The Return Of The Urn... Cricket 26/27
Updated: Oct 15
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 (serieses, seriess, what is the plural for 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. Points awarded for runs scored, overs bowled, maidens, wickets taken, catches held, run outs and stumpings, with points lost for players that get Ducks or Golden Ducks.
There are also bonus points for hitting landmarks in the formats, 30 in a 20:20, 40 in an ODI or 50 in a Test (and then going on to double those), and for taking 3, 4 or 5 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, 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, and must still be up there in the top 5/10 films of all time, if you've not seen it, and trust me on this, check out the 2016 Denzel Washington version. In my opinion a great film, actually a 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)
The points you win in each match will then feed into the League Table.
This is the list of players I have signed on at the moment for the next Big Bash
The MasterBatter (of course)
RunningFox
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
It's £25 to join in, and a percentage of the fees collected will be sent to The Ruth Strauss Foundation
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.
Your Picks will need to be submitted before the deadline set for each match.
If they are not submitted before the deadline, the default picks will be used
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.
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
All players selected will score batting, bowling and fielding points. You will pick 7 per match
The points on offer differ for each format, in an attempt to level the points on offer across the formats
In the White Ball games, Batting Points will be calculated as the runs scored divided by the number of the balls faced (this is increased by 25% in the ODI version). There's 1 additional point for each 4 scored and 2 for a 6 scored.
In a Test Match, Batting Points are increased by 50%, and 4s are worth 2 bonus points, 6s worth 4.
When batting 'milestones`are reached bonus points are added. There are10 bonus points added to their points total if a player reaches 30 in a 20:20, 40 in an ODI or 50 in a Test Innings. This is increased to 35 if they reach 60, 80 or 100 and to 60 if passing 90,120 or 150 in each of the formats.
Being out for a Duck will carry a points penalty for the player. This will be MINUS 10 points across all three formats. However, Golden Ducks will carry higher penalties, Minus 15 in 20:20 Minus 20 in an ODI and MINUS 25 in a Test.
Bowling Points points will be awarded for each over and maiden bowled, as well as wickets taken. Overs are worth 7 points in a 20:20, 5.50 points in an ODI and 4 points in a Test Match, BUT, any runs conceded will be deducted from the points earned. Maidens are worth a bonus 2 points in a Test Match, 4 in an ODI and 8 in a 20:20.
Wickets are worth 20 points across all formats, 25 if bowled.
There are 20 bonus points on offer to a bowler for taking 5 wickets in an innings in a test, 4 in an ODI or 3 in a 20:20
No Balls and Wides carry a penalty point against the bowler (even if the wide goes for 4 it's just 1 penalty point) in the Tests, but it's doubled in the White Ball games.
Additional Fielding Points can be picked up. Catches are worth 5 points, run-outs are worth 25 points, if a direct hit, if assisted, the fielder throws into the keeper at the stumps for example, then it's worth 12.5 points to each.
Stumpings are worth 5 points for the keeper.
TBF you don't need to know any of that. But it's handy having it written down somewhere.
Put quite simply, the Batters that score the most runs, quicker than the rest, will earn you the most batting points, the bowlers that take the most wickets, economically, will earn you the most bowling points.
The player that picks them most consistantly and ends up with the most points at the end of the competition, wins it.
Most important rule is to enjoy it, and understand that what I say goes!!!
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