Top tactics c an pay off

The Big Bash finals are upon us and for KFC SuperCoaches a fresh strategy is needed, especially with big prizes on offer, writes Tim Michell

THROW out the KFC SuperCoach BBL rule book – finals are a whole different ball game.

Eight teams are about to become five in the race for the BBL10 crown and that means less players to pick from in KFC SuperCoach BBL.

To compensate, we are giving you unlimited trades for each of the four finals rounds.

That means you can start with a clean slate every round and target the big guns featuring in the eliminator and qualifier (Round 14), knockout (Round 15), challenger (Round 16) and the BBL final (Round 17).

It sounds simple enough, but there’s still a lot of strategy involved in KFC SuperCoach during BBL finals.

If you’re in the running for the $25,000 grand prize, there is no point picking all the obvious players each round.

You’re not going to climb the rankings by choosing the same players everyone ahead of you has in their teams. Point-of-difference players can make or break a KFC SuperCoach season, but when we are so close to the finish of BBL10, what do you really have to lose?

There is no difference between finishing 50th or

500th – aside from personal pride – so back your gut if it is telling you a player is flying under the radar of other KFC SuperCoaches. It may prove to be the difference you need.

The other way to set yourself apart is getting your captaincy right.

The vice-captaincy loophole will no longer be available as of Round 15, so the player you assign your captaincy to will have a big say in your overall score.

There are going to be lots of 50-50 calls – do you go with Daniel Sams or Dan Christian if Sydney Sixers are playing Sydney Thunder? Getting your captaincy choice right too can be decisive, both in league finals and the pursuit of rankings glory. All-rounders are popular captaincy choices, but how many BBL finals have been dominated by batsmen?

Think Jake Weatherald’s 115 in the BBL07 final for the Adelaide Strikers or Usman Khawaja’s matchwinning 70 from 40 balls in the BBL05 decider for the Sydney Thunder.

Every KFC SuperCoach BBL call is decisive during BBL finals – especially your captaincy – and the $25k prize is within reach for many.

Sydney Thunder allrounder Daniel Sams. Scorchers strike bowler Jhye Richardson and Heat all-rounder Marnus Labuschagne are options to consider for your KFC SuperCoach side during the finals.