BBL Supercoach | Seeing double round 3

What a round of BBL.

We had centuries, five-fors, record run chases, and more.

And if you’ve nailed your VC options of Jed into Wildermuth so far, you’re probably sitting pretty.

We’re here to talk double game weeks once more.

So far through two rounds, we’ve had some really mixed returns from targeting those sides.

But I want to remind you that two bites of the cherry are almost always better than 1!

Embed from Getty Images

Before we get into the double, here’s my playbook of notes from Round 2:

*Jack Edwards might be the top-scoring player in Supercoach this season. Even without a big opportunity to bat, he scored huge points with his bowling. Any bowling points in a batter’s slot are always a bonus.

*Cooper Connolly’s ability to go down as a Big Bash great is only going to be hampered by his representative duties for Australia. The kid is amazing.

*Jack Wildermuth should hold the opening slot for a while. We flagged last week Wildermuth’s job security might be under threat, but off the back of a ton and four good overs, he’s now got arguably the best role in all of Supercoach.

*Joel Davies’ stocks are rising. The young spinner had a career-best return in the Sydney Smash and, with Todd Murphy potentially firming for a Test call-up, could now be considered a lock in the Sixers lineup.

*Rehan Ahmed could be a buy again. No Stanlake for the ‘Canes meant overs available, and the leg-spinner bowled four solid ones against the Renegades.

*Middle-order bats are still risky: Tim David, Jimmy Pierson, and Hugh Weigben all had cases to be in your Supercoach side in Round 2 but barely got a go. This is why we always recommend players in the Top 3 who are statistically proven to face more deliveries.

*Follow the form: One of the beautiful things in BBL Supercoach is trusting form lines for batsmen. If you followed the eye test in Round 2 and jumped on some of the better scorers from Round 1, like Phillipe or Connolly, you’ve done very well for yourself.

Become a member of the SC Playbook community by subscribing for less than $2 per week! Gain access to additional premium articles on site every week, our Whatsapp community, prize money and plenty more. Check it out here.

Double game + strategy chat

Round 2 sees another two teams on the double game week, with the Hobart Hurricanes and Melbourne Stars lining up twice once more.

The Stars take on the Sydney Sixers at the SCG before a trip to Canberra to face the Sydney Thunder at Manuka Oval.

The Hurricanes are on the road to Optus Stadium to take on the Scorchers, before finishing the round with a home game against the Melbourne Renegades at Belreive.

Straight away, we like this Double Game week due to the fact that we don’t see these sides clashing.

This is also the last time until Round 7 that we see two sides on the Double Game week, so it’s a great chance to go hard.

Keep in mind that the Melbourne Stars will have the bye immediately after this round, followed by another double in Round 5.

Ideally, you’ll be able to hold at least 3 Stars through Round 4 to maximise the amount of game involvement across the season.

In all, the Hurricanes’ batting unit looks like one to target to me, with games at two grounds that are nice to bat at.

Having seen the Scorchers bowling unit just concede 250+, and the ‘Gades also lacklustre with the ball, it could be a ‘fill your boots’ round.

If the Stars continue to name just four frontline bowlers moving forward, it also bodes well for the prospects of their all-rounders.

Embed from Getty Images

Buy

Marcus Stoinis – BAT/BWL

One of the most devastating batters in the history of the comp has started in fine touch this tournament.

And pending fitness, his ability to chip in with wickets makes him an awesome captaincy option.

Peter Siddle/Tom Curran/Harris Rauf – Melbourne Stars

It’s a little hard to predict exactly where the wickets are going to go with this bowling unit.

But the presence of three strong defensive quicks gives me confidence that the side can build pressure with the ball, which I like.

Take your pick!

Rehan Ahmed – BAT/BWL – Hobart Hurricanes

For someone who had a lot of column inches devoted to him in preseason, the Round 1 flop wasn’t ideal.

But with no Billy Stanlake selected in Round 2, Ahmed’s role looks better all of a sudden.

He will come with a biggish breakeven, but hopefully, he’s the type of role that could be playable in a single-game week

Embed from Getty Images

Nikhil Chaudary – BAT/BWL – Hobart Hurricanes

I doubt he will be bowling in the double, but on eye test, he looks to be in good touch and should keep his role at the top of the order.

Ben McDermott – WKT/BAT – Hobart Hurricanes

Hopefully, you bought him in Round 1.

But if you didn’t, it’s not too late to jump on board.

If you don’t want to spend trades on ‘keeper this season – which is my intention – he has the game to be set and forget.

Chris Jordan – BWL – Hobart Hurricanes

A demotion to number 8 in the order is a small blow to his prospects, but Jordan remains a player with a brilliant role regardless; bowling death, surge, and power play overs.

Embed from Getty Images

Consider

Glenn Maxwell – BAT/BWL – Melbourne Stars

Are we seriously at a point where we can consider not owning and skippering Glenn Maxwell?

In game one, he bowled three overs and was named to bat at number 7.

It’s not a role that is really justified by his big price tag, is it?

Of course, he can float up the order.

And of course, Maxwell already breaks every rule of Supercoach BBL.

But there is a world where you can go against him if you’re bold.

Mitch Owen – BAT/BWL – Hobart Hurricanes

A score of 1 in Round 2 showed his floor, but seeing him roll the arm over was encouraging.

With a huge breakeven, there’s definitely risk of cash loss, but with two quality batting decks on offer, this could be the round he gets going.

Embed from Getty Images

Joe Clarke – WKT/BAT – Melbourne Stars

Cheaper than he should be and a quality batter when on song.

Easy player to pick up if you got conned into Bancroft.

Mitch Swepson – BWL – Melbourne Stars

As we saw from the poor performance from Tanveer, trusting bowlers from sides with six options is tough, and Swepson is that for the Stars.

But at a low price, he could surprise with a good return.

Embed from Getty Images

Sean Abbott – BWL – Sydney Sixers

Expected back from injury this round, his ceiling is great, and his ownership would be zero amongst top teams, so definitely a POD to watch.

Joel Curtis – WKT/BAT – Perth Scorchers

A bottom-dollar wicket-keeper loop is going to come in handy at some point this year.

Perth’s looping schedule is awesome from Round 5, so sooner rather than later, you might want him.

Joel Davies – BAT/BWL – Sydney Sixers

A cheap all-rounder whose job security is decent and form with the ball looks good.

Davies has taken four wickets in his last two games and got his full allotment of four overs against the Thunder; really passing the eye test in the process.

If you need a cheaper guy with dual, he could be the man.

Embed from Getty Images

Avoid

Hilton Cartwright – BAT – Melbourne Stars

Every year it’s the same story.

He’s cheap and has a nice highlights package.

But he simply bats too low to be trusted.

Matt Wade – WKT/BAT – Hobart Hurricanes

A good player with a poor role.

Unless promoted to the top 3, don’t touch him.

Embed from Getty Images

My Moves

Having missed out on both the Jed VC and the Wildermuth VC this week, I need to keep finding points of difference in order to make a climb up the ladder.

That might mean targeting lower-owned double players with nice roles and taking risks on players with great roles who are on single-game weeks.

It’ll come down to the budget I have to spend post-lockout.

I’m lucky to already own Nathan Ellis, Chris Jordan, Ben McDermott, Rehan Ahmed, Joe Clarke, and Marcus Stoinis, so the double numbers are solid.

I think going against Maxwell as the expected most skippered player is a way to be different.

Trade outs: Shaheen Afridi, Xavier Bartlett, Tanveer Sangha

Trade ins: Peter Siddle, Tom Curran, Finn Allen