Opinion
The Big Bash League is a fortnight old and already we have seen plenty of unpredictable results, inclement weather and yellow caps flying around all over the place.
In the BBL Stock Market, we look at which stocks fans should invest their time in or not bother with in a frantic tournament that has plenty of opportunity for excitement.
Following on from the season preview, it’s time to further analyse and look into where we should invest in the BBL.
Buy: Brisbane Heat
The Heat’s start to the tournament has left a lot to be desired, but with everything being so tight, and the international ODI squad leaving for India shortly, there’s plenty of time for the squad to find form and gain momentum.
All eyes were always on the second half of the tournament for the Heat when Mujeeb Ur Rahman and, more specifically, AB De Villiers are due to enter the fray.
As an explosive team who so far has suffered from the preseason concerns of a short batting order, the fact the team doesn’t need to worry about players leaving to go to India should give Brisbane an advantage. With so many games left and a couple of outliers currently sitting in the top four, watch the Heat start to warm up and make sure you’re on board for the run towards finals the team will make in about a week.
Sell: Adelaide Strikers
Suffering their first loss of the season on New Year’s Eve, the Strikers are a team that may be heading on a downward spiral. Beginning the season with three wins was certainly unexpected, but it has come on the back of a reliance on a couple of players, which simply isn’t a sustainable tactic going forward.
Alex Carey’s absence coincides with the return of Travis Head which is massive for the team, but a notoriously inconsistent top order who can’t help themselves when they get on a roll can collapse, as shown against the Thunder, doesn’t inspire confidence.
Rashid Khan is clearly a dominant force in the competition, but I’m fully expecting his wickets to dry up as teams look to sit on him, accepting 0/15 off his four overs rather than the 3/20 we’ve grown accustomed to. For all intents and purposes, the team is carrying Cameron White in an already-shallow batting order, while Matt Short hasn’t fired yet.
A reliance on Jono Wells performing consistently and hoping to get decent output from Biily Stanlake and Wes Agar every game is fraught with danger, and all of that clicking is the only way Adelaide can play finals this season. Once again, Travis Head will be a welcomed inclusion and coach Jason Gillespie will desperately hope for better output from Michael Neser in BBL|09 than what has been produced in other seasons.
(Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
Buy: David Miller
With the Hobart batting order about to take a hit despite Matthew Wade coming in to replace D’Arcy Short, it’s time we saw Hobart’s batting import take the competition apart. David Miller only has 48 runs this season, and has often come in to bat in difficult circumstances – the opportunity he had against the Stars in Launceston was painfully short given the terrible conditions.
The 30-year-old is one of the world’s best T20 players, who is a 360-degree batsman and an excellent finisher for any team. Having played 303 T20 matches around the world and maintaining an astonishing average of 35 at a strike rate of 138.31, there was a lot of expectation on Miller heading into BBL|09.
With Short heading to India on international duty, it’s time for the veteran to step up and create headlines for himself. Miller is one of the smartest T20 minds going around, start watching him closely as he’s about to produce something special.
Hold: Melbourne Renegades
Things don’t look good for the reigning premiers, winless from their first four games and their two best players (Aaron Finch and Kane Richardson) due to leave for international duty shortly. This isn’t a team that can be completely written off as historically, it isn’t necessarily about the cattle, but more about the gameplan that has brought success to the Renegades.
This comes with an acknowledgement that a complete drop-off is possible, as the tale is similar to that of the Scorchers in BBL|08, who were a team that had a legendary domestic cricketer take over after success built on a strong gameplan and home advantage, but the bond and camaraderie has clearly taken a hit. Where the Renegades seem to differ though is the messaging and the optimism coming out of the camp.
Brain fades cost them against the Strikers after great post-powerplay bowling, and they’ve yet to see the best out of most of their players.
Crucially, the Renegades can expect Mohammed Nabi to rejoin the group in the next fortnight, replacing Richard Gleeson who has been a terrible selection as an international player if not simply due to the fact he doesn’t suit the Marvel Stadium surface in the slightest. There’s a little bit of depth at the Renegades, and an injection of youth can re-energise a team off to a slow start.
Don’t expect the team to challenge for the grand prize as they did last year, but the Renegades are still a finals contender with plenty of room for improvement.
Buy: Nathan Coulter-Nile
The Stars look to be a serious contender this season, with the availability of Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell for the entire tournament a bonus no one saw coming previously. Perhaps the lynchpin of the entire operation, however, is Nathan Coulter-Nile, who has the opportunity to be the team’s main bowler while also batting at seven in a Tom Curran-style of role.
We have seen the best and worst of Coulter-Nile over the past few years, with the ability to rip through attacks only matched by his “hittability” – unintelligent bowling at crucial times in the death that sees him hit for 20+ runs. As a veteran who went for the third-highest dollar figure at the Indian Premier League auction, it’s about time for Coulter-Nile to take the responsibility and lead a team to genuine success.
The opportunities he is going to be provided in BBL|09 as an all-round talent puts pressure on him. If you want to see fireworks, you want to be following the Stars this season and the leader who flies under the radar is certainly Nathan Coulter-Nile.
Check out some of the short-arm pull shots from Rocky Flintoff!
Harshal Patel was not a happy man!
David Lord has been remembered as an icon of Australian sports journalism following his death, aged 84. The renowned writer and broadcaster was an…
Sign the man up for a contract next season!
RCB have suffered a massive HEAD-ACHE after Travis Head smashed the fastest century by an SRH player in just 39 balls, as they amassed…
A brutal century by Travis Head has blasted Sunrisers Hyderabad back into the Indian Premier League play-off places in another match for bowlers to…
