Final Word: Captains, weather, super PODs, Rd 13

We’re down to the final round of the Supercoach Big Bash season!

Just 58 points separates first and third place in the overall rankings, with last year’s champ Andrew sitting in third place.

What a gun.

Jump over and listen to the final SC Playbook podcast of the season with Andrew the special guest.

The final episode of the SC Playbook BBL podcast for the season is live!

Finishing in style, we have defending champ and 10th overall in BBL12 (and rising) @Diabolicalangle on deck to share his secrets to SuperCoach success.@TimWill94 and @SCSpy1 grill one of the game's elite. pic.twitter.com/6BLPlHne9c

— SC Playbook – BBL (@scplaybookbbl) January 19, 2023

He gives a great insight into his strategies and beliefs in the game that may see him crowned as back-to-back champion, incredible.

The Cooma Stallions had our worst round of the season in round 12, dropping over 200 spots to 351^st overall.

A disappointing end to the season, but that’s the volatility of Supercoach BBL.

I learnt one major lesson this season, and it’s that it really is an allrounders and bowlers game under the current scoring system.

It was something I was aware of coming into the year, and as a result I would do my utmost best to only select batters only if I could play them in the auto-emergency position to alleviate risk.

If they failed, I’d have another sole batter to replace them.

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But that stung me in the back end of the season, as the AE batter would flop, and get replaced by another sole batter, let’s call them Ben McDermott, and the result was no different.

Next season I’m going to do my best to completely avoid batters at all costs, sticking only with bowlers, and all-rounders in the batting position.

Even the double game weeks I’ll do my best to avoid bat only options.

The other reinforced lesson, which I feel silly for having need to be taught it again, is to just follow the class teams when possible.

This season was a bit of an outlier in the Scorchers and Sixers being so vastly better than the rest of the competition, but there always seems to be a bridge between certain teams that we should follow as Supercoaches once the pecking order is established early in the tournament.

Anyway, we learn plenty each season and hopefully come back more educated as a result the following year.

Thanks to all the supporters of SC Playbook BBL this season, it’s been an entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable ride!

Let’s take a look at Supercoach BBL Round 13, the finale.

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Weather Watch

All weather is courtesy of the Bureau of Meteorology as of Monday, 4PM. All times are in AEDT. Forecasts are subject to change.

Monday

7:15PM: Hurricanes v Sixers, Blundstone Arena, Hobart

Forecast: Shower or two, 50% chance of rain, the chance of a thunderstorm, possibly heavy.

Verdict: It wouldn’t be Supercoach BBL without late drama… Potentially heavy rain looms around this clash, which is vitally important with the Hurricanes being on the double game week. Monitor the radar right up until the game begins, if rain looks prevalent it may prove wise to avoid the Canes all together, while looping their contingent. Close watch…

Tuesday

7:15PM: Renegades v Strikers, Marvel Stadium, Melbourne

Forecast: Partly cloudy, 26 degrees, 20% chance of any rain. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening.

Verdict: Likely okay, but some potential showers and storms around so keep an eye on any changing forecasts.

Wednesday

1:40PM: Hurricanes v Heat, UOT Stadium, Launceston

Forecast: Partly cloudy, 26 degrees, 20% chance of rain.

Verdict: Looking all clear.

7:15PM: Stars v Thunder, MCG, Melbourne

Forecast: Partly cloudy, 29 degrees, 5% chance of any rain.

Verdict: All clear.

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Super PODs

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.

As ownerships of double game week players will likely soar above 10% for most of those options closer to game time once trades are made, I’ll look towards single game week players.

Last week, David Warner was the pod play, he flopped with 16 points!

This week, I like Tom Rogers from the Renegades at just 3.2% ownership among the top 1% of coaches overall to finish with a bang.

They face a Strikers outfit that although featuring a gun top order batting line-up, have failed to hit their straps recently, especially with the rock of the order Chris Lynn departed.

Averaging 56.9, Rogers has had an outstanding season and I was a little surprised to see him at such little ownership.

We know he can take bags of wickets on his day, and he’s capable with bat in hand given the opportunity.

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Skippers

Last week, Michael Neser was the safe pick scoring a solid 99 points, while Marnus Labuschagne was the risky pick; which proved to be just that, scoring a whopping 29 points…

With the Hurricanes playing game one and being the only side on the double, it makes sense to pick a vice-captain from their side.

Nathan Ellis is the clear pick for me, he’s been superb this season even if not always translating to Supercoach scoring at times.

He can finish on a high as the class bowler of the attack.

If he fails in game one with a sub 30 score, it opens up the chance to find a POD skipper.

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Matt Short is the extremely obvious pick, but let’s ignore him as it’s the final round of the season, so we may as well spice it up and look elsewhere.

I say spicey, but I do think Dan Sams is the pick at the MCG against a fairly lacklustre Melbourne Stars batting outfit.

He looks the pick for me, despite his inconsistency at stages this season.

I would opt for a Sixer due to the class edge mentioned above, but they play game one, and the Scorchers are on the bye.

Good luck in the final round of the season.