Watchlist, round 3: Rising and falling player stocks

What carnage in round 2! My team faired okay, scoring 1,036, but it was a stark reminder of how fickle BBL SuperCoach can be.

Don’t despair if you’ve had a slow start. The next few rounds present plenty of opportunity to move up the rankings.

With the season schedule opening up a bit I’ve changed the format of this Watchlist.

The lists below rank the best targets for each round. Targets are prioritised by points potential rather than value, so factor that in when considering your trade options.

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Wicketkeepers

Round 3 targets

1. Josh Philippe – Sydney Sixers
2. Ben Duckett – Melbourne Stars
3. Tom Banton – Brisbane Heat
4. Sam Harper – Melbourne Stars
5. Jimmy Peirson – Brisbane Heat

Philippe tops the list based on pedigree and experience in Australian conditions.

He’s followed by Duckett, who’s grown in experience significantly since his last relatively modest Big Bash campaign four years ago.

It’s his international experience that ranks him above fellow Englishman Banton.

I expect that Banton’s arrival could lead to a move down-the-order for Jimmy Peirson, which significantly decreases Jimmy’s appeal.

Meanwhile, Sammy Harper has so far held onto a top order role with the Stars, making him an option for anyone looking for a cheap keeper. 

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Round 4 targets

1. Tim Seifert – Melbourne Renegades
2. Ollie Pope – Adelaide Strikers

The only option I’m really interested in here is Seifert, who has looked fantastic in the opening rounds. I’d only be interested in Ollie Pope if he moves up the order.

Round 5 targets

1. Cameron Bancroft – Sydney Thunder
2. Sam Billings – Sydney Thunder
3. Matt Gilkes – Sydney Thunder

Bancroft’s round two form makes him a target for round five, when we can focus on Thunder players ahead of their round six double.

Billings and Gilkes are both a watch, in case either can find a top order spot, following Sam Konstas’ Australian call-up.

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Batters and allrounders

Round 3 targets:

1. Glenn Maxwell – Melbourne Stars
2. Jack Edwards – Sydney Sixers
3. Marcus Stoinis – Melbourne Stars
4. Paul Walter – Brisbane Heat
5. Tom Curran – Melbourne Stars
6. Hayden Kerr – Sydney Sixers
7. Nathan McSweeney – Brisbane Heat
8. Kurtis Patterson – Sydney Sixers
9. Joel Davies – Sydney Sixers
10. Matt Renshaw – Brisbane Heat
11. Mitch Owen – Hobart Hurricanes

Glenn Maxwell could be the best differential in Supercoach with over 50% of Supercoaches currently having funds tied up in Matt Short.

Even those selling Short may find it hard to fit Maxy in, given the number of other cheaper guns available

Maxy’s followed closely on this list by Jack Edwards, provided the Sixer can keep a top order spot. If he moves down the order (to accommodate Kurtis Patterson) he probably drops a few spots on this list but is still a good play.

Marcus Stoinis has been bowling regularly and batting high for the Stars, making him a very solid option for the round three double.

Tall Paul Walter’s role looks the goods, bowling death and batting at 6/7. I rate him above Curran, who is less appealing now given the Stars early season poor form.

He’s started slow with a 28.5 average, but his 63.4 average in BBL13 is evidence of what he’s capable of.

If Kerr returns to the Sixers line-up, he has an appealing role and the Supercoach pedigree to go with it.

McSweeney has proven to be a highly consistent Supercoach option over the years, thanks to a batting average over 30.

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Kurtis Patterson is another, cheaper, bat only option if he moves into the Sixers’ top order. Patterson has averaged over 100 in Shield cricket this season.

Joel Davies has bowled four overs (first match) and three overs (second match) to open the season. If Kerr returns to the line-up this could impact his overs though.

It’s also worth noting that during Ben Dwarshuis’ match winning performance he was elevated in the batting order above Davies.

Renshaw looked great in round two. The only concern is his drop down the order to number four. With a negative break even though I don’t hate the play.

Form is important in BBL Supercoach, as we’ve seen with the likes of Ben McDermott and Matt Short over the years.

Could this be the year of Mitch Owen following his impressive century?

He’s a definite trade-in option this week, set to rise significantly in cash and with the Hurricanes double still to come, albeit later in the season.

Round 4 targets:

1. Matt Short – Adelaide Strikers 
2. Jamie Overton – Adelaide Strikers
3. Will Sutherland – Melbourne Renegades
4. D’Arcy Short – Adelaide Strikers
5. Jake Weatherald – Adelaide Strikers
6. Liam Scott – Adelaide Strikers

Matt Short could be exiting many teams this round and coming straight back in for round 4. Regardless of his batting form his role is outstanding, given he’s happy to bowl himself 3 to 4 overs.

Short’s teammate Overton still looks essential for the Strikers’ double. The bigger question will be to hold or sell later in the season to free up funds.

Big Chief Sutherland has laid everyone’s fears to rest about his bowling workload. He looks another essential trade in for round 4.

Whoever opens out of D’Arcy Short and Jake Weatherald in round 4 will be a trade option. I’d favour bowling and allround option over them though.

Liam Scott’s second game was more promising for Supercoach than the first. His price should stay relatively low, making him a cheapie option for round 4.

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Round 5 targets:

1. Dan Sams – Sydney Thunder
2. David Warner – Sydney Thunder
3. Ollie Davies – Sydney Thunder
4. Aaron Hardie – Perth Scorchers

Sams will be a priority for the Thunder’s round 6 double. It might be worth holding off until then, as the Thunder play the Scorchers’ in Perth in round 5.

Similar can be said for Warner and Davies. I’d also only be interested in Davies if he moves up the order to bat at 3.

Keep an eye on Aaron Hardie in case he returns to the Scorchers’ line-up. When bowling he’s close to the best player in Supercoach. This could take time though as he returns from injury.

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Bowlers

Round 3 targets:

1. Ben Dwarshuis – Sydney Sixers
2. Xavier Bartlett – Brisbane Heat
3. Akeal Hosein – Sydney Sixers
4. Spencer Johnson – Brisbane Heat
5. Usama Mir – Melbourne Stars
6. Peter Siddle – Melbourne Stars

It feels like we ignore Dwarshuis every season at our own peril. With Abbott joining the Test squad and Dwarshuis’ batting form, I’ll be prioritising him for the Sixers’ round 3 double.

Bartlett has been leading the Heat attack to great effect in the absence of Spencer Johnson.

He’s been a perennial SC gun and will also likely get an opportunity for a quickfire 20 with the bat at some stage.

Hosein is another proven SC gun. He’s slid down the batting order compared to previous seasons though, hence I’m not as high on him as Dwarshuis and Bartlett.

If Spencer Johnson returns for the Heat, I’d expect plenty of powerplay/surge/death overs. Returning from injury he presents a rotation risk though.

Usama Mir is worthy of consideration if he looks like playing both round 3 games. I’d be wary given the Stars’ recent struggles though. Similar can be said for Peter Siddle. He’s cheap and passing the eye test, but rotation is a concern.

Round 4 targets:

1. Tom Rogers – Melbourne Renegades
2. Fergus O’Neill – Melbourne Renegades
3. Henry Thornton – Adelaide Strikers
4. Lloyd Pope – Adelaide Strikers
5. Adam Zampa – Melbourne Renegades
6. Kane Richardson – Melbourne Renegades
7. Cameron Boyce – Adelaide Strikers

Rogers looks back to his best and will have a -23 breakeven for the Gades’ round 4 double. Teammate Fergus O’Neill also has a negative break even and is very much passing the eye test.

Thornton has been great to start the season and is rightly highly owned. Pope is a player on the up – well done if you got on. He could be an option again in round 4, but will have skyrocketed in price by then.  

Zampa on the other hand is still cheap as chips. His ongoing BBL SC form is concerning, but it was encouraging to see him bowl the Gades’ final over in their last game.

Kane Richardson is also very affordable and could present a cut price alternative option to Fergus O’Neill and Tom Rogers.

With Boyce being outshone by Lloyd Pope so far it would be hard to go there. Keep an eye on him this round though.

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Round 5 targets

1. Lockie Ferguson – Sydney Thunder
2. Chris Green – Sydney Thunder
3. Tanveer Sangha – Sydney Thunder
4. Nathan Ellis – Hobart Hurricanes
5. Riley Meredith – Hobart Hurricanes
6. Billy Stanlake – Hobart Hurricanes

Ferguson is delivering on his elite career strike rate of a wicket every 17 balls and hence tops this list. Of the Thunder spin contingent, I currently prefer Green due to potential for batting points. Sangha isn’t far behind though; he’s another young player with upside.

Ellis has been a gun of seasons gone by, averaging around 50 SC points on occasion. We might need to wait a few rounds for his price to come down though, following his round one ton.

Meredith started the season at value but will be priced accurately by the time he becomes relevant again.

Stanlake could still be value come round three. He’s looked the best he has for a few seasons.