The Hundred fantasy: How to play The Cricket Draft, powered by Wisden

You can sign up to the game now, with prizes provided by New Balance and the game created in partnership with the PCA. While the game is simple enough to pick up, the rules and regulations are available below.

Team make-up

Your team must contain at least four batsmen, one all-rounder, one wicketkeeper and four bowlers. That leaves one slot spare for either another batsman or another all-rounder. You are allowed to pick a wicketkeeper as a specialist batsman, but if they are chosen in an XI as a wicketkeeper, you won’t get any fielding points for their exploits behind the stumps. If a player picked in your XI doesn’t play during a gameweek, they will be substituted for another player capable of filling their position who has played during the week, if one is available.

Captaincy

Your selected captain will earn double points. If your captain doesn’t play during a gameweek, the captaincy will transfer to your vice-captain, who will earn double points instead. If neither your captain or vice-captain plays in a given gameweek, your highest value player selected in the XI will be made captain.

Squad rules

Your squad must include at least 15 players, and there’s no upper limit for how many players your squad can contain. Your squad can include a maximum of four players from any one club.
The make-up and balance of your squad is completely at your discretion, though it’s worth noting you’re building a squad that should cover a team selection that includes four bowlers, one wicketkeeper, two allrounders and four batsmen (or one allrounder and five batsmen).

Transfers

You can make an unlimited amount of transfers before your first gameweek. Once your team has earned points during your first gameweek, you are then limited to releasing five players per gameweek – only two of these are free though. The remainder will each incur a 50 point transfer penalty.

Gameweeks

The gameweeks will run as follows:

Gameweek 1: July 22-24
Gameweek 2: July 25-27
Gameweek 3: July 28-31
Gameweek 4: August 1-5
Gameweek 5: August 6-10
Gameweek 6: August 11-14
Gameweek 7: August 15–18
Gameweek 8: August 20-21

Points scoring

Points are scored in the following manner:

Batting
Each run: 1 point
Each six: 3 points
30+ run bonus: 10 points
50+ run bonus: 25 points
100+ run bonus: 30 points
Strike rate > 150 (>30 runs): 10 points
Duck (not bowlers): -25 points

Bowling
Each wicket: 30 points
3 wicket bonus: 15 points
4 wicket bonus: 25 points
5+ wicket bonus: 30 points
+12 an over across 2 overs or more: -25 points
<=7 an over across 2 overs or more: 25 points

Fielding
Each catch: 10 points
Each stumping: 25 points
Each run out: 25 points

Leagues

You can create public and private leagues, while you will also be added to leagues for the county you support and the club you play for, if you wish. You will also be included in the global league, and your gameweek league, referring to the first gameweek after you join, and so the first for which your team is active and scoring points.

Prizes

1st prize: Engraved New Balance bat and a pair of New Balance trainers
2nd and 3rd prize: A pair of New Balance trainers

Club prize: The cricket club league with the highest average score (min. 11 players) will win 15 shirts designed with the New Balance Kit Builder