Supercoach BBL14: The Draft picks that matter

Not many players in SuperCoach BBL are relevant. 

Because while we’re using the ‘Langley Method’ to maximise our scoring opportunities each round, only certain roles and teams are worth focusing on. 

To help you cut through the noise of the overseas signings, here’s our deep dive on the International blokes who are going to impact the SuperCoach season.

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Adelaide Strikers

Draft picks: Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Fabian Allen

Relevant impacts:

All three will have some SuperCoach relevance. Jamie Overton was a revelation last season with a dream role and good performances to back it up. 

He’s the true leader of a pace bowling attack – albeit one that does look very thin – and will bat in the number 6/7 range where he should face some Power Surge overs. 

He won’t be cheap, but will be captain option for the Strikers DGW and potentially a player to hold for his SGW pending schedule.

New recruit Ollie Pope should take the keepers gloves for the Strikers, giving them some balance for the first time in a while without the need to rely on Harry Neilsen. 

We know keepers are handy to own and rotate, albeit Pope’s T20 numbers do not inspire much confidence. On his career he averages 28 at a strike rate close to 130. 

When assessing overseas talent, we ideally want those numbers to add up to at least 170. He’s likely to bat in the number 4/5 slot too which isn’t ideal.

Fabian Allen is an interesting one. A left-arm finger spinner who will share the burden of frontline spinner alongside Cameron Boyce, Allen is also a handy lower order hitter. 

While not a huge wicket-taker, he should consistently bowl his 4 and bat in the 7-8 slot meaning good scoring involvements. 

This is before mentioning his fielding which should see him in the hot spots. One to monitor and one I expect to suck many Coaches in.

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Brisbane Heat

Draft picks: Colin Munro, Paul Walters, Tom Alsop

Relevant impacts:

We know what we get from Colin Munro by now. A rock solid opening bat and hot spot fielder who you can typically select in DGW based on his form line.

Paul Walters should similarly be well known to coaches based on last year’s performances. 

Tall Paul’s role is arguably one of the best in SuperCoach as a death bowler and number 6/7 bat. If priced on last year’s average, he will be one to watch closely and select at the right time.

Tom Alsop is the fresh face but fills a need for the Heat as a wicketkeeper batsman. 

Yes the Heat won the title last year but having lost Sam Billings, their options with the gloves were limited through the draft and Alsop therefore comes into calculations for Heat DGW. 

While he doesn’t possess huge career numbers with the bat, he’s about as relevant as Ollie Pope but arguably more so given he will keep to the best bowling attack in the competition.

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Hobart Hurricanes

Draft picks: Shai Hope, Chris Jordan, Rishad Hossain

Relevant impacts:

The new boy Shai Hope is a great cricketer but not relevant in SuperCoach as a bat only in an already congested top order. Chris Jordan is well known and a handy allrounder who will bowl death and bat at 7 or 8.

Hossain is an interesting prospect. The Bangladeshi leg-spinner impressed in the recent T20 World Cup but is no guarantee to crack the ‘Canes best XI. 

If he does he’s very SuperCoach relevant as an attacking bowler with a great strike rate. 

On top of that, he knows how to hit a cricket ball and while he’s probably “BWL only” to begin with, he could be a dangerous hitter during the Power Surge. One to note.

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Melbourne Renegades

Draft picks: Laurie Evans, Tim Seifert, Jacob Bethel

Relevant impacts:

Evans crosses from the Perth Scorchers as a genuine match-winner but with a highly volatile role for SuperCoach.

Despite being the biggest name selected he’s arguably the least SuperCoach relevant.

Seifert will take the gloves for the ‘Gades which brings him into relevance. He’s another crafty batter quite suited to batting anywhere from 3-7 and it remains to be seen exactly where he’ll fit into the puzzle. His record is solid, not spectacular so pending price and draw he could be interesting.

Jacob Bethel is a 20-year-old allrounder who like most good English prospects was born in another country. 

He’s quite raw and unproven but thanks to his left-arm orthodox bowling is likely to have a role as the 6th bowling option and middle-order hitter which is appealing.

It’s entirely predictable that he could struggle to acclimatise to Australian conditions – as is the way for most first year English players – so it’s frugal to watch before jumping on.

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Melbourne Stars

Draft picks: Ben Duckett, Tom Curran, Usama Mir

Relevant impacts:

Duckett was a handy cricketer for the Brisbane Heat, but as predominantly a bat he isn’t super relevant. The glimpses of leg spinner Usama Mir in BBL13 were also seemingly uninspiring, albeit he did improve throughout the tournament.

Tom Curran is the one that could be the game changer for the Stars’ fortunes. As the default death bowler and likely number 7 bat, he’s got an awesome role. 

What’s even better could be his starting price given his lacklustre showings last summer down under. Could be a set and forget option.

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Perth Scorchers

Draft picks: Finn Allen, Matthew Hurst, Keaton Jennings

Relevant impacts:

Hurst and Jennings will be lucky to get a game this season, but Finn Allen is a genuine star who will open the batting. 

He’s likely to be priced at top dollar but will be a great option for the risk takers and a near ‘must have’ on the Scorchers DGW. 

The fast, bouncy conditions should suit him in Perth. A career strike-rate of nearly 170 tells you all you need to know.

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Sydney Thunder

Draft picks: Lockie Ferguson, Sam Billings, Sherfane Rutherford

Relevant impacts:

The Thunder immediately look like a better side with these three names added to their XI. All have the potential to be SuperCoach relevant.

Ferguson is a superstar who, when fit, is a frightening prospect. He will bowl the death overs which on the Showgrounds stadium could be near untouchable. 

Billings’ relevance will depend on his position in the batting order which looms as either the number 3 or 5 spot. 

The lower he goes, the less likely he is to impact the game, albeit his Power Surge batting is especially damaging.

Rutherford is a name only the hardcore cricket fan will know but he has all kinds of potential as a three-way-talent. 

His main skill is his lower order hitting, and he will take the pressure of Dan Sams by occupying the number 6 slot. 

We know this is usually too low in the order to score consistent SuperCoach points, however he does possess rare ability here as a hitter. He bowls medium pace but only a little bit, so don’t expect him to actually get overs. 

It’s likely that Nic Maddinson and Jason Sangha would be preferred over him as the 6th bowler. He is a jet in the field and will take catches which will add to his points. 

As exciting as he is, Rutherford is more likely to be a fascination rather than a genuine SuperCoach prospect.

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Sydney Sixers

Draft picks: James Vince, Akeal Hosein, Jafer Chohan

Relevant impacts:

Vince is another known quantity who, despite his consistency, is not a genuine SuperCoach prospect. 

Jafer Chohan is unlikely to play but provides some depth and mystery as a young leg spinner.

Hosein is the player fans should be most excited about and for good reason. In his limited stints in the Big Bash so far he has taken a wicket every 15 deliveries and delivered an economy rate of 6.25 – simply elite stuff. 

Called upon to fill the void of Stephen O’Keefe, he will love bowling in the Sydney attack and should find success on the SCG which has been super inconsistent for the last few years. 

His price tag may keep lots of coaches away, but he’s a stud.