The Return Of The Urn... Cricket 26/27

Just when I was thinking of letting the Cricket have a season off, I go and spot that in the next 9/10 months, we take on the Aussies 14 (FOURTEEN) times across the three formats.

Apologies, for some that should read we take on the Poms 14 (FOURTEEN) times.

And then when you delve into it, that's not all.

There's some big series against South Africa and New Zealand as well in amongst 34 (count them) games over the winter and summer.

Let's start with the important bits.

Joining is going to cost you £25.00 and a percentage of that will, as always, go to The Ruth Strauss Foundation.

I will confirm how the remaining pot will be split, once we've confirmed our final numbers and the competition is up and running.

What YOU have to do.

So the format is quite easy.

Every game you will get to name 7 players that you think will smash a load of runs, take a load of wickets, or do both. The better they do, the more points they win you.

Points vary depending on the format being played, in a futile attempt to create a level playing field across the three formats. I wonder if this helps explain that in anyway.....😳😳

Points are shown for runs scored, overs bowled, wickets, taken, catches held, Ducks, Golden Ducks, everything across the board.

There are also bonus points for hitting 50/40/30 in the formats, and then going on to double those, and for taking 5/4/3 wickets (again across the three formats).

I've not included Dropped Catches (I did think about it) as I'm not likely to be able to track all those, the rest though is all pretty much available on a few sources (if not watching).

Effectively, what the table above is saying, is if your Picks score runs, at a high run rate, then those runs are more valuable than if your Picks run rate is at a Strike Rate of 50%. If your Picks bowl economically, and take wickets, they’ll score more points than taking wickets, but going for a shed load of runs to get the wickets.

PLUS

Points increase if you place your Picks higher up in your 7

Number 1 - Points X 2

Number 2 - Points x 1.5

Number 3 - Points x 1.25

Number 4 - Points

Number 5 - Points x 0.75

Number 6 - Points x 0.5

Number 7 - Points x 0.25

It's really that simple.

You just have to Pick 7 - A Magnificent 7, if you like.

Whilst on that, as much as the 1960 Yul Brynner version is still as good today as it was then, and actually doesn’t seem too dated when you watch it, if you e not seen it check out the 2016 Denzel Washington version. In my opinion a great film, actually really great film, that pays homage and doesn’t diminish in any way it’s predecessor

Back to the Cricket

Your FIRST entry will also be stored as a default and used in the event that you miss the deadline for any other games during the season, or the players you named DON’T GET PICKED IN THE STARTING 11s.

If you pick England's opener in the first game as your Number 1, then your default player for that position will ALWAYS be England's Opener (E1). If you pick Australia's number 5 as your Number 2 Pick, your Number 2 default pick will ALWAYS be the opponent’s number 5.

YOU CAN JUST ENTER A DEFAULT SELECTION IF YOU WANT TO, AND SIT BACK AND HOPE (which let's face it is what those of us that pick do anyway)

This is the list of players I have signed on at the moment for the next Big Bash

The MasterBatter (of course)

RunningFox

Sandpaper Strikers

Stumped Again

I Don't Like Cricket... I Luv It

What A Load Of Hoppers

Back Green Blasters

Stov's Stokers

Bachman & Robin

The Codsall Crawley

Six Offenders

Brokebat Mountain

10 CC Again

The Bowler's Holding, The Batsman's Willy

Major Tom's A Junkie

The WolfPack

Game 1 is 13 November, in Perth.

The Points and A Few Rules.....

Here's the small print for those interested enough to read it. You don't need to worry too much about all this, if you trust me. It will all be worked out in the background, but it's good to have it written down, as it reminds me of how it's meant to work

1. It's £25 to join in, and a percentage of the fees collected will be sent to The Ruth Strauss Foundation

2. The rest of the pot will be paid out to the eventual winner/runners up, and the splits will be confirmed once the final number of competitors is known.

3. Your Picks will need to be submitted before the deadline set for each match.

   1. If they are not submitted before the deadline, the default picks will be used

   2. If a player you have selected is not in the team announced at the toss, you can make a change before a ball is bowled, or your default will be subbed in for you.

   3. If your Sub is already picked in one of the other 6 positions - they will effectively PLAY TWICE for you and score you points in both picked position

4. All players selected will score batting, bowling and fielding points as per the 'easy to understand' diagram I've included in the' above. You will pick 7 per match

5. The points on offer differ for each format, in an attempt to level the points on offer across the formats

6. Put quite simply, the player with the most points at the end of the competition, wins it.

7. Most important rule is to enjoy it, and understand that what I say goes!!!