Squad breakdown: Adelaide Strikers Supercoach BBL14 preview

The Adelaide Strikers begin their Big Bash 14 campaign desperate to overcome an underwhelming history in the tournament to date.

They’ve been crowned champions on just one occasion back in BBL07 which was their only appearance in the final.

The Strikers have failed to make it past the regular season six times.

They’ve had a few changes to their squad, adding West Indian star Fabian Allen and Englishman Ollie Pope (unavailable early), while retaining last year’s hero Jamie Overton.

Adelaide will be very popular to begin the Supercoach BBL season, with double game weeks in round 2 and 4, with no bye until round 6.

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They play in game three of their single game rounds in round 1 and 3, making them tricky looping prospects whilst still being possible.

Their team selection for round 1 will be key to the Supercoach prospects of numerous players.

Allrounder and left-arm spinner Allen missed recent selection for the West Indies, but another international white ball series coinciding with the BBL opening stages would make him unavailable if selected.

They’re expected to go very spin heavy in their team, which could include both frontline spinner in Cameron Boyce and Lloyd Pope, which if confirmed alongside Allen would place question marks over Matt Short’s role with the ball.

Watch this space…

GUNS

Matt Short $304,200

The further the pre-season progresses, the closer I am to leaving out the best player in the game… for the opening round.

My concern with Short is his role with the ball with the aforementioned amount of spinners that may be in the round 1 team.

If he bowls anywhere from zero to two overs there’s a tonne of reliance on him to succeed with the bat for a player priced at $304k with breakeven of 101.

We know his class so there’s no reason he can’t score well, but if he is limited in overs in the opening game and fails to take a wicket, alongside no economy bonus, then gets a single digit score with the bat you’re looking at a big price drop.

On the flip side, if a sole frontline spinner is named either with or without Allen (pending availability) you probably just lock him in from game one.

The fact he plays in game three though will make it tough to get him in once the teams are revealed.

Glenn Maxwell’s hamstring injury that has him in major doubt for the opening stages of the season does free up plenty of cash, so that could be the early ticket to Short.

Just to clarify, you’ll want to own him by round 2 regardless, but the prospect of a discount is enticing.

He averaged an utterly absurd 103.0 Supercoach points last season, an outrageous 20 points more than second placed Glenn Maxwell and 33 points more than third placed Jamie Overton (more than one game played).

Verdict: Marginally leaning to a round 2 buy, but ensure a clear path is planned to get him at all costs for round 2. No major knock on anyone starting with him in round 1.

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Jamie Overton $207,700

Overton thrived in Australian conditions last season, taking 16 wickets in nine games with an economy of 8.06.

Dismissed just twice in six innings, he scored 85 runs at a strike-rate of 139.34 with a best knock of 31*.

After missing an extended stint bowling due to injury, he recently returned for England with 3/20 against the West Indies.

Verdict: Buy round 2, potentially round 1 if no Short.

Ollie Pope $152,000

The English international is unavailable to begin the tournament due to national duties, but may be available for the round 4 double.

Verdict: Monitor, likely avoid

Chris Lynn $197,700

Veteran top order bat Chris Lynn had a vintage BBL13 campaign, scoring 304 runs with an average of 60.80!

He had a strike-rate of 164.32 before departing for duties in another tournament.

The success has him placed at almost $200k which is a lot of money to pay for a bat only Supercoach prospect.

In his last 10 innings across the Caribbean Max60 competition and the GlobalT20 tournament in Canada he has a top score of just 37 and six single digit scores.

Despite his class and experience, I’ll struggle to pay up that much cash with so many quality double game week players with better roles available early on.

The hefty price tag is likely to have him in serious POD ownership territory for those backing him to replicate his form of last season.

Verdict: Avoid

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MID-RANGERS

Fabian Allen $117,500

Allen is an enticing prospect provided he misses international selection and is available for the opening stages of the tournament.

Across 20 T20Is for the West Indies he has 24 wickets in 39 games at a strike-rate of 24.2 and an economy of 7.54.

With the bat, he averages 15.11 with a strike-rate of 136.68.

The majority of his recent cricket was in the Caribbean Premier League where he took 9 wickets in 10 games with an economy of 8.27.

The stats aren’t great, but there is genuine quality with Allen and he starts cheap.

Ideally I think he’s a round 1 watch and a very easy pick up in round 2.

I want to see him batting at seven and bowling his four overs, along with how he adjusts to local conditions.

Verdict: Potential round 2 purchase.

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Henry Thornton $98,100                          

Injury has plagued exciting prospect Henry Thornton at different stages in recent years, along with rotation in the Strikers bowling stocks.

With Wes Agar departing he’ll hopefully spearhead this attack alongside rookie Jordan Buckingham.

He’s a strike bowler with potential to take hauls of wickets bowling at the death.

Recent Marsh Cup form hasn’t been great, with returns of 0/39, 0/48, 1/43, 2/20 and 2/49.

Despite that, with six games in the first four rounds at $97k I’m happy to lock him in.

Verdict: Round 1 buy

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CHEAPIES

Jordan Buckingham $39,500

Please be fit Jordan, please….

The 24-year-old quick has burst onto the scene of late, earning a call-up to the Australia A squad against India A.

Nine wickets across two Shield games earnt him the selection.

Unfortunately he’s been dealing with injury since that fixture at the end of October.

We could have a death bowling option with two early doubles at just $39k, it’s a dream for Supercoaches.

Unfortunately not all dreams come true though, so let’s hope he’s cleared for take-off.

Verdict: Round 1 buy if available.

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Adelaide Strikers – Predicted Round 1 team and analysis via Max Bryden

Matt Short // BAT-BWL // SCBBL13 Ave: 103.0 // $304,200

D’Arcy Short // BAT // SCBBL13 Ave: 38.7 // $114,200

Chris Lynn // BAT // SCBBL13 Ave: 67.0 // $197,700

Jake Weatherald // BAT // SCBBL13 Ave: 38.6 // $114,000

Jamie Overton // BAT-BWL // SCBBL13 Ave: 70.3 // $207,700

Fabian Allen // BAT-BWL // SCBBL13 Ave: – // $117,500

Harry Nielsen // WKP-BAT // SCBBL13 Ave: 13.3 // $58,500

Henry Thornton // BWL // SCBBL13 Ave: 33.2 // $98,100

Cameron Boyce // BWL // SCBBL13 Ave: 40.6 // $119,800

Lloyd Pope // BWL // SCBBL13 Ave: 45.5 // $134,400

Jordan Buckingham // BWL // SCBBL13 Ave: – // $39,500

20/11 Updates and unavailable players:

Ollie Pope is expected to return around the Strikers round 2 double, whether or not that’s for one or two games is uncertain.

In the meantime, Harry Nielsen will deputise as wicketkeeper for the opening game or two.

Fabian Allen missed recent selection for West Indies, however a white ball series against Bangladesh would see him miss the start of the tournament if selected.

Jake Weatherald is likely to slot in at number 4 with Pope out, he’ll contest for a spot with Alex Ross.

Rookie Jordan Buckingham is battling a side strain which could see him replaced by Doggett or Bazely.

Changes since last season:

A new coach and no Rashid Khan means predicting how the Adelaide Strikers will line up could prove difficult.

On face value, the Strikers still look like a side reliant on Matt Short to determine their destiny, albeit there’s a couple of important upgrades and the balance finally looks good. 

Bringing in Ollie Pope through the draft significantly improves their batting depth and should finally end the BBL career of Harry Nielsen who at times batted as low as 8.

Stalwart Wes Agar has moved to the Thunder, meaning Henry Thornton and Englishman Jamie Overton are the undisputed pace spearheads. 

In all, the pace bowling options look a little thin. There’s a vacancy for the third seam option which could go to allrounder James Bazley or red-ball specialist Jordan Buckingham. 

Brendan Doggett has in the past shown some ability to bowl the death overs and could usurp both of them if in form.

There’s a bit of a logjam with the reserve batters with Jake Weatherald expected to put pressure on D’Arcy Short for an opener’s spot, with new recruit Alex Ross and Thomas Kelly to battle for the number 5 slot. 

The Strikers could of course go for an extra batter if they are finally ready to rely on Matt Short as the certified fifth bowler.

No Khan brings West Indian Fabian Allen into the fold. The talented left-arm orthodox is a more than handy lower-order batsman and excellent fielder. 

With the success of Lloyd Pope to end last year’s tournament, they could field both he and first-choice Cameron Boyce as well.