Max Bryden
SC expert, commentator, 2x top 350 overall finisher
Each round, we'll take a deep dive into the clubs playing the all-important Supercoach BBL double game round.
BBLWell here we are, suddenly nearing the end of the BBL SuperCoach season. As always it’s been a rollercoaster, but with careful planning hopefully you’re in a position to chase a good finish.
Round 7 presents to us the second ‘mega round’ with more than two teams on the double. As such, this will give Coaches a huge chance to move up or down the rankings given the variety on offer. Most of you will already own Scorchers, and now it’s time for the Heat and Hurricanes to join them on the double.
Per the ‘Andrew Langley Method’ – yes, Champ, you’re getting quoted now – it’s important to give yourself maximum scoring involvements and also be considerate of if your ‘Double Game Week’ players are versing each other.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe theory goes that each game typically averages ~1000 SuperCoach points that the players have to share, with most often going to the winning side. If you’re picking players who are versing each other, it’s unlikely they’ll all score well. In this example, it does detract a little from the value of the Brisbane Heat who play the other two ‘double’ sides in their matches.
Additionally, with only two rounds remaining after this ‘double’ we need to be conscious that we may need to finish the season with the players we bring into our sides from this point. Looking ahead to Rounds 8 and 9 is therefore critical to ensure we’re not trading in players who could hurt us in the long run.
This article will help breakdown some notes on role, form and match-ups for this round and the future rounds so you’ve got all the intel you need to make good decisions. I’ll finish with a short ranking of my favourite options for round 7. Lessgo!
Embed from Getty Imagesvs Sydney Thunder @ Showgrounds, Brisbane Heat @ Gabba
What we know
A great team and some of the best SC prospects in the game. But having a heap of them in your team already courtesy of the Round 6 double game week, do we need much more?
The Cooper Connolly experiment as opener is now over, with his role in the team now quite poor. As such, he’s a reluctant play if you own but someone that you could trade if you wanted to do so. In his place, Sam Whiteman has finally found relevance and scored 40 SC points in his first dip as an opener. While we’ve lost the loop, if he holds the openers spot he might be a decent guy to put on the field to maximise numbers for the double. He might even make a bit of cash by the end of round 7.
As skipper, Aaron Hardie is not bowling himself. And with five bowlers picked since their opening two matches, he needs to be viewed as a bat only. If you don’t own already, he’s a great ‘anti-POD’ option.
We could see a bowling rest and rotation in Round 7, so I’d be reluctant to invest any further in the bowling stocks if possible.
The Grounds
Showgrounds is a profitable place for fast bowlers. And this Scorchers attack could decimate the out of form Sydney Thunder who are consistently playing what feels like a batter short.
The Gabba offers plenty to batters and bowlers. We’ve seen scores over 200, and sides bowled out. All the players should be in the game.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Opposition
The Thunder are in all sorts. They’re a young team and have wilted against the pressure of quality opposition. Their lineup has consistently proven to be wrong, so we may see an extra batter come in and Dan Sams moved down to number 7, but in all they lack quality and it’s hard to see them challenging the Scorchers.
Conversely, the Brisbane Heat might now be challenging the Scorchers for the best bowling attack in the competition. They’ve got 6 fantastic options and cover all bases – swing, pace, spin and at all times of the match. This will be the biggest challenge the Scorchers have faced since the Big Final last year and could test their batters.
Draw to finish the season
While there’s no byes on the horizon, with games against the only other ‘good’ sides in the Heat and Sixers to finish the season, personally I don’t want to invest much more than I have already in the boys from Perth. There’s every chance they still score well against those sides but it’s a very different prospect playing good teams compared to the bottom five sides who’ve been awful this year.
The Players
Given we already own so many Scorchers, it’s hard to advocate for anyone specifically but I’ll provide two scenarios.
Verdict
Look elsewhere unless you’re desperate for cash gen.
Embed from Getty Imagesvs Hobart Hurricanes @ Gabba, Perth Scorchers @ Gabba
What we know
Last year’s runners up have won 10 of their last 12 BBL matches – one of those losses was the Big Final. They made a huge call this season to not offer Sam Heazlett a contract and drop loyal servants Max Bryant and skipper Jimmy Pierson. It’s paid off in spades with arguably the most balanced side in the competition. I don’t know why we ever doubted them.
Seven games in, we know the roles. Neser only opens the bowling, Bartlett is now bowling death and surge. Tall Paul bowls three overs including surge and death and can bat (one of the best roles in the game) and Billings bats five.
The spinners build pressure and hunt for poles in the middle overs. Bartlett, Spencer and Tall Paul are the finishing act, capitalizing on that pressure. They’re professional and have made winning a real habit.
The Grounds
I’ll rinse and repeat what I wrote above. The Gabba offers plenty to batters and bowlers. We’ve seen scores over 200, and sides bowled out. All the players should be in the game.
The only difference is that we know the Heat play this ground as well as anyone and have made it a bit of a fortress.
Toyota Echo can’t fit the boys kit bag and tinnies after a win? Need a bigger car? To find the best rate on a new car loan, contact Pat and George from Mortgage Choice SCW to get you on the right track. Save $129 by mentioning SC Playbook for a FREE CONSULT!
The Opposition
The ‘Canes have been plain ordinary in the Big Bash. They’ve got firepower with the bat there’s no doubt, but have struggled to string it together consistently and their bowlers lack penetration. To show just how bad their bowlers have been;
The powder puff bowling attack and the high-scoring Gabba could be a recipe for some big runs from the Heat bats.
Again, conversely the Perth side are arguably the most evenly matched with the Heat. They’ve taken 34 wickets in five games and have match-winners with the bat in Crawley, Hardie and Laurie Evans. This should be a helluva test for both sides – a potential Big Final preview?
Draw to finish the season
The Heat play Perth in round 8 then have the bye. That’s really tough, albeit with the importance of loops, owning one of them in round 9 could prove fruitful.
The Players
Most coaches will own only one or two Heat players due to their draw. Here’s a ranking of their options for Round 7:
The Verdict
Tall Paul is a priority trade in particular as someone who is very playable in next week’s Round 8 with no side on the Double. One or two batters will go huge for them this round against Hobart, while their bowlers are all performing admirably. A good team to take a punt on, or conversely go against given the Scorchers factor.
Embed from Getty Imagesvs Brisbane Heat @ Gabba, vs Adelaide Strikers @ Adelaide Oval
What we know
Strugglers this season and change is needed. Injury has robbed them of some of their stars this year, with Matt Wade battling a back complaint and McDermott missing games with concussion. Their bowlers have changed every game with their fifth option being a lottery.
Their batters are their strength with a top order of Jewell, Wade, Wright, McDermott and Tim David possessing serious game breaking quality. Hopefully this round is where they finally click.
The Grounds
Two belters for the ‘Cane train. The Gabba offers plenty for batters and bowlers and Adelaide Oval is a batters paradise. AO has strangely also heavily favored the spinners this year with Cam Boyce and Glenn Maxwell recently the only two bowlers to escape with decent economy rates in a game with over 400 runs scored between the Stars and Strikers. You’d think one or two batters from the ‘Canes could go massive this round.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe opposition
Jeckell and Hyde. The Brisbane Heat are title contenders with a bowling attack that hunts like wolves. It won’t be easy at the Gabba to defeat them, however that match could turn into a shootout with the bat.
The Strikers are battling for the wooden spoon against the Renegades. Despite possessing the number 1 and 2 leading run scorers, they can’t take wickets. It could present some great run scoring opportunities for this Canes outfit.
Draw to finish the season
It’s a nice draw to finish the season with a home match-up against the Strikers, followed by a trip to the MCG to play the Stars. As far as assessing all three teams on the doubles run home, this is the best by some margin for those reasons. Blundstone offers a bit to bat and bowlers while the Stars bowling attack is poor and again could be leaky.
Do you ever feel uneasy with how much you’re gambling with? You’re not alone, sport fans love a punt, but sometimes it can get a bit out of control. There’s help available with Gareth Wyatt and the team at CECAL. It’s nothing to be ashamed of, so make the call and get in contact here: https://bit.ly/3L2yG1W
The Players
The good news about the Hurricanes struggles is that no player is too out of reach. We’re still waiting for some of the team to have their moment – especially the bowlers – but are games at the Gabba and Adelaide Oval going to present that? Only time will tell. Here’s the options I like:
The Verdict
The bowlers are cheap but that is warranted given their form. The opposition they face and grounds they play mean a gamble on batters could be the move which pays off.
There’s many ways to go about it this round and hopefully this gives you some things to think about. As an owner of six Scorchers already, I am happy to steer away from them and instead turn my attention to the other teams. Tall Paul interests me greatly and he looms as an ideal VC candidate. Elsewhere, a flyer on a ‘Canes batter looks fun. A piece of the Heat bowling stocks also seems like the smart money given how many points they’ve scored collectively.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.