Introducing the Natwest T20 Blast Fantasy cricket game

Even though the Premier League season is now over there is still plenty for fantasy managers to get excited about over the summer. Not only are there a number of World Cup games to interest them but for cricket fans as well there is the chance to test their management skills in another sport.

The  game I’d like to introduce you to is the ECB’s Natwest T20 Blast Fantasy. It’s a bit like FPL, you’ll love it! Here I aim to answer some of the key questions around the game, including its rules, how to join a league and how many players a manager can pick in this game, which has  11 Gameweeks plus the quarters and finals day, which includes the semis and final in one day!

The Rules

To join the game you must pick a squad of 12 players consisting of:

4 Batsmen
3 All-rounders
1 Wicket-keepers
4 Bowlers

Budget – The total value of your squad must not exceed 100m.

Players per team – You can select up to 2 players from a single NatWest T20 Blast team. For the quarter-finals and finals this limit will be increased to 4.

Overseas players – You may select no more than 2 overseas players.

Choosing your starting 11 – From your 12 player squad, you must select 11 players including a wicket-keeper to form your team for a Gameweek.
If a batter, all-rounder or bowler play no matches in the Gameweek then your twelfth man will replace them if they play at least one match.

Selecting a Captain and a Vice-Captain – From your starting 11 you nominate a captain and a vice-captain. Your captain’s score will be doubled.
If your captain doesn’t play any matches in the Gameweek, the captain will be changed to the vice-captain. If both captain and vice-captain play no matches, then no player’s score will be doubled.

Deadlines – For the first 3 Gameweeks the deadline is: 16th May 17:00, 2nd) 23 May 3rd) 17:00.

Transfers

After selecting your squad you can buy and sell players in the transfer market. Unlimited transfers can be made at no cost until your first deadline.

After your first deadline you will receive 3 free transfers each Gameweek. Each additional transfer you make in the same Gameweek will deduct 50 points from your total score (Classic scoring) and match score (Head-to-Head scoring) at the start of the next Gameweek.
Unused free transfers are not carried over.
Before the quarter-finals and finals unlimited transfers can be made.
Wildcard – A Wildcard allows you to make unlimited free transfers throughout a Gameweek. You can play one wildcard a season.
Playing a wildcard will remove any points deductions from transfers already made in the same Gameweek.
Player prices – Player prices are fixed for the season.

Scoring

During the season fantasy players will be allocated a point score after each game, based on their performances in NatWest T20 Blast matches. Points are awarded as detailed below:

Batting
For each run scored    1
For each run four    2
For each run six    5
For each duck (dismissed for a score of 0)    -10

Bowling
For each wicket    15
For each dot ball    1
For each no-ball or wide conceded    -1

Fielding
For each catch    10
For each stumping    10
For each run-out    10

Batting bonus
A batting bonus will be awarded for reaching milestones and a fast scoring rate. This is calculated as follows:
For reaching 50    20
For reaching 100 (includes reaching 50 bonus)    50
For a strike rate of 115 – 139.99    0.5 for each run scored
For a strike rate of 145 – 164.99    1.0 for each run scored
For a strike rate of 165 or over    1.5 for each run scored
Example: A player that scores 76 runs in a match at a strike rate of 118.7 will receive a batting bonus of 58 Points: 38 points (76 x 0.5) for the strike rate and 20 points for scoring 50 runs.

Bowling bonus
A bowling bonus will be awarded for reaching milestones and economical bowling. This is calculated as follows:
For taking 3 wickets    10
For taking 5 wickets (includes 3 wickets bonus)    30
For an economy rate of 7.50 – 8.99    1 for each ball bowled
For an economy rate of 6.00 – 7.49    2 for each ball bowled
For an economy rate of less than 6.0    3 for each ball bowled
Example: A player that bowls 4 overs (24 balls) in a match at an economy rate of 7.6, taking 3 wickets will receive a bowling bonus of 34 points: 24 points (24 x 1) for the economy rate and 10 points for 3 wickets.

FTI MVP bonus – (FTI MVP means Most Valuable Player Rankings, as calcuated by FTI Consulting)
The top 3 players in each match according to the FTI MVP will also be awarded bonus points.
Top FTI MVP scorer    30
Second highest FTI MVP scorer    20
Third highest FTI MVP scorer

Leagues

The league format works like the same as FPL. I will be making my very own tournament for this comp! Tell me what team you want below, (I’m Durham, they are 17 other teams you can choose from!) Remember to catch up with the action on Sky Sports.