BBL SuperCoach Team Preview - Melbourne Renegades

PREDICTED LINE UP

1-Tim Ludeman

2-Cameron White

3-Tom Cooper

4-Daniel Christian

5-Mohammad Nabi

6-Will Sutherland

7-Jack Wildermuth

8-Kane Richardson

9-Chris Tremain

10-Cameron Boyce

11-Usman Khan Shinwari

TOP PREMIUM PLAYER

MOHAMMAD NABI (BAT/BWL $192,200)

With players missing due to injury and international duties, Nabi should have a slightly higher position in the batting order this season, which will only add to his SuperCoach value. A big hitter of the ball, Nabi is coming into BBL08 off the back of a high score of 86 from 32 balls in the 2018 UK Vitality Blast. Nabi is mainly recognised as a bowler, but rather than being a massive wicket taker, he is a highly economical off spinner. Given his expensive price and the fact the Renegades don’t have a double game week until round six, it will be hard to fit Nabi in your starting squad, but his ability to score points with both bat and ball still makes him a valuable SuperCoach player.

TOP MID PRICED PLAYER

CAMERON WHITE (BAT $145,200)

The T20 veteran seems to make runs every season and the Renegades will have to rely on his batting even more this season. Last BBL season he played 8 innings, which included four not out scores of 68, 35, 49 and 79 to go with a 51, showcasing his ability with the bat. Furthermore, in the recent JLT One Day Cup, White finished as the 6^th highest run scorer with 332 runs at an average of 47. White is usually a reliable performer in the middle order, but a potential change to opener could await him this season. I once again expect White to score plenty of runs this BBL.

TOP CHEAP PLAYER

TIM LUDEMAN (BAT/WKP $62,500)

Ludeman starts cheap following a BBL season of very limited opportunities, where he batted down the order. In BBL08, he is expected to fill one of the two opener spots available at the Renegades. Prior to last year, he had five successful BBL campaigns with the Strikers at the top of the order, in that time recording only seven single digit scores across 34 innings which is admirable and shows his ability with the bat. An aggressive style batsman, Ludeman has a BBL high score of 92 not out. Given his price and potential elevation to the top of the order this year, Ludeman is one of best cheap options in SuperCoach to start with and provides great value.

POINT OF DIFFERENCE

DANIEL CHRISTIAN (BAT/BWL $161,700)

The only negatives are his awkward price and no early double game weeks, but Christian remains a very reliable all-rounder who performs well with both bat and ball. He recently had a respectable UK Vitality Blast, where he scored 415 runs with a high score of 113 not out off 40 balls along with 10 wickets. One of the best genuine all-rounders in SuperCoach, he could be a smarter option to trade in closer to his double game week, but nonetheless should score well with some consistency.

PREDICTED FINISH – 8^TH

Statistically the worst performing BBL team, I don’t see them returning to the finals this year. Their team depth will be tested straight away with players out injured and away on international duty. A reshuffling of the order will see them heavily rely on the 3 veterans at the top of the order to score runs and the all-rounders to perform well. With a relatively weak bowling lineup, all the Renegades bowlers will need to click together each game to have any chance of reaching the finals. The loss of superstar Dwayne Bravo as well as Brad Hodge, James Pattinson, Brad Hogg and Matthew Short will be tough gaps to fill.

By Mathew Broom