BBL Fantasy Captains – Round 1

Welcome to Feath’s captains! The cheap, summer, cricket version of Calvin’s Captains! Remember the scoring system is very different to AFL Fantasy. Batsmen get 1 point per run and bowlers get 20 for a wicket as well as points for strike rate, economy rate and 12 points for a catch so any score above 45 I’d take from my captain. Now there are some obvious choices for your captain, players you could lock in week after week and not worry so let’s go through them first.

Aaron Finch (Melbourne Renegades)

The Renegades skipper absolutely belted the Stars this time last year. He kicked his BBL season off with a massive 100 and led his team to victory. He ALSO bowled! Now Finchy is certainly no all-rounder but he can jag a wicket every now and then so you certainly can’t go wrong here.

Predicted Score: 55

Mike Hussey (Sydney Thunder)

Hussey’s main strength this season will probably be consistency. He knows how to get it done and will probably open the batting once David Warner returns to the international scene. He’s also dangerous in the field and might snare a run out or a catch.

Predicted Score: 40

Alex Hales (Adelaide Strikers)

My bet for player of the season, last year, Hales played two matches for the Renegades, in the first, he single handily demolished the Sydney Sixers. Who knows if Steve O’Keeffe has recovered from the belting he copped. This man, until the T20’s come around where he will open the batting for England is a very good choice for captain.

Predicted Score: 58

Ben Laughlin (Hobart Hurricanes)

Representing the bowlers and a bit of a dark horse, Laughlin was the leading wicket taker last year and is an excellent death bowler. He plays at home this week against the Strikers and last year he bowled beautifully in Hobart.

Predicted Score: 52

Brad Hodge (Melbourne Stars)

The most unlucky man in Australian test cricket could be your lucky man in Fantasy BBL. He had a great BBL02 batting in the stars top three. If he gets a start you can pencil him in for a 40+ score

Predicted Score: 45

Now for some smokies, you COULD pick David Warner this week with the intention of trading him out next week as he’ll only be playing the one match. I did that last season and got repaid but Warner’s score of -20 so that’s the price you can pay. Phil Hughes, Shaun Marsh and Luke Pombersbach are all capable of giant scores as well. Englishman Luke Wright belted the quickest 50 in Australian Domestic T20 history in BBL01 so don’t rule out his scoring ability and I think he’ll be in for a good score tonight against the Renegades who don’t really have a pace bowler who will trouble the Stars in my opinion. Kieswetter will open the batting with Pombersbach for the Heat and could also be an option for you captains spot. If he keeps as well then you might get some stumping points as well. Finally, my real smokie for this week is Sixers batsman Ravi Bopra. I expect the Thunder to get through the Sixers top order but Bopra will hold his own with the bat and will probably get a couple of overs to jag a wicket as well.

TOP 5

1. Alex Hales
2. Aaron Finch
3. Ben Laughlin
4. Brad Hodge
5. Ben Cutting

One final reminder that Lasith Malinga, Dilshan and the other Sri Lankans will NOT be available until round 3 and the Test team will also be unavailable except George Bailey, David Warner and Steve Smith. Good luck!