Welcome to Ashes Fantasy Cricket for the first time!
Over the next 5 test matches, here at SuperCoach HQ, we will be running regular articles on Cricket Test Match Dream Team, run off the Sportal website. Later on, closer to Christmas, we will also be starting a Big Bash series.
Over the next 5 test matches, here at SuperCoach HQ, we will be running regular articles on Cricket Test Match Dream Team, run off the Sportal website. Later on, closer to Christmas, we will also be starting a Big Bash series.
But for now, it is all about the long form of the game and the big question is no longer can Australia return the urn, but who is going to fill your fantasy team.
In this article, we will be having a quick rundown of the rules and the format that Sportal provides for this Ashes series, which will be followed by an article on each position on the field before the first test starts next week.
First things first, here is the link to get to the Sportal Fantasy Cricket site.
http://cricketdreamteam.sportal.com.au/
Now Sportal have been a bit slack getting things together with the game not being open yet, but they have assured us that it will be in a matter of days (let’s hope!)
So once you register, you will find the setup and layout of the site is a lot like SuperCoach, but there are a few things you need to know.
Selecting your Team
Being a game of cricket, you get 11 players on your team. These need to be made up of
· 5 batsmen
· 1 All-Rounder
· 1 Wicketkeeper
· 4 Bowlers
· A maximum of 6 players from one country
· A captain to score double points
These restrictions are set and cannot be changed.
The great thing about Sportal cricket, is that there is NO SALARY CAP. That’s right you go and select the 11 that you want to play each game, and that is the 11 you get.
Trades
It just wouldn’t be fantasy without trades, and we are given a maximum of two trades to use between each test match, with a total maximum of 8 trades. Unfortunately these can’t be transferred between trade periods, so you either use them or you lose them. You can trade as much as you want before the first test starts of course. The dates for the trade periods are as follows.
· 1st Test: Wed, Jul 10 - Sun, Jul 14
· Trade Period 1 - Mon, Jul 15 (Two trades)
· 2nd Test: Thu, Jul 18 - Mon, Jul 22
· Trade Period 2 - Tue, Jul 23 (Two trades)
· 3rd Test: Thu, Aug 1 - Mon, Aug 5
· Trade Period 3 - Tue, Aug 6 (Two trades)
· 4th Test: Fri, Aug 9 - Tue, Aug 13
· Trade Period 4 - Wed, Aug 14 (Two trades)
· 5th Test: Wed, Aug 21 - Sun, Aug 25
This means that you can only trade when a match is not on, so not trading in the middle of a game if your batsman scores a duck. The same goes for your captain, he can only be changed before and after a match starts.
Point Scoring
Now it comes to the all important point scoring. All 11 players score full points, with your captain scoring double his original score. Points are awarded as follows
· Runs (Per run scored) = 1 point
· Duck (Excluding bowlers) = -20 points
· Innings of 50+ = 12 points
· Innings of 100+ = 20 points
· Wickets (Per wicket) = 20 points
· Economy rate (2.5 RPO or less) = 20 points
· Economy rate (2.51-3.5) = 12 points
· Catch = 12 points
· Runout (All players involved) = 15 points
· Stumping (Wicketkeeper only) = 15 points
Economy rate and innings bonuses are awarded per innings and to qualify for an economy rate bonus, a bowler needs to bowl at least 10 full overs.
Scores are updated throughout the test, sometime between stumps and the start of play on the next day.
League Competitions
Your team can be a part of up to 5 public or private leagues. In each league you can have as many entrants as you would like and, because there is only 5 test matches, you are just ranked on total points rather than there being head to head matches.
As always, you can connect with your Facebook and Twitter accounts also to get more involved as well as participate in the Coaches Box.
Likely Teams
Finally, I’m going to give my 11s for both countries for the first test, so we know what kind of players are going to be there in the first test.
AUSTRALIA
David Warner
Chris Rogers
Shane Watson/Alex Doolan (Watson if he his fit, Doolan if Watson is not fit)
Michael Clarke (C)
Steve Smith
George Bailey
Brad Haddin (WK)
Mitchell Johnson
Ryan Harris
Peter Siddle
Nathan Lyon
ENGLAND
Alistair Cook (C)
Michael Carberry
Jonathan Trott
Kevin Pietersen
Ian Bell
Joe Root
Matt Prior (WK)
Stuart Broad
Graeme Swann
Jimmy Anderson
Chris Tremlett
With it now only under 2 weeks until the first test starts, we are all getting very excited here at SuperCoach HQ for the Summer of Cricket. We will let you know as soon as Sportal opens up its doors and we will make a public league for everyone to join who would like to. We all hope you can come and join us and sign up to our newsletter to make sure you stay updated with all our future articles.
In this article, we will be having a quick rundown of the rules and the format that Sportal provides for this Ashes series, which will be followed by an article on each position on the field before the first test starts next week.
First things first, here is the link to get to the Sportal Fantasy Cricket site.
http://cricketdreamteam.sportal.com.au/
Now Sportal have been a bit slack getting things together with the game not being open yet, but they have assured us that it will be in a matter of days (let’s hope!)
So once you register, you will find the setup and layout of the site is a lot like SuperCoach, but there are a few things you need to know.
Selecting your Team
Being a game of cricket, you get 11 players on your team. These need to be made up of
· 5 batsmen
· 1 All-Rounder
· 1 Wicketkeeper
· 4 Bowlers
· A maximum of 6 players from one country
· A captain to score double points
These restrictions are set and cannot be changed.
The great thing about Sportal cricket, is that there is NO SALARY CAP. That’s right you go and select the 11 that you want to play each game, and that is the 11 you get.
Trades
It just wouldn’t be fantasy without trades, and we are given a maximum of two trades to use between each test match, with a total maximum of 8 trades. Unfortunately these can’t be transferred between trade periods, so you either use them or you lose them. You can trade as much as you want before the first test starts of course. The dates for the trade periods are as follows.
· 1st Test: Wed, Jul 10 - Sun, Jul 14
· Trade Period 1 - Mon, Jul 15 (Two trades)
· 2nd Test: Thu, Jul 18 - Mon, Jul 22
· Trade Period 2 - Tue, Jul 23 (Two trades)
· 3rd Test: Thu, Aug 1 - Mon, Aug 5
· Trade Period 3 - Tue, Aug 6 (Two trades)
· 4th Test: Fri, Aug 9 - Tue, Aug 13
· Trade Period 4 - Wed, Aug 14 (Two trades)
· 5th Test: Wed, Aug 21 - Sun, Aug 25
This means that you can only trade when a match is not on, so not trading in the middle of a game if your batsman scores a duck. The same goes for your captain, he can only be changed before and after a match starts.
Point Scoring
Now it comes to the all important point scoring. All 11 players score full points, with your captain scoring double his original score. Points are awarded as follows
· Runs (Per run scored) = 1 point
· Duck (Excluding bowlers) = -20 points
· Innings of 50+ = 12 points
· Innings of 100+ = 20 points
· Wickets (Per wicket) = 20 points
· Economy rate (2.5 RPO or less) = 20 points
· Economy rate (2.51-3.5) = 12 points
· Catch = 12 points
· Runout (All players involved) = 15 points
· Stumping (Wicketkeeper only) = 15 points
Economy rate and innings bonuses are awarded per innings and to qualify for an economy rate bonus, a bowler needs to bowl at least 10 full overs.
Scores are updated throughout the test, sometime between stumps and the start of play on the next day.
League Competitions
Your team can be a part of up to 5 public or private leagues. In each league you can have as many entrants as you would like and, because there is only 5 test matches, you are just ranked on total points rather than there being head to head matches.
As always, you can connect with your Facebook and Twitter accounts also to get more involved as well as participate in the Coaches Box.
Likely Teams
Finally, I’m going to give my 11s for both countries for the first test, so we know what kind of players are going to be there in the first test.
AUSTRALIA
David Warner
Chris Rogers
Shane Watson/Alex Doolan (Watson if he his fit, Doolan if Watson is not fit)
Michael Clarke (C)
Steve Smith
George Bailey
Brad Haddin (WK)
Mitchell Johnson
Ryan Harris
Peter Siddle
Nathan Lyon
ENGLAND
Alistair Cook (C)
Michael Carberry
Jonathan Trott
Kevin Pietersen
Ian Bell
Joe Root
Matt Prior (WK)
Stuart Broad
Graeme Swann
Jimmy Anderson
Chris Tremlett
With it now only under 2 weeks until the first test starts, we are all getting very excited here at SuperCoach HQ for the Summer of Cricket. We will let you know as soon as Sportal opens up its doors and we will make a public league for everyone to join who would like to. We all hope you can come and join us and sign up to our newsletter to make sure you stay updated with all our future articles.