The Cricket Draft allows you to become your very own chairman of selectors as you have £1.5 million to select 15 T20 Blast players
The pyrotechnics, big hitting and beer snakes of the Vitality Blast are very nearly here, and with them the chance to show your fantasy cricket selecting chops with The Cricket Draft.
The Cricket Draft allows you to become your very own chairman of selectors as you have £1.5 million to select 15 T20 Blast players who you think might win you the most points as you compete in leagues and leaderboards.
Head to The Cricket Draft website now to enter for free
Keep an eye out for The Cricketer's articles each week as we'll let you know some of the best players you can choose for your side, as well as some bargains you may not have considered selecting. And to get your squad started, we've scouted out 10 top picks for you below.
Shaheen Afridi; Bowler; £166K
Nottinghamshire have indulged in one of the best white ball bowlers in the world to help them in the T20 Blast this year. Shaheen Afridi may be the second most expensive player in The Cricket Draft, but players will be keen to sign the left arm quick if they want to be assured wickets... and excitement. Afridi is the pick of the overseas talent joining the Blast this year as he will have no IPL hangover to contend with, unlike other players like Glenn Maxwell or Sunil Narine.
Simon Harmer; Bowler; £135K
Essex Eagles' main man is approaching legend status in the domestic game. Memories endure of the South African wheeling away in celebration as he hit the winning runs to win Essex the 2019 Blast, and he took an impressive 17 wickets in last year's competition. Players can rest assured that if they select Harmer they have a guarantee of wickets and the occasional big innings.
Chris Lynn; Batsman; £135K
As the undisputed batting star of last season's Blast, if Chris Lynn manages to replicate his excellent form this season he is a must for any draft side. The Australian batsman averaged 64.50 in last year's competition and managed some huge innings along the way, including an incredible 133 not out as the Steelbacks thrashed Worcestershire.
Will Smeed; Batsman; £112K
At just £112K, Will Smeed could be a relatively inexpensive buy for a player looking for a batter who can be destructive as well as consistent in his posting of solid scores. He featured heavily in last year's competition playing 16 times and averaging 27.13. To much acclaim, Smeed hit the first century of the Hundred competition playing for Birmingham Phoenix and will be looking to continue to build on the hype around his name in this season's T20 Blast.
Grant Roelofsen; Wicketkeeper/Batsman; £110K
Flown in by Gloucestershire for the T20 Blast (and to cover Marcus Harris in the County Championship) the big hitting South African will be looking to score runs quickly in this season's Blast. Roelofsen batted excellently in Essex's One Day Cup campaign last season (averaging 59.16) and will be looking to use all of his T20 experience to help Gloucestershire this season.
George Scrimshaw of Derbyshire Falcons is looking like a great value Cricket Draft pick for the T20 Blast [Harry Trump/Getty Images]
Henry Crocombe; Bowler; £47K
Costing players hardly any cash at all in Sussex's talented young seamer Henry Crocombe. Having caught the attention of those watching Sussex in the County Championship this summer with his sharp spells and regular wicket taking, Crocombe will be looking to build on his impressive performances in the Blast last season where he took seven wickets.
Tom Prest; Batsman; Batsman; £71K
Looking to be an integral part of a Hampshire Hawks side trying to defend their T20 Blast title is young batsman Tom Prest who batted in the number 3 spot for the Hawks last year. Prest's high score of 64 came in last year's final and he will be keen to show his hitting talent on a more regular basis this summer as he operates in a talented batting lineup.
George Scrimshaw; Bowler; £87K
Derbyshire's seam ace George Scrimshaw was the joint third highest wicket taker in last year's T20 Blast. A crucial component of Derbyshire's attack, Scrimshaw earned himself a place in the inaugural Hundred competition playing for Welsh Fire. Expect Scrimshaw to pick up more wickets this season as he looks to recreate the accurate and varied bowling which meant last year's campaign was so successful.
Jack Leaning; Allrounder; £89K
Kent Spitfires' seamer has had a very tidy start to the County Championship this season and will be looking to transfer this form over to the T20 Blast. Leaning bowled well in last year's Blast, taking 7 wickets at an average of 18.00 with a good economy rate of 7.57. If your budget is squeezed and you would like an economical bowler who can take regular wickets, Jack Leaning is your man.
Daniel Mousley; Allrounder; £89K
Birmingham Bears have a seriously talented young cricketer on their hands with Daniel Mousley. The wicketkeeper batsman had the third best average in the T20 Blast last season (although he only played four innings) and scored runs quickly at a strike rate of 178.49. Expect Mousley to play more innings this season and score more runs in the process. Also expect his price tag to rise, so get him while you still can!
Head to The Cricket Draft website now to enter for free
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