BBL Supercoach squad preview | Brisbane Heat

The Brisbane Heat will be out to find some consistency in their Big Bash 15 campaign after a mixed history in the tournament.

They triumphed for the second time back in BBL13, before failing to qualify for finals last edition.

Australian Test selections will impact their squad heavily throughout the season and could create some volatility in the line-up.

World-class Pakistani quick Shaheen Afridi is the major recruit and will bolster the squad, with Spencer Johnson confirmed out of the entire tournament.

Their round 2 double game week makes the Heat extremely relevant early on as coaches inevitably look to stash players from round 1 in preparation.

Let’s take a look at their Supercoach BBL prospects to begin the tournament.

FIXTURES

The Heat have the round 2 double, so it makes sense to stash at the very least one player to begin the season.

It’s their only double of the season, while they have no bye rounds.

This is likely to see coaches lose plenty of interest from round 3 onwards.

They also play in game two of round 1, which makes them viable looping options in the opening week.

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GUNS

Shaheen Afridi || BWL II $152,000 II SC BBL14 Ave: DNP

Afridi is genuine class and could take the tournament by storm.

He’s a regular in the Pakistan ODI and T20I teams, where he’s a consistent performer.

In T20Is for his country, he has a strike-rate of 16.5 at an economy of 7.71.

I’ll very likely recruit him for the round 2 double, but can you start him in round 1?

I think it’ll come down to how many quality cheapies we have to free up cash elsewhere in the squad.

At this stage, the cheapie crop looks quality, so you could easily go early on Afridi and hope he takes a bag of wickets in game one.

While tempting, at $152k, I think it’s worth waiting until round 2.

Verdict: Buy in round 2

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MID-RANGERS

Xavier Bartlett || BWL II $128,300 II SC BBL14 Ave: 48.7

It was somewhat of a down year in BBL14 for Bartlett, averaging a respectable 48.7 points, down from a sensational BBL13 campaign where he averaged 68.5 points.

He’s tasted international cricket in recent years and will likely continue to do so in the future.

He’s a wicket-taking quick with some big-hitting ability late on.

He took 12 wickets in 9 games last season with an economy of 9.46, bowling at the death.

At what feels a discounted rate, I don’t mind the early play on Bartlett as he looms as a round 2 must, but like Afridi, I’ll likely wait pending the availability of Michael Neser.

Verdict: Buy round 2

The batting line-up

Just $25k separates the top five in the batting order at the Heat.

All have ability and look like potential round 2 buys, but at an awkward price with no real potential to bowl, I don’t like any.

I’ll likely avoid for round 2 also, unless one puts on a big score in the opening fixture and has a low breakeven, and cash rises loom as a result.

Verdict: Avoid

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CHEAPIES

Michael Neser || BAT-BWL II $93,000 II SC BBL14 Ave: 35.3

Supercoach pedigree, death overs, class, late order hitting, dual position, round 2 double, bargain price…

Neser ticks all the boxes for a round 1 start and is a safe play on a single game week.

On his day, he can match it with the best in Supercoach BBL.

He averaged just 35.3 last season, in the campaign’s prior he averaged 59.4 and 62.6.

The only concern for Neser will be the potential for an Australian squad call-up, putting some risk in starting him.

However, we’ll hopefully know the likelihood of him being in the third Test squad prior to the round 2 double.

With Pat Cummins looming to return for that Test, it should see Neser play for the Heat.

Verdict: Buy round 1

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Matthew Kuhnemann || BWL II $75,500 II SC BBL14 Ave: 28.6

Kuhnemann starts cheap and can be stashed for the Heat’s round 2 double game week for those interested.

He’s a boring selection, but he does have secure job security.

Mitch Swepson has left the Heat, which should only aid his prospects of bowling his maximum allotment of overs.

He’s not a noted wicket-taker, so I won’t be expecting the world from him, but he does free up cash to splash elsewhere and can hopefully make some money of his own in the process.

If there are better cheapie prospects come round 1, I’ll happily avoid, but I do think he’s a decent round 1 pick (and not play in the XI).

Verdict: Potential round 1 buy

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Hugh Weibgen || BAT-BWL II $58,500 II SC BBL14 Ave: 9.3

Weibgen boasts a ton of potential and could have a breakout BBL campaign.

He’s also the chance at jagging the odd over here and there, which would be substantial for his Supercoach prospects.

He’s started the domestic one-day season in fine form with 187 runs at an average of 62.33, including an unbeaten ton against WA.

As promising as he may be, a potential role batting at six and not bowling is awful for Supercoach.

Unless we get word of a promotion up the order, I’ll happily avoid starting and pick him up in round 2 if the role looks good.

Verdict: Avoid, big watch

Jack Wildermuth || BAT-BWL II $58,500 II SC BBL14 Ave: DNP

With news that Spencer Johnson is out for the tournament, Wildermuth’s credentials strengthen.

Even more so if Michael Neser were to be away with the Test squad, but that looks unlikely at this stage for the third Test.

Wildermuth always promises so much in Supercoach circles but frequently fails to deliver.

As a genuine allrounder, there’s a potential gun role in the team, but he could just as easily not bat and bowl two overs.

The last thing you want is to start him in round 2, then he gets dropped for the round 2 double, leaving you with a non-player in your team.

While there’s merit in starting him on potential, waiting to see his exact role looks like the play to me.

Verdict: Monitor role ahead of round 2

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Brisbane Heat Predicted XI via Maxy Bryden

Starting XI
1	Colin Munro || BAT II $117,500 II SC BBL14 Ave: 7.7
2	Nathan McSweeney || BAT II $120,300 II SC BBL14 Ave: 45.6
3	Matt Renshaw || BAT II $139,200 II SC BBL14 Ave: 52.8
4	Tom Alsop || WKP-BAT II $122,000 II SC BBL14 Ave: 46.3
5	Max Bryant || BAT II $114,000 II SC BBL14 Ave: 43.2
6	Hugh Weibgen || BAT-BWL II $58,500 II SC BBL14 Ave: 9.3
7	Jack Wildermuth || BAT-BWL II $58,500 II SC BBL14 Ave: DNP
8	Michael Neser || BAT-BWL II $93,000 II SC BBL14 Ave: 35.3
9	Xavier Bartlett || BWL II $128,300 II SC BBL14 Ave: 48.7
10	Matthew Kuhnemann || BWL II $75,500 II SC BBL14 Ave: 28.6
11	Shaheen Afridi || BWL II $152,000 II SC BBL14 Ave: DNP
	Reserves
12	Spencer Johnson
13	Callum Vidler
14	Marnus Labuschagne
15	Usman Khawaja
16	Lachlan Hearne
17	Oli Patterson
18	Jimmy Peirson

Test selections look set to once again wreak havoc with the Heat squad, with Marnus and Usman unavailable until the later stages and even McSweeney, Matt Renshaw, and Michael Neser on the fringes.

Spencer Johnson is confirmed out for the entire tournament.

Rookie Callum Vidler is unavailable due to stress fractures.

There are big wraps on fellow rookie Oli Patterson, who starred in the KFC T20 Max tournament to earn himself a spot in the squad.

The wicket-keeper spot is up for grabs and seemingly down to either Englishman Tom Alsop or the reliable Jimmy Peirson.

Neither will offer much Supercoach relevance unless selected to open and at bottom dollar.

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Hugh Weibgen is a new face and a great talent, but probably doesn’t have the role for Supercoach success.

He could nail down the number 6 role and even offer some overs of spin in a pinch.

The ramifications are actually poor for Michael Neser if Wildermuth does get picked, however, as he’d likely bat beneath him at number 8.

Off the back of a 48 average last summer, Xavier Bartlett is undervalued for what we know he can do.

Expect a breakout year for X – he’s the next great white ball bowler for Australia.