BBL Supercoach | Players to Target in Round 8

Oh, the joys of BBL Supercoach.

This round we had it all – role changes for key players on the double, Aussie reps breezing in and dominating, and rain.

The less said about my round, the better.

Stashing Sixers for their Round 9 double meant copping the rain game hard.

We’re here to talk about the Round 8 Double game week, which should be a relatively simpler affair.

Before we dive in, here’s my observations from Round 7.

• Don’t forget about the actual Cricket. It’s easy to be led in Supercoach BBL by the Supercoach element of it and chase doubles hard. Match ups aren’t everything, but by now we have a lot of data on whose good and whose not. It was possible to predict the Strikers playing against two Top 4 teams could’ve been smashed in both games. And it’s possible to have reflected that the Scorchers could’ve dominated a lacklustre Strikers team at Adelaide Oval and scored well. Just don’t forget there’s actual cricket going on at some point, and for a team like the Renegades who are mid-low table, it’s worth considering for their DGW.
• These Aussie Internationals are too good for the Big Bash. Alex Carey, Usman Khawaja, David Warner, Mitch Marsh, Josh Inglis. Half of this list just came back from Test duties, but all of these guys are extremely experienced International cricketers playing in a domestic tournament. They’re picked for Australia for a reason – lean into these guys and consider them as PODs for single game week.
• All-rounders are just so key. Another reminder this week after returns for Aaron Hardie and Matt Renshaw that some overs are better than none. If you bowl at all and slot into a batters spot, you’re gold. I know I’ve sold too many all-rounders early this season, and Hardie was heavily sold this past round which was a mistake.

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Double game week strategy

The Melbourne Renegades’ first double of the season is here (finally).

They face the Sydney Thunder at ENGIE in the first game of the round before a clash in the final game of the round against the Perth Scorchers at Marvel.

Before we get into the details, however, here’s the kicker – it’s raining all day in Sydney once again, and we could see impacts to tonight’s game.

If we look at just the cricket for a moment.

The ‘Gades vs the Thunder is a juicy matchup given how poor the Thunder have been this season.

But up against the red-hot Scorchers is not a good matchup.

So is it worth still attacking the double? Or do you consolidate and try find a good matchup?

With the Sixers on the bye before their double, it’s not possible to pivot towards the next team too hard, albeit if you can already field a decent XI it’s not the worst idea to stash.

For me, I’ll ensure that whatever I plan as far as collecting Renegades, I have a plan to be able to shift them towards other players should the rain impact their first game.

The ‘Gades aren’t chock full of players that you’d reliably play when their single game week comes around in Round 9, so if you don’t want to get stuck with them, then look elsewhere.

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Will Sutherland – BAT/BWL

Objectively, the best role of anyone from the Renegades right now.

Bowling his four overs, and bowling the tough ones too.

Chief is ‘in the game’ despite his form and should accumulate a decent score this round.

Hassan Khan – BAT/BWL

The ideal Supercoach player, Hassan has been the Renegades’ best bowler since Zampa went down injured.

And by floating around the 5/6 position in the batting order, he’s getting chances with the bat as well.

Josh Brown – BAT

Form is something worth chasing in BBL Supercoach, and Brown has it in spades.

This season, he’s passed 20 in five of seven hits – all of his last five games in fact.

Obviously, it comes with risk being a bat-only type, but he could be a difference maker.

Gurinder Sandhu – BWL

We called him out a few times, and unfortunately, this past round he crashed back to earth.

But he still has the death bowling role, which we covet.

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Alex Carey – WKT/BAT

Not many will look his way, and that’s always a fun time to attack.

With two games left in the season, Kez gets to travel to the MCG before a final round fixture against the lowly Renegades on Adelaide Oval.

The first of those matchups isn’t ideal, but he could be a huge POD for the final round of the year.

Matt Renshaw – BAT/BWL

He’s seemingly always had this potential, and has been the surprising benefactor of the multitude of injuries to the fast bowling stocks.

By adding bowling to his arsenal in the second half of this season, his floor has gone up and his season average of 73 screams gun.

Still, only 15% owned.

David Payne – BWL

Collecting the spoils for the Scorchers.

We projected in preseason the firepower that this team possessed with the bat, and the prophecy has rung true.

When they’re defending huge 200+ scores, someone is going to take a ba,g and that’s been Payne with 3 wickets in his last game.

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Consider

Jason Behrendorff – BWL

He’s ‘blanked’ in four of seven matches for his new club, which isn’t what they would’ve envisaged.

As it is playing out, sides are taking a cautious approach when facing the ‘Dorff and just attacking the guys around him.

He’s cheap and you could take a punt if you wanted.

Tim Seifert – WKT/BAT

Mercurial talent who hasn’t passed 20 this year in four games.

In fact, his best score in the last four is just 11.

The century in the first game of the year illustrates his ceiling, but again, it’s cheap for a reason.

Mitch Marsh – BAT/BWL

The big bison gets to beat up on the Renegades this round.

He looks in good touch and has some form at Marvel Stadium with scores of 98 and 158 there in last season’s significant season of BBL.