The Hobart Hurricanes host the Perth Scorchers in Tuesday’s $25,000 Draftstars BBL slate in the BBL, with a plethora of premium batting options and a shortage of value picks.
LAST GAME LEARNINGS
It was all about the top-order batsmen last game, with both the Hurricanes and Scorchers batting first to devastating effect in their respective Saturday games.
The Hurricanes claimed a good 44-run win (DLS method) over reigning champions Sydney Sixers on Saturday, led by Matthew Wade (BAT $20,900) and D’Arcy Short (BAT|BOW $21,600) at the top of the order.
The premium priced pair put on a 111-run first-wicket partnership, with Wade’s 93 coming from 46, leading to a massive strike rate bonus and total DS score of 159.5. Short didn’t go at Wade’s pace but still amassed 73* from 51 balls, totalling a DS score of 107.25. Both are a high price, but have high ceilings.
Formerly a value option, Joel Paris’ (BOW $14,100) price have soared after taking three wickets against the Sixers.
The Scorchers won by 49 runs over the Adelaide Strikers on Saturday, with opening batsman Colin Munro (BAT $18,300) hitting 114* from 73 balls, totalling a whopping DS score of 184.5.
The nature of BBL Fantasy is that the scores of specialist batsmen will fluctuate. They will inevitably fail from time to time, but the lesson is Munro, Wade and Short have high ceilings which may be too hard to ignore.
Opening game cheapie Kurtis Patterson (BAT $12,600) is a prime example of that, posting 106.5 DS points in Perth’s first game batting first drop, before missing out against the Strikers with 20 when he didn’t even bat. At least with specialist batsmen who are openers, you’re guaranteed they’ll bat.
INJURY NEWS
Both sides are set for some major inclusions, which will impact a few cheaper options who’ll be forced out. As a result, this slate looks like one where you’ll need to be smart with your salary cap.
Hobart have added first drop batsman Ben McDermott (BAT $15,400) to their squad ahead of schedule after groin surgery. He’s no certainty to play so monitor that. English middle-order batsman Harry Brook (BAT $8,800) and Australia A fast bowler Scott Boland (BOW $15,400) are also added following their tour match.
The trio would force out Tom Lammonby (BAT $8,800), Tom Rogers (BOW $9,900) and either Jordan Thompson (BOW|BAT $8,800) or Peter Handscomb (BAT $13,900).
Riley Meredith (BOW $15,300) is still sidelined with a hamstring injury, meaning Paris holds his spot and role.
For Perth, T20 guns Mitch Marsh (BAT|BOW $17,300), Josh Inglis (BAT $15,600) and Tymal Mills (BOW $11,900) have all been added to their squad, creating a selection squeeze.
Expect all three to play, with Marsh and Inglis to replace Aaron Hardie (BOW|BAT $12,500) and either Cameron Bancroft (BAT $14,500), Patterson (BAT $12,600) or Laurie Evans (BAT $9,400) in the batting line-up.
The addition of England T20 death overs specialist Mills creates a major dilemma for the Scorchers, with either the impressive Matt Kelly (BOW $14,900) – who plays a similar role – or spinner Peter Hatzoglou (BOW $12,500) set to miss out.
Lance Morris (BOW $8,800) remains out with a side strain while quick Jhye Richardson (BOW $18,400) is unavailable with the Ashes squad where he’s set to replace Josh Hazlewood for the Second Test.
Brook will likely bat five in the order, having been the fourth top scorer in this year’s Vitality blast with 486 runs and averaging 47.25 in The Hundred.
VALUE OPTIONS
Value is hard to find this slate, but Yorkshire middle-order bat Brook (BAT $8,800) looms as a good option given his low price. Brook will likely bat at five in the order, having been the fourth top scorer in this year’s Vitality blast with 486 runs and averaging 47.25 in The Hundred in a middle-order role.
Mills (BOW $11,900) is another new Englishman who seems under-priced by the system given his pedigree. The right-arm fast bowler took seven wickets in four games for England at last month’s T20 World Cup and will bowl in the prime point-scoring overs at the death when wickets often fall.
Nathan Ellis (BOW $14,100) is a sneaky value option too, given his good record against the Scorchers. Ellis took a four-wicket haul against Perth last season.
PREMIUM PLAYS
There’s no shortage of options in this slate, but the lack of value means you’ll need to be shrewd in your premium options.
Short (BAT|BOW $21,600) is always safer than someone like Wade or Munro as he also bowls albeit only a few overs each game this season, having bowled in every game in BBL|10.
But Short boasts an exceptional record against the Scorchers, whom he knows well given he plays his state cricket in Perth. Short has batting scores of 54 from 47, 43 from 37 and 103* from 70 in his past three outings against the Scorchers.
Marsh (BAT|BOW $17,300) is another premium option worth strong consideration given his T20 World Cup form where he was Player of the Final. The big all-rounder also bashed 60* from 27 balls in the Australia A tour game over the weekend and can grab additional points with the ball, although it’s worth noting Perth have used their five specialist bowlers for 39 of their 40 bowled overs so far this season.
Short boasts an exceptional record against the Scorchers, with batting scores of 54 from 47, 43 from 37 and 103* from 70 in his past three outings against Perth.
FADES
Wade (BAT $20,900) and Munro (BAT $18,300)‘s form from their last games is irresistible but specialist batsmen are prone to failures meaning their high ceilings come with low floors. At their high prices, they may not be worth that risk.
When Wade scored 86 with the bat against the Sixers late last season, he only managed 13 in the next game. Likewise, when Munro hit 82 against the Heat in BBL|10, he scored only 5 in his next game. That’s the risk, so don’t be seduced into points chasing.
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