Updated watchlist: Rising and falling player stocks, round 1

The season is just around the corner, and each round I’ll share my team setup and trade thoughts for the upcoming matches.

To support this, I’ve created a position-by-position watchlist of players who could break into my squad.

This approach keeps my strategy on track and helps me stay grounded amidst any buzz around specific players. Let’s dive in!

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Wicketkeepers

My team:

Jake Doran – Hobart Hurricanes – $39.5k

Bench (loop):

Sam Harper – Melbourne Stars – $58.5k

Update:

Harper is looking likely to jag a top-order spot for at least the first game, so is worth a go as a loop. I’ve moved Inglis down to a batsman slot to accommodate him. If Harper fails, I have the cash to bring in Tim Seifert.

The keeper position is a genuine headache. Inglis looks the safest pick as long as he’s available, with SC averages of 47.6 and 57.9 over the last two seasons.

Despite batting at 4, I put down to his multiple routes to points. He’s very adaptable across innings situations and able to either build innings or hit a quick-fire 20 with an S/R bonus.

Inglis also benefits from keeping to the elite Scorchers’ attack, having claimed 170 fielding points (17 points per game) last season and 270 fielding points (17.85 points per game) the season before.

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Watchlist – wicketkeepers:

Matt Gilkes – Sydney Thunder – $58.5k

Cameron Bancroft – Sydney Thunder – $103.4k

Jimmy Peirson – Brisbane Heat – $107.5k

Joe Clarke – Melbourne Stars – $117.5k

Josh Philippe – Sydney Sixers- $132.6k

Ben McDermott – Hobart Hurricanes – $138.8K

Tim Seifert – Melbourne Renegades – $152k

Shai Hope – Hobart Hurricanes – $152k

Update:

Ben McDermott could be a set and forget option if Harper fails. McDermott is favoured in the betting markets to have a big tournament, probably because of his monster season a few years back.

I’ve added Shai Hope as an expensive loop option, but would probably only look at this if Doran sneaks into the Hurricanes side.

Sam Harper and Matt Gilkes could be the pick of the cheapie options should either get a top-order role. If Harper does, it could be short-term, though, with the impending return of Glenn Maxwell and/or Beau Webster if he gets released from the Test squad.

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Bancroft’s elite 2022-23 season (SC ave 51) has him on my radar. Peirson could also be an option if he opens the batting for the Heat.

I originally liked Clarke for the opening round, but now have a few concerns. Starting him will force a trade when he leaves in round 2 or 3. His form also hasn’t been great this year, even though his career T20 record is good (batting ave 26, S/R 143).

Tim Seifert’s opening double makes him worth a look as a premium option, but I’ll struggle to pay the $152k. I think value is going to be critical this season and I don’t want to lose any at the keeper position. I haven’t ruled him out completely, though.

Philippe’s round 3 double makes him appealing. At the price, I’m happy to wait on him though. Ben Duckett could also be the pick of the keepers that round.

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Batters

My team:

Tom Curran – Melbourne Stars – $152k (Bat/Bwl)

Jack Edwards – Sydney Sixers – $136.5k (Bat/Bwl)

Jacob Bethell – Melbourne Renegades – $117.5k (Bat / Bwl)

Josh Brown – Melbourne Renegades – $112.2k

Marcus Stoinis – Melbourne Stars – $84.2k (Bat/Bwl)

Bench:

Josh Inglis – Perth Scorchers – $140.6k  (Bat/Wkp) (emergency loop)

Matt Renshaw – Brisbane Heat – $68.8k

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Update:

Big change here is that I’ve moved Matt Short out. I’m happy to see how things play out and consider Anti-Podding him for round two, with Jamie Overton a strong VC candidate.

Jacob Bethell comes in as a loop who should be available in time for the Renegades round four double. I’ve also moved Hassan Khan out for Josh Brown. I’m happy to hold Brown until the end of round four, in the hope he can go  big a few times by then.

I expect Curran and Stoinis will be in most sides.

I’m working on the assumption that Maxwell and Webster won’t be available for the opening round. This means Matt Short comes in and I’ve also taken the opportunity to bring in Edwards, whose role looks good to go with his excellent domestic form.

Will Sutherland seems unlikely to bowl in the opening round and Khan could be the main beneficiary. His career record is decent enough (bowling S/R 24.7 and E/R 7.58, batting ave 20.8 and S/R 132).

However, his Major League Cricket stats from earlier this year are the real eye-catcher (bowling S/R 13.2 and E/R 7.09, batting ave 40.8 and S/R 143). Granted MLC is an American league, but it also hosted a plethora of international stars.

At the moment, I have Renshaw in the bench bat slot due to his good job security. Konstas could also be an option here at $20k cheaper if he finds a place in the Thunder’s top order.

Watchlist – batters:

Sam Konstas – Sydney Thunder – $39.5k

Ashton Turner – Perth Scorchers – $70.4k

Tom Rogers – Melbourne Stars – $87.7k

Finn Allen – Perth Scorchers – $152k

Update:

I’ve added Finn Allen as a potential Josh Inglis replacement, pending the latter’s availability.

I’d only be interested in Ashton Turner if it looks like he’ll bowl, which seems unlikely given his recent injury.

I’d need to see pre-season form to add Tom Rogers (Stars version) to my side. Josh Brown could be another option in this price bracket. He feels a tad risky, but his ceiling is huge, as we saw in last season’s finals series.

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Allrounders

Will Salzmann – Sydney Thunder – $39.5k

Jack Wildermuth – Brisbane Heat – $58.5k

Matt Spoors – Perth Scorchers – $58.5k

Mitch Owen – Hobart Hurricanes – 58.5k

James Bazley – Adelaide Strikers – $58.5k

Hayden Kerr – Sydney Sixers – $105k

Fabian Allen – Adelaide Strikers – $117.5k

Hassan Khan – Melbourne Renegades – $117.5k

Cooper Connolly – Perth Scorchers – $118.7k

Will Sutherland – Melbourne Renegades – $132.6k

Dan Sams – Sydney Thunder – $162.8k

Beau Webster – Melbourne Stars – $164.7k

Aaron Hardie – Perth Scorchers – $177.8k (injured)

Glenn Maxwell – Melbourne Stars – $247.4k

Matt Short – Adelaide Strikers – $304.2k

Update:

Our teams guru Maxy Bryden has Wildermuth slotting in at 7 for the early part of the season, including the Heat double. I’m strongly considering bringing him in for Renshaw.

I don’t mind the idea of pairing Hayden Kerr with Jack Edwards to cover the Sixers 5^th and 6^th bowling options. Kerr has been in and out of my side.

If Cooper Connolly is fit and available as the Scorcher’s sole spinner he’s very much in contention for my side. His recent experience with the Australian ODI side will serve him well.

I’ve gone a little cold on both Hassan Khan and Will Sutherland, as it seems they’ll split overs, and I can only fit one of them in my side. If I do, I’ll probably grab the wrong one! 

With the removal of Matt Short from my side I’m open to grabbing another gun allrounder and Dan Sams would fit that bill, even though he doesn’t have an early double round.

Allrounder Spoors could be an excellent choice if Cooper Connolly and Ashton Agar are confirmed to be out for the first three games. However, it seems unlikely we’ll get this confirmation.

Another allrounder, Mitch Owen, has been opening for Tasmania in domestic one-day matches. He’s worth keeping an eye on in the practice matches.

If James Bazley had a spot and job security on the Strikers’ team, he’d be an auto-pick. However, this seems unlikely.

Fellow Striker’s allrounder Fabian Allen could be a sneaky pick as a non-player in round one with availability for the round two double. Unfortunately, his recent form isn’t all that impressive, making it hard to go there before seeing him play.

Webster and Maxwell will almost certainly come into my side if available for the opening round. This would likely be for Matt Short and Hilton Cartwright (who I have in the flex position).

I’m only interested in Hardie if he looks likely to bowl. So given his quad injury he’s just on the watchlist for now.

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Bowlers

My team:

Jamie Overton – Adelaide Strikers – $207.7k (Bat/Bwl)

Jhye Richardson – Perth Scorchers – $130k

Fergus O’Neill – Melbourne Renegades – $107.5k

Adam Zampa – Melbourne Renegades – $80.1k

Joel Paris – Melbourne Stars – $72.2k

Bench:

Andrew Tye – Perth Scorchers – $140.8k (emergency loop)

Henry Thornton – Adelaide Strikers – $98.1k

Flex:

Hamish McKenzie- Melbourne Stars – $69.4k

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Update:

Kane Richardson moves down to the watchlist because I don’t want too many Renegades for their round 3 bye. I’m looking at Scorchers’ bowlers in his place and currently have Jhye Richardson because of his enormous upside.

Joel Paris is in for Mark Steketee based on practice match form (Paris 3 overs 2 for 24 vs Steketee 1 over 1 for 15). McKenzie is also in based on his practice match form, but with the bat! (42 off 27). With the Stars’ weakened batting line-up, I expect McKenzie could be called upon to bat a few times, and he also looks a very capable left arm wrist spinner. I’m happy to take a punt on him.

O’Neill and Tye have joined my side since the last team reveal. O’Neill’s domestic form is fantastic, and dollars are tight to fit in Matt Short, so he’s in over Rogers. I think Tye is the safest Scorchers’ bowler, and I want at least one piece of their attack for the round 2 double.

I expect Zampa to be in nearly all sides given the value he offers. Kane Richardson is.also immense value, although he has rotation question marks. I’m banking on this not happening in the first few games of the season.

I’m worried about the Stars’ bowlers, particularly any time they bowl second, as a weak batting lineup might leave them little to defend. Currently, I’ve only opted for Steketee in the hope that his Supercoach pedigree and value will shine through.

I’ve also added Hilton Cartwright to the flex position. He’s been reasonably consistent over the years, and I’m hoping the Stars’ absentees will give him more opportunities in the early rounds.

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Watchlist – bowlers:

Jordan Buckingam – Adelaide Strikers – $39.5k

Brendan Doggett – Adelaide Strikers – $71k

Mark Steketee – Melbourne Stars – $79.1k

Kane Richardson – Melbourne Renegades – $97.9

Hilton Cartwright – Melbourne Stars – $104.6k

Tom Rogers – Melbourne Renegades – $117.5k

Cameron Boyce – Adelaide Strikers – $119.8k

Jhye Richardson – Perth Scorchers – $130k

Sean Abbott – Sydney Sixers – $131.8k

Lloyd Pope – Adelaide Strikers – $134.4K

Will Sutherland – Melbourne Renegades – $132.6k

Lance Morris – Perth Scorchers –  $148.1k

Jason Behrendorff – Perth Scorchers – $160.8k

Update:

Jason Behrendorff comes into contention with cash freed up from Matt Short. I currently prefer Jhye Richardson and Andrew Tye at better value, but Behrendorff is always worth considering.  

Hamish McKenzie and Joel Paris are other Stars’ options. McKenzie’s job security could be in jeopardy, though, when Usama Mir arrives after the first few rounds. Paris is a better player than what his T20 record suggests. He’s probably the player I’d prefer of these two.

I plan to bring in at least one of Buckingham or Doggett for round two. I’ll also consider Boyce and Pope, with a close eye on their break-evens.

Tom Rogers is a player I want in my round-one team but just can’t fit in at this stage. The situation is similar for Jhye and Abbott, although Jhye’s injury concerns make leaving him out a little easier.

Morris is a player I can see myself owning in round two. His 5-24 last season demonstrates his upside. However, I do have a slight concern about a few games in which he didn’t bowl his full allotment last season.