BBL08 GAME 9: SCORCHERS v STRIKERS
“Salaries have started to climb which means now we really do have to take the value when it is offered. I have taken a pretty traditional approach here with a side that fades the openers hoping for early wickets.”
The Re-cap
Another sub-par double-header has brought us back into the red. Picking the eyes out of the bowlers lately, just not nailing the batsman at the moment. $15,000 Boxing Day contest is just the ticket to bounce back though!
Likely XI’s
Scorchers – Klinger, Whiteman, Willey, Turner, Cartwright, Agar, Bosisto, Coulter-Nile, Tye, Behrendorff, Richardson, (Inglis, Quadir,).
- There’s a few options here in terms of changes. Whiteman is on thin ice so Inglis may come in and keep whilst there is a chance they both play at the expense of Richardson in order to bat all the way down to #9. Willey was not even used with the ball last game. Crazy. If they didn’t play Quadir in Sydney, highly doubt they play him here especially given Turner’s shoulder seems ok.
- Don’t rely on their batting lineup, the Scorchers play a very fluid lineup. Bosisto/Willey/Whiteman/Inglis could all open or bat down past #7.
Strikers – Carey, Weatherald, Ingram,Short, Wells, Lehman, Neser, Khan, Valente, Laughlin, Stanlake (Agar, Nielsen)
- Agar comes in for O’Connor but they have brought both to Perth for some reason. Agar/Valente fighting for that final spot in an otherwise very settled side.
Selection Committee
Salaries have started to climb which means now we really do have to take the value when it is offered. I have taken a pretty traditional approach here with a side that fades the openers hoping for early wickets. I’ve selected what I think will be the high-exposure partnership in each side and then taken 16+ overs with the ball in a game I expect to be dominated by the Kookaburra.
Selection
Ashton Turner ($14,300): My only concern here is Turner falling cheaply to the Rash but I can’t knock back the middle-order class here at this price. Has yet to go big which he absolutely can do. If no Quadir then Turner is their second spin option and could see 1-2 overs depending on how things are playing out.
Ashton Agar ($16,400): Another guy who has severely underperformed with bat and ball so far. Gets his four overs and if Khan rips through that top-middle order then Agar could get plenty of time to bat. In a game full of high-quality and much cheaper options I am expecting Agar to be POD status.
Jon Wells ($10,000): The salary cappers have missed this kid so I’m all over him again. I still maintain the Strikers are understrength in their batting and if those openers go cheaply (against what is almost a national attack) then Wells will do what he does best which is resurrect and dash at the end. Was an amazing 9% owned last start for his 62pts. Sadly he will be much higher than that here but still goes in for me.
Colin Ingram ($10,900): Averaging just 16pts so far which has caused his price to plummet to a point where he is just too cheap. One wicket falls and he is in with plenty of time and a large chunk of responsibility for his side. I don’t love Ingram in general as he just gets out in very easy way’s and lacks the capacity to build his innings at times, but this price is compelling.
Rashid Khan ($21,000): Averaging over 100pts (108!) the Rash’s price has climbed even higher. 21k for a bowler is a tough ask and yes Khan is an acceptable fade here but I have taken him and saved elsewhere in the hopes of banking an 80pt game. 2 wickets and good economy get me there.
Andrew Tye ($16,500): I am not a fan of Tye generally and I think he is fast on his way to being worked out by the comp but against Adelaide who don’t bat deep, Tye is a very very good chance of a big tail mop here and with his price tag plummeting I could not ignore him. Averaging just 18pts per game so far which appeals to me even more given a little recency bias may see his ownership sub 20%.
Ben Laughlin ($10,900): Has been frightfully unlucky thus far, could easily have had 3-4 more wickets to his name. Price is too good for the Strikers main death bowler. Scorchers bat deep but they are stand-and-deliver hitters mostly which works for Laughlin. Can see him coming in under-owned here.
Salary Remaining – $0
Final Thought
8 overs of spin and 8 overs of death bowling with some batsman in there I expect to see plenty of time at the crease – can’t ask for any more. Now it is up to the players to execute.
BBL08 Balance
Games: 8
Spend: $120
Win: $114
Profit: -$6