Thursday offers up another BBL Draftstars double-header with the $15,000 Thunder-Hurricanes slate from 3:45pm AEDT followed by the $25,000 Stars-Renegades Melbourne derby slate from 7:35pm AEDT.
Check out Wicky’s Stats Bible to see our score projections.
LAST GAME LEARNINGS
Thunder opener Alex Hales (BAT $17,900) has found his form in recent games and he only had 24% ownership for his DS score of 112 last slate. Hales has hit quickfire knocks of 80* and 63, which has translated to DS scores of 112 and 114.5 in his past two games. He’s back.
Daniel Sams (BOW|BAT $18,800) went huge with 217 DS points two games ago but with 50% ownership he came back to earth with a thud with a score of only 19 DS points against the Hurricanes. He wasn’t helped by not getting a bat as Hales dominated and the Thunder chased down the total one wicket down. That won’t always happen but it shows Sams’ ceiling is high but his floor can be low.
Hurricanes gun D’Arcy Short (BAT|BOW $20,600) hasn’t found his groove this season but he’s still finding a way to get DS scores thanks to his all-rounder role. Short posted 85 DS points, with only 15% ownership, with 56 DS points coming via the ball.
Canes quicks Tom Rogers (BOW $16,200) and Riley Meredith (BOW $15,800) dropped off with poor DS scores of 0 and -1, while Ben McDermott‘s (BAT $18,700) 150.25 DS points were followed up by only 50.
Beau Webster spiked in performance after being promoted to open and getting some rare bowling overs. Whether he opens and bowls again remains to be seen as it was due to the fatigue of others.
The Renegades were humbled by the Sydney Sixers on Tuesday but spinner Cameron Boyce (BOW $15,000) was a shock top points scorer with 78 DS points on his return to the side. Boyce only attracted 20% ownership given he felt like an unknown commodity but that’ll bump up after that display.
The Stars played back-to-back games after most of their key players came out of isolation, with Beau Webster (BAT|BOW $9,700) spiking in performance after being promoted to open and getting some rare bowling overs. Webster, who has always had good ownership given his all-round capacity, scored 92.75 DS points.
Whether he opens and bowls again remains to be seen as it was due to fatigue for Joe Clarke (BAT $17,700), who was demoted down the batting order, and Glenn Maxwell (BAT|BOW $19,800), who didn’t bowl.
Maxwell struggled with only 5 DS points, leaving his 45% ownership frustrated, while Clarke went from a DS score of 131.75 down to 33.25 DS points.
INJURIES
The Thunder have few concerns, although English pair Saqib Mahmood (BOW $15,200) and Sam Billings (BAT $15,600) have exited, while captain Chris Green (BOW $14,500) is unavailable after close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case.
The Hurricanes welcome back Matthew Wade (BAT $17,400) after two games out for personal reasons, while Harry Brook (BAT $8,800) has been called into England’s T20I squad to play the West Indies and is out. Quicks Joel Paris (BOW $14,400) and Nathan Ellis (BOW|BAT $16,100) are still out injured.
The Renegades have Jack Prestwidge (BOW $12,100) available again and he could slot in for Will Sutherland (BOW|BAT $10,500). Veterans Mohammad Nabi (BAT|BOW $14,500) and James Pattinson ($14,100 BOW) have stepped away for the rest of the BBL season.
Several of the Stars players were fatigued for Tuesday’s loss to the Perth Scorchers after being in isolation for seven days, so monitor their line-up.
Marcus Stoinis (BAT|BOW $18,200) could return after a minor back issue, along with Nathan Coulter-Nile (BOW $15,600) who has had a hamstring injury. This game is Haris Rauf‘s (BOW $16,200) last for the Stars before returning to Pakistan.
Cameron Boyce looms as a value option after impressing on his return, while Jake Fraser-McGurk might be worth a punt given he was promoted to open last game, with Sam Harper demoted
BBL DRAFTSTARS VALUE PLAYS
Peter Handscomb (BAT $9,300) has been well owned in recent BBL Draftstars contests, buoyed by an improved role at first drop which presents a good point-scoring opportunity. He hasn’t been amazing but he’s added good points at his price. Monitor his role. Likewise, keep an eye out for Mac Wright (BAT $10,400) getting a call-up as the Canes look for answers in their top order.
Thunder paceman Nathan McAndrew (BOW $11,200) is an under-rated option whose price has slipped after three wickets in his past four games. He’s still being utilized enough to warrant a gamble at his price as a POD play for your BBL Draftstars team.
Webster (BAT|BOW $9,700) jumps out as the obvious value option at the Stars although monitor their named XI upon the bat flip to see if he’ll open again, or how many bowlers are picked. He may not get a repeat of Tuesday’s role.
For the Gades, Boyce (BOW $15,000) looms as an interesting option for today’s BBL Draftstars contest after impressing on his return although his price is quite high. While Jake Fraser-McGurk (BAT $9,100) might be worth a punt given he was promoted to open last game, with Sam Harper (BAT $13,100) demoted. Again monitor the named XI at the bat flip. At his price, there’s no harm.
BBL DRAFTSTARS PREMIUMS
Leading run scorer McDermott (BAT $18,700) made his breakthrough BBL century at Marvel Stadium, where the Canes play this round, and he also plundered a hundred at the same venue two weeks ago too, so he’s worth getting on. Marvel can be bat friendly and Hales’ (BAT $17,900) form is good for reasons previously mentioned too.
The batting line-ups of both the Renegades and Stars haven’t been great lately, so we’re going to turn to the bowlers for the derby. Kane Richardson (BOW $17,800) is a T20 gun, who may be pricey, but generally delivers a decent return. He managed 60.75 in his last BBL Draftstars contest, aided by his death-overs role, claiming two final-over wickets.
Stars speedster Haris Rauf (BOW $16,200) has been consistent lately with DS scores of 51 and 62 aided by a plum role. He’s a reliable turn.
Check out Wicky’s Stats Bible to see our score projections.
BBL DRAFTSTARS FADES
Canes skipper Wade (BAT $17,400) is back but his form has been concerning with only eight runs in his past four innings.
Maxwell‘s (BAT|BOW $19,800) performance and body language in the Stars’ loss to the Scorchers was a major turn-off and, beyond his century early in the season, he has actually struggled this BBL season.
Marvel Stadium is made for big-hitters like Aaron Finch (BAT $17,000) and Shaun Marsh (BAT $17,200) so there’s a temptation to try your luck on one, but their form line is too big a deterrent.
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