There’s premium options galore in Sunday’s $25,000 Draftstars BBL slate when the Sydney Thunder meet the Melbourne Stars, but Friday’s reverse fixture proved that you cannot always rely on them.
LAST GAME LEARNINGS
The Stars knocked off the Thunder by four runs at the MCG on Friday night when they faced off, providing some useful match-up data but also offering the big lesson that premiums can completely fail in BBL.
Well-owned Thunder all-rounder Daniel Sams (BWL/BAT $17,900) – who had 48% ownership on Friday – struggled with the ball, going 0-50 from his four overs, while he was dismissed for 1 with the bat, despite being elevated up to five in the order. All that meant Sams’ DS score was a lowly -4 which was a huge fail given his price.
But Sams was not alone with Glenn Maxwell ($19,100 BAT/BWL) only producing a DS score of 26 despite a $19,700 price tag on Friday. Maxwell made 16 and only bowled one over, so his role was weaker than Sams’.
The uber-expensive Marcus Stoinis (BAT/BWL $19,600) – who was priced above $20k on Friday – was the other major disappointment, turning up a DS score of 13, all via the bat before he was run out.
When you spend a large portion of your salary cap on premiums who underwhelm, which can happen in BBL, it hurts. The reality is the variance in premium score is massive.
When you spend a large portion of your salary cap on premiums who underwhelm, which can happen in BBL, it hurts. The reality is the variance in premium score is massive.
INJURY NEWS
Stoinis is still nursing a side strain meaning he will not bowl which impacts his scoring potential. Joe Burns (BAT $11,300) and Liam Hatcher (BWL $13,900) are unavailable for the Stars with knee and back issues respectively, which means cheap options such as Hilton Cartwright (BAT/BWL $11,400) and Brody Couch (BWL $9,000) have some job security.
Brendan Doggett (BWL $14,600) and Ollie Davies (BAT $9,100) are out for the Thunder with side and thumb injuries, with the latter’s absence offering a great role for cheapie Matt Gilkes (BAT $13,400).
Sam Whiteman (BAT $9,800) is another getting an extended run at the top of the Thunder order with Usman Khawaja (BAT $12,700) absent with the Ashes squad. Khawaja is playing for Australia A on Sunday, so will miss this game and looks likely to come into the Australian XI for the second Test with doubts on David Warner.
Thunder import bowler Saqib Mahmood (BWL $8,800) is also playing in that aforementioned Australia A game against the English Lions, meaning he’ll miss this game, so Gurinder Sandhu (BWL $9,700) should hold his spot.
VALUE OPTIONS
Gilkes (BAT $13,400) would have been the top pick given his role at first drop in the Thunder order but his price has soared. The left-hander’s confidence will be up after scoring 56 from 49 balls against the Stars on Friday too.
The shrewd value may be around Sandhu (BWL $9,700) who should hold his spot despite going wicketless on Friday. The right-armer scored 88 DS points in their season opener against the Heat before -3 against the Stars on Friday, flattening his price, but he retains a good role, bowling in the power play where wickets often fall.
Stars fast bowler Brody Couch (BWL $9,000) is worth consideration too, given he should hold his spot ahead of Sam Rainbird (BWL $9,900) after his side won. Couch has taken three wickets in the Stars’ first two games.
Adam Zampa is someone to consider, as he seems to be an under-priced premium after a slow start to the BBL, having had an outstanding T20 World Cup.
PREMIUM PLAYS
Maxwell ($19,100 BAT/BWL) and Sams (BWL/BAT $17,900) won’t let you down twice in a row very often, so they’re worth pursuing for this slate. Both retain exceptional roles for Fantasy points, as all-rounders batting in the top five/six for their respective sides.
Maxwell has only managed scores of 4 and 16 with the bat and taken one wicket from three overs across both games. If he re-discovers some touch with the bat, expect something big, while he always find a way to get fielding points.
Sams, on the flipside, started the season with a bang, posting a DS score of 128 against the Heat before his -4. The fringe Aussie T20 rep rarely goes wicketless, given he bowls in the power play and at the death when dismissals normally happen, so that was an unexpected score.
Adam Zampa (BWL $16,600) is someone to consider, as he seems to be an under-priced premium after a slow start to the BBL, having had an outstanding T20 World Cup.
FADES
Nominating someone a premium to fade is always mired in risk but if there’s anyone it’s Stoinis (BAT/BWL $19,600) given his price and his weakened role as he’s not bowling at the moment due to injury. He will not resume bowling until the new year, so in the meantime you’re relying on his batting for points.
As an opener, he’s got a great role and may still fire, but the reality is if he doesn’t, you wont get any points from him with the ball, unlike players like Maxwell or Sams or even Andre Russell (BAT $16,600).
Alex Hales (BAT $18,800) is the other premium to consider and after firing late last season, he hasn’t reached those heights in BBL|11. You could argue he’s due but given he only bats, the better premo options are the all-rounders to maximise scoring opportunities.
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