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!

Subscribe to our premium content for BBL14! Get access to additional articles throughout the pre-season and every round of the tournament. Gain eligibility to our major unlimited league prize money, our Whatsapp community with team news for every game, team feedback, and contributor trade and skipper plans every week and plenty more. SUBSCRIBE NOW

Embed from Getty Images

Wicketkeepers

My team:

Jake Doran – Hobart Hurricanes – $39.5k (non-player for looping)

Bench (loop):

Josh Inglis – Perth Scorchers – $140.6k

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.

Embed from Getty Images

Watchlist – wicketkeepers:

Sam Harper – Melbourne Stars – $58.5k

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

Tim Seifert – Melbourne Renegades – $152k

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.

Looking for the best rate on your home loan? Paddy and his team at Mortgage Choice SCW can get you the best rate possible. It’s a super easy process, so flick them a message. Better yet, save $129 by mentioning SC Playbook for a FREE CONSULT!

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.

Phillipe’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.

Embed from Getty Images

Batters

My team:

Matt Short – Adelaide Strikers – $304.2k (Bat/Bwl)

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

Hassan Khan – Melbourne Renegades – $117.5k (Bat/Bwl)

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

Will Salzmann – Sydney Thunder – $39.5k (Bat/Bwl)

Bench:

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

Matt Renshaw – Brisbane Heat – $68.8k

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.

Embed from Getty Images

Watchlist – batters:

Sam Konstas – Sydney Thunder – $39.5k

Ashton Turner – Perth Scorchers – $70.4k

Tom Rogers – Melbourne Stars – $87.7k

Josh Brown – Melbourne Renegades – $112.2k

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.

Embed from Getty Images

Allrounders

Matt Spoors – Perth Scorchers – $58.5k

Mitch Owen – Hobart Hurricanes – 58.5k

James Bazley – Adelaide Strikers – $58.5k

Fabian Allen – Adelaide Strikers – $117.5k

Will Sutherland – Melbourne Renegades – $132.6k

Beau Webster – Melbourne Stars – $164.7k

Aaron Hardie – Perth Scorchers – $177.8k

Glenn Maxwell – Melbourne Stars – $247.4k

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.

Embed from Getty Images

Bowlers

My team:

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

Fergus O’Neill – Melbourne Renegades – $107.5k

Kane Richardson – Melbourne Renegades – $97.9k

Adam Zampa – Melbourne Renegades – $80.1k

Mark Steketee – Melbourne Stars – $79.1k

Bench:

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

Henry Thornton – Adelaide Strikers – $98.1k

Flex:

Hilton Cartwright – Melbourne Stars – $104.6k

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.

Embed from Getty Images

Watchlist – bowlers:

Jordan Buckingam – Adelaide Strikers – $39.5k

Hamish McKenzie- Melbourne Stars – $69.4k

Brendan Doggett – Adelaide Strikers – $71k

Joel Paris – Melbourne Stars – $72.2k

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

Lance Morris – Perth Scorchers –  $148.1k

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.