Well here we go. The 2024 Great Totham Fantasy Cricket competition is up and running and we have 19 keeno's with their sides already lined up and ready to play. As I do every year, I'm here to give you a run down on all things fantasy cricket and pick out some players who I think will help you challenge for the top 3 & prizes.
Some light house keeping 1) remember to pay your entry fee (£10) to the club account before the competition starts, or face a points reduction each week until paid; 2) please do keep team names reasonably appropriate, the internet lasts forever.
Not yet entered? What are you playing at - follow this link & get started: FANTASY CRICKET
RULE UPDATES
No Double Gameweeks!
The first big change this year is that now only Saturday League games will count towards points scored. No more Double Gameweeks. The impact of this change will be massive, it will be a significantly lower scoring season & player value will be different.
The tried and tested tactic of picking both myself & Joe Davis (both £8m) and then building the team around us may no longer work. In previous editions if we failed on the Saturday, we would normally do something on the Sunday to make up for it, but now that second chance is gone and at £16m for both of us will that same tactic prove to be as fruitful?
At the moment, I'm including us both, as I think it will easier in the short term to take one of us out versus having to find the funds to add one of us back in. We both have high availability and I wouldn't be surprised if we both started the season with a bang. Do you want to risk dropping one of the two top point scorers for the last two years? Joe was the top points scorer last year & I believe the same in 2022, so he's probably the pick if you're running a single £8m player strategy.
Transfer Costs
The next biggest rule change is the cost of transfers. Teams have 1 free transfer each week, but each subsequent transfer has now doubled to -100 points. Combine this with the lack of double gameweeks there is now less value to be gained from making three, four or even five transfers each week. Bringing those who play a "set & forget" strategy into the mix come the end of the season. So what does this mean for us "active" players - well we now need to use our transfers much more wisely, and also select a Core group of players who are going to be playing 15/16 games at a minimum. That way, we can use our free transfers on those impact players who may not be as about as regularly, but will hopefully score big points when available.
I'm sure you've all been asked to indicate your likely availability for the season, as well as for the first block of 6. So here's some names that have so far indicated strong Saturday availability, and in my opinion will be great picks for your teams for the full season:
Batters
Rob Hewer (£6m)
Jack Ridge (£5.5m)
Nick Phillips (£5m)
Jamie Potter (£4m)
Ashwin Srinivasan (£4m)
Billy Boom (£3m)
Nick Smith (£1m)
Bowlers
Jim Gregory (£6m)
Ryan Kennedy (£5.5m)
Jonny Hewer (£5.5m)
Sam Yeates (£5m)
Tom Wheeler (£5m)
Max Clarke (£5m)
Sam Bowen (£5m)
Beth Harvey (£4.5m)
James Wheeler (£4m)
Evan Quilter (£2m)
All Rounders
Joe Davis (£8m)
James Pook (£8m)
John Chadwick (£5.5m)
Issey Croft (£4m)
James Murphy (£3.5m)
Keeper
Tim Logue (£5m)
Ted Shorney (£3m)
Neil Quilter (£1m)
Remember, if it all goes horribly wrong, you can always play your wildcard, and receive unlimited free transfers for that week.
NEW BLOOD
We've had our strongest winter recruitment in many years, and there are several colts pushing for a regular Saturday spot. Let's start with the names some people might not recognise:
Chris Henderson (Batter - £5m) - a hard-hitting top order batsman who has just moved into the house next to the Wheeler's. An instant impression at indoor nets & at the quiz where he & his wife somehow dragged the combined braincells of Tim Logue, Jack Ridge & James Murphy to victory. I suspect Chris will be pushing for a spot in the 1st XI & is firmly in my thoughts for my fantasy side, but with a young family & deteriorating hip questions are there about availability.
Mayur Gami (All Rounder - £5m) - a flamboyant left handed batter who is very easy on the eye & offers Jonny Hewer a very handy spin option. Expect to see him slot in around the middle order for the 1st XI, but beware appearances will be limited due to his work and any new advertising campaigns from Pfizer for a little blue pill (if you know, you know). For me, there are cheaper & more available all-rounders who will outscore him this year. But if Mayur's availability is bigger and for longer than we expect, plenty of points will be scored.
Ashwin Srinivasan (Batter - £4m) - batter is a little harsh on Ash in all truth, yes batting is his main skill & he is a man after my own heart consistently showing attacking intent & bravery (or is it foolishness charging Jim Gregory?). But I also suspect he will bowl regularly for the 3rd XI. Will it be left arm spin, or will it be right arm googlies, your guess is as good as mine - but he gives Clarkey a handy option as a Gary Sobers style cricketer. Is in my thoughts for selection with suspected good av, but I'm holding off initially to see if intent turns into points.
Jim Gregory (Bowler - £6m), our newest Maldon convert after having his ear chewed of about Totham by Joe for the last two years. Quick, tall & skillful, will be an absolute nightmare for the opposition to face uphill & hitting the best Totham Ridge. Not quite as good with the bat as his brother (conversion status pending) but will score handy runs in the lower-middle order for the 1st XI. Long levers & short boundary is generally a good combination at Totham. Jim is an absolute must pick for me, great availability & has been knocking people over for fun at nets. Points incoming.
We turn now to some younger names that you may have heard of and who we are hoping will have break-out years. All have been earmarked for roles in the 3rd XI and at discounted prices should allow you to unlock value for some of the more expensive players elsewhere.
Ted Shorney (Keeper - £3m) - probably going to be most people's main keeper. Ben Ridge (£4m) hasn't got the best availability, Tim Logue (£5m) is probably a touch expensive now given no Sundays. I think Ted is a good pick & will work for most people. I'm going down a slightly different route however, and I'll explain why later.
Billy Boom (Batter - £3m) - Boom by name, Boom by nature. This kid can hit a ball. Lots to learn about building an innings, but will score important runs for the 3s this year. May play a role with the ball too, but lots of options for Max Clarke in that department. If you had £3m left, with one player to pick he would be my choice.
Evan Quilter (Bowler - £2m), played plenty of Sundays in 2023, and will have a role in the 3rd XI this year with the ball. Generally quite accurate & the left arm angle offers something different. My long term pick if you only had £2m to spend, but there is another at £2m who I prefer for the first 6 weeks.
Henry Lawrence (All Rounder - £3m) tidy with both bat and ball, but in the early season less available than the other three and so James Murphy (£3.5m) & Issey Croft (£4m) would be my preferred cheap all rounders.
THE WORST KIND OF ABILITY...UNAVAILABILITY
Some names to avoid, at least initially, as appearances are expected to be limited.
Liam Jones (£5.5m) misses half of the first eight, but that is a gamble many will choose to take - he's probably an impact sub and one to rotate with Mayur or Chris. Rob Mutton (£4.5m) has decided to cram some of life's major events into one summer with a baby due in June & then wedding planning in whatever free time he has after that. The Pearsons (Stuart £4.5m, Chris £6m) and Josh Chadwick (£4.5m) will as always have their early season rugby commitments. Meanwhile George Davis (£4.5m), Dan Quartermaine (£4m) & Ed Vale (£4m) are all away accumulating student debt so won't be seen until June. There's also been some rumours that we won't see an appearance from our glorious former Chairman Richard Dickenson (£3m).
WHERE'S THE VALUE?
I'm a gambler at heart, and will always have some punts in my team. Simon Tabb (£2m) is near the top of that list. So when Jack Ridge gleefully announced "Tabby av" in the captains chat, he went into my consideration for fantasy. He's not 6/6, but it's a minimum three, with an alleged fourth. At £2m, and with his batting pedigree, he is almost certainly underpriced. The risks? For me the biggest is that inconsistent playing over the last few years leads to some inconsistent form, but we all know the saying so would not be surprised to see a big score early season.
Issey Croft (£4m) is also fantastic value. Top scored in last weeks friendly with a fluent 39, and his left-arm action is awkward to face & quick. Good availability means he's in Jack Ridge's plans to lead the attack for the 2s, and for me is probably the best "value" player this year. If you can't find £4m to buy Issey, I feel James Murphy (£3.5m) will produce similar results.
If I'm going to go with both Joe & I to start the season, I need to pick some £1m players. Nick Smith will play regularly and has been mentioned as the enabling pick if you're trying to fit both Joe & I in, but (sorry Nick if you're reading!) finished on minus points last year. I'm sure Barry Gooch will be cryogenically unfrozen at some point this year, and that President Steve Whiting will also make his usual annual appearance, but I don't think either of these are worth taking up a spot in your side. Mark Lawrence, John Dundas, Mark Shorney & Wilf Robinson, members of the Patrick Tolhurst (£4m) led Dad's army, are potential options but you'd imagine would only be seen in weeks where availability is poor.
But there is one option that really intrigues me at £1m, and it's Neil Quilter a keeper. The keeper role has historically been one where not many points are scored. So generally a lower priced keeper has been better as they score more points per £m spent. It also frees up funds & a slot for a higher priced Batter/Bowler. Now, I know Neil isn't going to play as much as Nick, and he may not score many points, but for my side he enables me to pick myself & Joe who I expect to be the top two points scorers again this year.
PICK PER PRICE
I've been rambling on for long enough now. By no means is this an exhaustive list of who I think will do well this year. Olly Kendall (£3.5m) will extend his club appearances and wickets records. Peter Willingale (£3m) will emerge once the nags are put to field for the summer. Tom Hawkridge (£5m) & Paul Marks (£5m) may both have a point to prove with the bat, when their availability allows them to. Jamie "Harry" Potter (£4m) will be looking for some magic with bat & ball.
I will leave you then with my pick for who I think will be the top scorer at each price point. Good luck & enjoy your season.
£8m - James Pook (popular vote will be Joe Davis, but I never do well in popularity contests)
£6m - Jim Gregory
£5.5m - John Chadwick
£5m - Sam Bowen
£4.5m - Beth Harvey
£4m - Issey Croft
£3.5m - James Murphy
£3m - Billy Boom/Ted Shorney
£2m - Evan Quilter
£1m - Neil Quilter
