OVAL WORLD FANTASY CRICKET LEAGUE 2012

Yet again, the Oval World Fantasy Cricket League (OWFCL) is back by popular demand. As always county cricket's crème de la crème have been given monetary values. These are expressed in terms of fictitious weekly earnings, based predominantly on how each player fared in first-class cricket in England in 2010 and 2011. Your job is to pick a squad of 13 by deploying a maximum weekly wage bill of £20,000. Player points will be based on ALL of the runs, wickets and catches each player registers in first-class cricket this summer. In other words, performances in Test matches, England Lions' matches, other tour matches (deemed to be first-class) and games against the MCCUs will count. Every player will be awarded points on the following bases:

BATTING
1 point for every 30 runs scored in first-class cricket.

BOWLING
1 point for each first-class wicket taken.

FIELDING
0.2 points for every catch or stumping made in first-class cricket.

YOUR SQUAD
Each entrant will need to select a 13-man squad. The squad must consist of:

  • 6 batsmen
  • 6 bowlers, and
  • 1 wicketkeeper

Players can only be selected from the 310 batsmen, bowlers and keepers listed and valued. At the end of the competition, your team's total score will be calculated on the basis of your 5 best batsmen, your 5 highest points-scoring bowlers and your wicketkeeper.

Click here to see the selection grid
Click here for an application form

YOUR BUDGET
You have a weekly budget of £20,000 with which to pay a squad of thirteen. This year, performances by overseas cricketers will be disregarded. Previously they cost £2,100 per week, but only a handful were worthy of such an investment. So, in theory, you should find that your budget goes further. Every effort has been made to ensure that the selection grid also takes account of recent Kolpak signings and player retirements.

WHAT COULD I WIN?
The winner will receive a free Surrey CCC county membership or the cash equivalent. In the event of tied scores, the final placings will be decided by a tie-break: How many matches will Surrey win in total in all three of the major domestic competitions this summer?

AND FINALLY… THE SMALLPRINT
Each entrant is only allowed to submit one entry. Each selector MUST be a member of the Surrey CCC Supporters' Club. The entry fee is £5.00 (make the cheque payable to the SCCCSC). Selectors can choose a name for their team, provided it does not exceed 25 letters and will not be considered offensive. All entries must be received before the first ball of the LV County Championship season is bowled on 5th April 2012. Even though six first-class fixtures involving the MCCUs will have concluded prior to April 5, points scored in these matches will still count. If necessary, selections can be amended before April 5 either in writing or by e-mail. All correspondence relating to the competition should be sent to Marcus Hook, Flat 1, 67 Birdhurst Rise, South Croydon, Surrey CR2 7EJ or to marcushook@aol.com 

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