat have a double in round 12, so why not go early on him?

Warner looks the big play and I’m sure almost everyone is considering it. He averages 38 with the bat striking at 140 across his T20 career. Throw in the odd catch and that’s easily a 60+ SC average. Even at $200k, I’m tempted…

I’ll be watching Dan Sams closely against the Scorchers to see if he’s overcome his injury concerns. If so, we know he can be close to the best player in Supercoach. 

Travis Head is another who I’m very interested in, especially if batting in the top 3. He has form, pedigree and the ability to roll the arm over.

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Caleb Jewell is just about the form batter in the comp and the Canes have a double in round 13. He’ll also have a negative B.E, so it could be wise to grab him now.

Will Sutherland is now over $150k after starting at bottom dollar. You can still make a case for him based on form with both bat and ball. He plays the Stars in round 10, who look brittle despite the win vs the Strikers.

Steve Smith’s career T20 record is well below that of his record other formats (bat ave 29 striking at 125). He may have a point to prove though after missing the T20 WC side. Watch in round 10 and consider in round 11 is my recommendation.

Likewise I think Khawaja is a consideration but I’d like to see him in form in round 10 first.

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Bowlers

1. Ruwantha Kellapotha
2. Xavier Bartlett
3. Spencer Johnson

Kellapotha looks a great enabler at near bottom dollar. He bowled well in his first game for the Gades and has a nice matchup against the Stars in round 10.

Bartlett and Johnson are watches with the Heat double coming up. I like Bartlett’s all round potential if he can somehow move up the order. The left-armer Johnson passes the eye test and costs close to bottom dollar.

Removed: Morris, Agar, Boyce, Mannenti

Added: Kellapotha, Bartlett, Johnson

Trade thoughts 

I’ll likely move for one or both of Kellapotha or Johnson to free up cash. Then I like the idea of stacking with bats and allrounders. 

Agar, Webster, Wood, Thornton and Richo are all on the trade chopping block in the next few rounds.

Happy trading and enjoy rounds 10 & 11!