Squad breakdown: Renegades Supercoach BBL14 preview

The Melbourne Renegades will be out to rectify years of disappointment across their lean Big Bash history.

They’ve hoisted the trophy just once back in BBL09, which was their only appearance in the final.

They’ve qualified for finals just four times since the tournament started, while they picked up a treble of last-placed finishes from BBL09-BBL11.

Cameron White takes over as head coach, while they’ve had some reasonable roster movement including a number of impressive international prospects.

They have a peculiar draw to start the Supercoach season, with a double game week in round one, a bye in round three and another double in round 4.

This will make them hot property all the way through until round 5, so nailing the right players will be pivotal to setting up long-term success.

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GUNS

Tim Seifert $152,000

If price is the guide, Seifert and Sutherland probably don’t fall in the gun category as such, but the entire team are essentially Supercoach relevant due to their draw and fall in the mid-range category so we’ll space it out a touch.

The Kiwi International has played 61 T20Is for New Zealand, averaging 25.31 at a strike-rate of 134.75.

His domestic T20 career boasts very similar numbers.

Albeit at domestic level, he enters the tournament in touch with a century off 86 balls back home in New Zealand.

He featured in this year’s T20 Caribbean Premier League where he scored 257 runs at 28.55 with a huge strike-rate of 156.70.

The form lines are strong enough and we know he has the class, but I am a little wary of international batters in their first Big Bash showing.

At an awkward price I’m fairly willing to bypass, but there is obvious appeal and upside.

Verdict: Coin toss, dual WKP-BAT role key to prospects. Leaning towards avoid.

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Will Sutherland $132,600

Sutherland is somewhat of a Supercoach enigma that can be hard to catch due to his varying role with both bat and ball.

He had two Supercoach tonnes last season, and four scores of sub 30 across his nine matches resulting in an average of 44.9.

With Bethell out early he should get his full allotment of overs pending the replacement, while he should get a few decent opportunities with the willow batting at seven.

He’s always been able to accumulate decent points in the field too which is a bonus.

In his past three 50 over Marsh Cup fixtures he has returns of 0/67, 0/33 and 0/25 which is very unappealing.

It’s actually been his batting that’s done the damage, with scores of 32, 31* and 36*.

He’s been dealing with ongoing back issues so that’ll be a big watch in the weeks leading into the tournament.

With his allrounder role and assured place in the team I find him fairly hard to bypass at what I feel is a reasonable price, provided of course he’s up to full fitness for the Renegades opening game.

Verdict: Buy pending fitness

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MID-RANGERS

Laurie Evans $132,600

Laurie Evans looms as a double game week POD play at just 6.7% ownership at the time of writing.

Batting position will be key, he’s been down the order at the Scorchers in recent years which has limited his Supercoach output.

It’s hard to forget though his stunning stretch of form late last season.

If he bats at four with three very explosive, high-risk batters above him, he could get ample opportunity to shine at his new club.

If batting at five, you’d probably be willing to risk him.

Recent T20 form isn’t great with a top score of just 22 across his last seven games, including four single digit scores.

In this year’s Vitality Blast in the UK he averaged just 19.92 with a strike-rate of 146.07 in his 15 games.

If he can knock out a decent score before the tournament begins I’ll be tempted, but you’d like to see the form before investing.

Verdict: Monitor, likely avoid

Jake Fraser-McGurk belongs in Australia's #T20WorldCup squad… y/n?

💬🤔 pic.twitter.com/oLOp5n3oi1

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) April 29, 2024

Jake Fraser-McGurk $128,600

JFM is currently owned by 39% of Supercoaches to begin the tournament.

He’s the most exciting prospect in Australian cricket, at least in terms of putting bums on seats in the hope of fireworks.

However his technique has been found out by savvy coaches of late after exploding onto the scene last BBL.

He’s likely to be a key player in shaping the early overall rankings.

He could go ballistic and leave non-owners in his wake, or he could fail to fire in his bat only role and leave owners falling behind.

His 50 against England in an ODI in September is his only score over 18 in his past 10 games, including five single digit scores.

The Gades’ play the final game of round two also, meaning he’s not a looping option that week which doesn’t help.

It’ll be a sickening watch if he gets on a roll, but I’m tempted to avoid at this stage.

Verdict: Avoid, I think…

Tom Rogers $117,500

Rogers starts cheap and is owned by just 5.6% of coaches making him a genuine POD play that should score reliably on the double.

He had a top score of 171 last season showing his potential ceiling.

He took eight wickets in nine games with an economy of 8.56.

I will note though wickets have been hard to come by of late, with just three in his last three Marsh Cup games and one in six games for Kent mid-season in the UK.

It’s grim reading, make of that what you will…

Form tracking says no, the inner POD hunter says maybe.

Verdict: POD play, probably better options available

Josh Brown $112,200

Josh Brown went bonkers late last season, namely throughout the finals meaning his Supercoach price isn’t impacted this season.

He finished the tournament as the second top run-scorer with 366 runs at a strike-rate of 150.61.

On that, he’d be a near lock at $112k if he could replicate even half of it with the early doubles.

But like the men around him he’s very high-risk, high-reward.

In his past three Marsh Cup games he’s returned 10, 17 and 3.

Prior to that he played in the MAX60 Caribbean tournament alongside plenty of big names including David Warner and Colin Munro, where he was the second top run-scorer with 269 runs at an average of 33.62.

Verdict: Coin toss, likely options with better roles

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Kane Richardson $97,900

Richo is a stalwart of Supercoach and has been one of the better players for many years.

He has Supercoach averages across his past seven seasons of 33.1, 46.3, 65.2, 48.6, 56.0, 74.5 and 67.0.

Gun.

His issue, like every quick in Australian cricket, is injury troubles.

The ageing quick is also a chance at rests at various stages, although hopefully early on in the tournament he backs up.

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Supercoaches haven’t forgotten him despite an off BBL13 campaign, currently owned by 22.5% to start the year.

Keeping in mind that those averages were in very ordinary teams, meaning he’d often miss the opportunity to bowl key overs at the death or defend big targets.

If the Renegades can produce a better showing under Cameron White there’s no reason why he can’t revert back to his best Supercoach scoring in BBL14.

Monitor his fitness heading into the tournament, hopefully with a few more games under his belt, but he looks a great prospect at just $97k.

Verdict: Buy pending fitness

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CHEAPIES

Adam Zampa $80,100

Zampa should probably be the first picked Renegades player at the bargain rate of just $80k.

He’s a proven international star and Supercoach player over the past decade.

He averaged a remarkably low 27.1 Supercoach points last season, hence the desirable starting price.

With just six wickets in eight games at an economy of 8.33 it’s fair to say it wasn’t his best outing in BBL13.

While his international success hasn’t really translated to Supercoach over the years, he’s always been a reliable scorer.

Prior to last season he averaged 42.6, 35.7, 54.3 and 64.3.

He’s taken 11 wickets across his past seven ODIs for Australia, and three wickets in three T20s prior to that.

With two doubles in the opening four rounds he’s near enough a must in my eyes.

Verdict: Buy

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Melbourne Renegades – Predicted Round 1 team and analysis via Max Bryden

Josh Brown // BAT // SC BBL13 Ave: 38.0 // $112,200

Tim Seifert // WKP-BAT // SC BBL13 Ave: – // $152,000

Jake Fraser-McGurk // BAT // SC BBL13 Ave: 43.6 // $128,600

Laurie Evans // BAT // SC BBL13 Ave: 46.2 // $132,600

Mack Harvey // BAT // SC BBL13 Ave: 15.0 // $58,500

Jono Wells // BAT // SC BBL13 Ave: 26.4 // $78,100

Will Sutherland // BAT-BWL // SC BBL13 Ave: 44.9 // $132,600

Tom Rogers // BAT // SC BBL13 Ave: 39.8 // $117,500

Adam Zampa // BAT // SC BBL13 Ave: 27.1 // $80,100

Fergus O’Neil // BAT // SC BBL13 Ave: 52.0 // $107,500

Kane Richardson // BAT // SC BBL13 Ave: 33.1 // $97,900

12/11 Updates and unavailable players:

English allrounder Jacob Bethell is an unexpected out having been named in the English Test squad. He should be here for their round 4 Double.

Jono Wells most likely comes into the middle order to replace him, whilst the bowlers – in particular Will Sutherland and rookie Fergus O’Neill look more likely to bowl their four without Bethell’s orthodox spin on hand to give them a chop out.

Changes since last season:

A new coach joins the ‘Gades who lost significant experience in Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh last year. 

They’ll be an exciting side, albeit one who might not have the mettle to challenge for the Title this year.

Brisbane hero Josh Brown has earned himself a big contract for the red team and should like the short square boundaries at Marvel. 

Kiwi keeper Tim Seifert has also signed on and should open the batting with him. JFM makes it a powerful top 3.

English duo Laurie Evans and Jacob Bethell have also joined and should form part of the middle order. 

While we know Evans as the late order batsman from his Scorchers days, he’s played throughout the order for other franchises and looks like he will be needed for the crucial number 4 spot in this year’s team. 

Bethell, a recent International debutant, is an energetic allrounder who should play a prominent role with the ball and in the field. 

His presence in the Top 5 helps the balance of this side significantly.

Mack Harvey should battle with Jono Wells for the number 6 spot, and Fergus O’Neil could earn consistent game time off the back of impressive performances in the Shield for Victoria.