BBL Supercoach squad preview | Melbourne Stars

Remarkably the star-studded Melbourne Stars outfit are still yet to win the Big Bash.

Each year they’re loaded with big name talents in world cricket, yet their greatest achievement is a runner-up finish on three occasions, the last all the way back in BBL09.

A late season charge – led by some freakish Glenn Maxwell knocks – saw them finish fourth last season before being eliminated in the knockout final.

Their roster has remained largely stable, and their round 1 team list will be vital to their Supercoach prospects.

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They have a plethora of bowling options, so it’ll be a big watch on how deep they opt in their batting order with a few high quality allrounders on deck.

If they load up on bowling options alongside cemented allrounders such as Tom Curran, Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis, it’ll make all bowling picks a little risky due to uncertainty around overs.

I think they’ll add another batsmen and push Curran down a spot.

They don’t have the double until round 3, so at least we’ll get a bit of a look before loading up on too many players.

FIXTURES

The Stars have two early double in round 3 and round 5, with a bye wedged in between.

Don’t be put off with the bye, it’ll provide loop options for each position.

The two single game weeks to start allows us a free look at their line-up, but they also present genuine starting options.

Unfortunately they play the final game of the opening two rounds, making them very difficult to use for early looping purposes.

Nonetheless, they’ll be the hottest property in the game by round 3.

There fixtures in the first two weeks are at the MCG and Adelaide Oval which are outstanding batting decks.

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GUNS

Glenn Maxwell || BAT-BWL II $201,400 II SC BBL14 Ave: 76.4

Maxy had a rare slow start to his BBL14 campaign, averaging just 44.5 points and dropping $90k on his starting price by round 5.

Then, the Big Show arrived.

His final three rounds produced scores of 113, 135 and 141.

Thanks to the slow start he begins BBL15 at $43k cheaper than his round 1 price last campaign.

Maxy hasn’t averaged below 60 points per game since SC BBL began, while his past two season averages of 76.4 and 83.8 have been his two best outputs.

While enticing due to his upside, he’s potentially an avoid until the round 3 double game week.

It also allows us the opening two weeks to see if he’s featuring regularly with the ball, or at all…

My concern in fading for the first two weeks is the fixtures at the MCG and Adelaide Oval where he could go nuts.

Verdict: Big question early, must-have in round 3

Haris Rauf || BWL II $152,000 II SC BBL14 Ave: DNP

Pakistani quick Haris Rauf oozes class and will be a popular pick up down the track.

With no early double you wouldn’t start him at a fairly expensive rate of $152k though.

The 32-year-old is still a frontline quick for the international team and has shown no signs of slowing down.

Verdict: Avoid, probable round 3 buy.

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MID-RANGERS

Marcus Stoinis || BAT-BWL II $145,300 II SC BBL14 Ave: 55.1

Big Stoin has been a Supercoach enigma across his career, with the Greek Adonis hitting a wall in recent years, I’ll let his Supercoach averages do the talking:

BBL14: 55.1

BBL13: 28.5

BBL12: 37.7

BBL11: 28.8

BBL10: 52.2

BBL09: 64.9

BBL08: 96.9!!!

BBL07: 38.3

On face value the big hitting allrounder seemingly presents decent value early, but the numbers tell a different story.

He’s been in decent touch with both bat and ball for the Australian T20 side of late in an encouraging sign heading into the tournament.

Avoid early and assess his role with the ball, hopefully we get him at a discount by round 3 while seeing him roll the arm avoid.

Verdict: Avoid, possible round 3 buy

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Tom Curran || BAT-BWL II $106,000 II SC BBL14 Ave: 40.2

Former English international Tom Curran is a class allrounder that could bat as high as number 6 for the Stars.

Off a disappointing BBL14 campaign he starts at a great price for a player of his quality.

Granted, his Supercoach output in his last three stints hasn’t been great.

BBL14: 40.2 (five games)

BBL13: 41.8 (four games)

BBL12: 42.8 (five games)

A bit like Stoin, he promises so much but hasn’t delivered in recent years, veteran Supercoaches though will remember his earlier campaigns where he averaged 71.5 in BBL10 (14 games) and 73.0 in BBL09 (14 games).

Provided the role looks as good as it appears by round 3 he could well be a must, while I wouldn’t begrudge anyone starting him in prep for the double while freeing up some cash.

Verdict: Potential round 1 buy, round 3 must

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CHEAPIES

Joe Clarke || WKP-BAT II $68,600 II SC BBL14 Ave: 26.0

Englishman Joe Clarke is a Big Bash veteran that was limited to just two games last season.

The explosive wicketkeeper-batsmen averages 26.18 in his T20 career, striking at 144.20.

He starts dirt cheap and is genuine early wicket-keeping option due to the price, granted you’d be reluctant to play him until round 3.

He’s been in decent form across the domestic UK summer and will be one to watch in the early stages.

Verdict: Potential start, likely round 3 buy

Mitch Swepson || BWL II $59,500 II SC BBL14 Ave: 22.6

Swepson’s role and place in his new side may be a little volatile.

If he locks in a regular spot in the line-up as expected he’ll present outstanding value at just $59k.

He’s a wicket-taking leg-spinner that could be the ticket to some early cash generation that you don’t have to risk playing in your starting side.

He’s taken an excellent 8 wickets at an average of 25.25 and an economy of 5.00 to begin his one-day cup season with Queensland.

He’d be an ideal round 1 candidate had the Stars had better fixtures for looping.

If we are lacking genuine quality round 1 cheapies he could be a starter, however it’s probably best to monitor early ahead of the double in round 3.

Verdict: Monitor early

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Melbourne Stars Predicted XI via Max Bryden

	Starting XI
1	Tom Rogers || BAT II $ II SC BBL14 Ave: N/A
2	Sam Harper || WKP-BAT II $67,800 II SC BBL14 Ave: 25.7
3	Joe Clarke || WKP-BAT II $68,600 II SC BBL14 Ave: 26.0
4	Marcus Stoinis || BAT-BWL II $145,300 II SC BBL14 Ave: 55.1
5	Glenn Maxwell || BAT-BWL II $201,400 II SC BBL14 Ave: 76.4
6	Hilton Cartwright || BAT II $93,400 II SC BBL14 Ave: 19.0
7	Tom Curran || BAT-BWL II $106,000 II SC BBL14 Ave: 40.2
8	Mitch Swepson || BWL II $59,500 II SC BBL14 Ave: 22.6
9	Liam Hatcher || BWL II $58,500 II SC BBL14 Ave: DNP
10	Peter Siddle || BWL II $113,700 II SC BBL14 Ave: 43.1
11	Haris Rauf || BWL II $152,000 II SC BBL14 Ave: DNP
	Reserves
12	Hamish McKenzie
13	Campbell Kellaway
14	Mark Steketee
15	Austin Anzerlak
16	Scott Boland
17	TBC
18	TBC

Glenn Maxwell’s insane finish to the BBL season last year thankfully happened off the back of a slow start, meaning his price isn’t completely ridiculous.

Once again, just try to get him and hold him for the season if you can afford it.

Not a lot else has changed elsewhere for the Stars other than the recruitment of Mitch Swepson.

He should be cheap, but in a lineup with seven bowling options isn’t assured of his full allotment.

Joe Clarke’s return could see Sam Harper riding the pine, while Beau Webster’s defection to Hobart means Tom Curran is locked into a juicy role for Supercoach batting 7 and bowling death overs.

If opting for another batter Harper could also open, forcing Clarke to 3 and Liam Hatcher out.

The presence of Maxwell and Stoinis in the Top 6 means bowlers from the Stars are hard to trust.

Ideally, you’d pick up those two all-rounders before relying on any of their other squad members to be guaranteed their overs.

Mark Steketee has recently been ruled out of the tournament with injury, which will likely see Liam Hatcher promoted into the XI.