Fantasy Cricket 2009

If you only play one fantasy cricket game this summer, it’s got to be the Telegraph’s version, the original and best – hit http://fantasycricket.telegraph.co.uk/

It’s the most accurate, detailed version of the game, but be prepared to spend all day at work refreshing Cricinfo to see how Tim Murtagh is getting on in the second division against Glamorgan, or cursing that the clash between Northants and Leicester is being rained off. Be warned it might take over your life.

Teams need to be registered by Weds May 6th to take part from the start, if a few people are up for getting involved, I’ll create a mini-league.

There are several games this year, but the big one is the county challenge. Here’s my starting line up. I’ve tried to limit the number of enforced transfers I’ll have to make, so have looked to pick players unaffected by IPL / international call ups.

Batsmen
Marcus Trescothick: 8
A fantasy banker. One of the best players in the country, but never going to play international cricket. He’s also such a fast scorer he’ll be good for bonus points in all forms of one day cricket.

Adam Voges: 6
The Australian is clearly a class act, and has started the season well for Notts, a quality one day player, although will be lost when he joins up with the Aussies Twenty20 squad.

Dawid Malan: 5
There had to be one of Middlesex’s young batsmen, and I’ve plumped for Malan for his explosive one day play, and the fact he’s started to pick up a few wickets for a few Brucie Bonus extra points.

Ian Bell: 4
At four points, Bell’s as cheap as a Kerry Katona Iceland advert. I don’t see him getting back into the England side any time soon, but he should fill his boots on the county circuit.

All Rounders
Samit Patel: 8
A bit like Trescothick, an international class player not involved with the national team. A top performer in all formats of the game. Samit’s my pick as skipper so will deliver double points.

Josh Cobb: 3
A bargain buy, talked about as having huge promise he’s been picking up some decent runs so far this season.

Wicket Keeper
Tim Ambrose: 3
Another cheap buy, Ambrose has started superbly with the bat this season, and isn’t in immediate contention for another England call up.

Bowlers
Danish Kaneria: 7
A bit like Mushy for all those years, Kaneria’s just too good for the majority of domestic batsmen. Expect hatfuls of wickets to follow.

Andre Nel: 6
Nel’s still a class act although not to everyone’s taste, now that Gunter’s gone Kolpak I expect him to be a key bowler for Essex in their promotion push this year.

Saj Mahmood: 5
I’ve always liked Saj despite the criticism he gets for being a bit too wayward. Genuine pace, and with Freddie and Ando likely to be on England duty all season he’ll be the man to lead the Lancashire attack.

Wayne Parnell: 5
I caught a glimpse of Parnell in South Africa’s one day series against Australia, and the boy’s got a future. He also picked up runs in Kent’s game against Essex which swung his inclusion.