BBL 2019-20, Standout player, biggest takeaway, best team: Coulter-Nile, Renegades, Rashid, Davidson, Ferguson feature in Week 2 roundup

Star of the week – Nathan Coulter-Nile

Melbourne Stars had not picked Coulter-Nile for their first 2 matches. When they finally picked him against Adelaide Strikers, he first returned 4-0-30-0, then came out to bat when the Stars needed 34 in 15 balls. His 20 not out in 8 balls (3 fours, 1 six) went in vain.

Then, in a rain-affected match restricted to 11 overs, Coulter-Nile’s 2-0-12-2 helped restrict Hobart Hurricanes to 69/5. He was named Player of the Match.

Duds of the week – Melbourne Renegades

It has been two weeks, and despite playing 4 matches, the defending champions are still without a win. They played only once this week, in which they lost to Adelaide Strikers thanks to Rashid Khan’s all-round show, which is described in detail below.

Unless Aaron Finch and co. turn things around quickly, a Playoffs berth seems distant.

Performance of the week – Rashid Khan

BBL is Rashid’s territory, and sure enough, he lit up the Docklands with a Player-of-the-Match-winning show. He first justified his promotion to No. 5 with a brisk 16-ball 25 including two sixes off Kane Richardson; he then ran out Aaron Finch with a direct throw from mid-on; and finally he clean bowled Shaun Marsh (with a leg-break) and Will Sutherland (with a googly).

Moment of the week – Greg Davidson

Rashid’s performance could have been better, but for a bizarre act from umpire Davidson in the same match.

Rashid rapped Beau Webster on the pad and immediately appealed. Davidson raised his finger, but he decided against it midway and scratched his nose instead.

He later explained to Channel 7: “I started to think and then got a second noise through my head, so I decided to change the decision halfway through, and gave it not out.”

Quote of the week – Callum Ferguson

“This will be coming off as quickly as possible once we’re off the ground. It’s not my colour.”
Ferguson was not too happy about the colour of the Golden Cap awarded to the leading run-scorer of the BBL.