With Tim Murtagh rolling back the years and Ryan Higgins leading the overall points, Oliver Lawrie and Nicholas Rowland give you the inside track on choosing your fantasy County Championship XI in gameweek 5
Gameweek 4 of The Cricket Draft saw huge points being scored by seamers from Middlesex (Tim Murtagh 363, Ethan Bamber 246) and Surrey (Kemar Roach 283, Daniel Worrall 273), while Durham's Ollie Robinson (246) and Brydon Carse (259) were two of the best performers with the bat.
Looking to propel yourself up The Cricket Draft league table in gameweek 5? Oliver Lawrie and Nicholas Rowland are on hand to take you through the star drafts and bargain buys from the seven County Championship matches taking place over the next four days. To play The Cricket Draft, head to www.thecricketdraft.com.
The Cricketer's Star Drafts
Simon Harmer; bowler; £178k
With just under a quarter of all Cricket Draft players now owning Harmer, people have cottoned on to the value the South African brings to any fantasy team. 18 not out and figures of 4 for 141 across 31 overs sees him enter round five with a commendable form rating of 7.4.
Ollie Pope; batter; £152k
An expensive choice, but a worthwhile one nevertheless. The 25-year-old may have faltered against Warwickshire at the hands of Hasan Ali, bringing in only 8 batting points in the previous gameweek. But with his form rating a healthy 7.2 underestimate Pope, and the value he brings to your team, at your own peril.
Bargain Buys
Nick Browne; batter; £92k
Costing £92k and with an ownership rate of just 3 per cent, Browne offers great value for money at the top of the order. After not having a fixture last week, he will be well rested as he looks to back up his mammoth first-innings 159 against Kent, and has great potential to boost your fantasy team up the leaderboard.
Cameron Steel; batter; £77k
Despite two failures in as many games, his masterful 141 not out in gameweek 1 proves his worth in anyone's fantasy team. He may be lacking consistency, but if Steel realises his potential, then a £77k gamble on Steel might be a great decision.
Injury list
Jamie Overton (stress fracture), Adam Rossington, Sam Cook (hamstring)
The best performing Cricket Draft players in gameweek 4
The Cricketer's Star Drafts
Mohammad Abbas; bowler; £152k
Always economical, and with two six-fers to his name already, Mohammad Abbas is just about the safest pick going. A hefty price tag should not discourage you from drafting him; a form rating of 8.3 and 727 points to date make the Pakistan seamer a sound investment for those with the budget.
Hassan Ali; bowler; £150k
Ali is a risky choice given his large cost, but his enormous potential could make it a risk worth taking. Glimpses of his stardom shone through against Surrey in gameweek 4 as he dismissed Ollie Pope for just eight runs. And if he can put together a complete performance against Hampshire, he stands to rake in many points for the 4 per cent of players who have selected him.
Bargain Buys
Fletcha Middleton; batter; £47k
If you're strapped for cash, this is the pick for you. Twin half-centuries in his first game of the season indicated the consistency he can deliver at the top of an innings order. His lean spell of late, however concerning, is greatly outweighed by the fantastic value for money he offers should he rediscover his form.
Dan Mousley; batter; £77k
With just two per cent of players owning the 21-year-old Mousley, he remains something of a hidden gem in the draft. Best scores of 94 and 55 in the competition to date with the bat, and the possibility of a few wickets as a handy-if-unproven off-spinner, make him an asset to any team on a budget.
Injury list
None
The Cricketer's Star Drafts
James Anderson; bowler; £161k
With a form rating of 8.1, Anderson is worth every penny of the £161k he costs. The England international has only been selected by 4 per cent of players, and with a tantalising battle on the cards with long-term partner Stuart Broad, expect him to put in that extra effort in gameweek 5.
Ben Duckett; batter; £141k
Yet more England pedigree, yet another worthwhile choice. With 596 points across all rounds so far, including a form rating of 7.5, it is perhaps surprising that the England opener has been selected by 7 per cent of players so far. A consummate 177 at Lord's should give you confidence he will deliver for your team against Lancashire.
Bargain Buys
George Bell; wicketkeeper-batter; £59k
If you're short on budget and in need of a productive wicketkeeper-batter, Bell is the pick for you. At just £59k, with twin half-centuries in gameweek 3 and tidy performances behind the stumps throughout, Bell represents a safe and cheap option for your team after accruing 362 points to date.
Brett Hutton; bowler; £84k
7 per cent of players have spotted Hutton as a valuable addition to their team, and for a great price at that. A noticeably healthy form rating of 7.9 and a points haul of 401 underpinned by his match nine-fer against Somerset, inspires confidence that he will deliver the goods against Lancashire.
Injury list
Tom Moores
Cheteshwar Pujara or Steve Smith - which odf Sussex's star batsmen will you pick? [Mike Hewitt/Getty Images and Steve Bardens/Getty Images]
The Cricketer's Star Drafts
Lewis Gregory; allrounder; £123k
Gregory's imperious form hasn't gone unnoticed in the Cricket Draft. He has been selected by 13 per cent of users for the value he provides with bat and ball, taking 7 for 84 in the first innings against Nottinghamshire in GW2 the highlight of a productive start to the season for the 30-year-old. He is well worth the sizeable price tag with a confidence-inspiring form rating of 8.2.
Bargain Buys
James Rew; wicketkeeper-batter; £75k
For just £75k, it's worth snapping up Rew now before his stock rises even further. 117 in the first innings of gameweek 3, including six catches behind the stumps, explain why he's been selected by a remarkably high 22 per cent of players.
Jordan Buckingham; bowler; £109k
A hefty price tag for a bargain buy, granted, but Northamptonshire's newest signing is a quality, under-the-radar bowler available for a reasonable price. The 23-year-old averages 26 for South Australia in the Sheffield Shield having claimed 25 wickets in his first seven first-class matches. First innings figures of 6 for 58 against New Zealand A also saw Buckingham make the most of his maiden Australia A call-up. Snap him up before others cotton on, and drag his price up even further.
Injury list
Grant Stewart (tight side, doubtful)
The Cricketer's Star Drafts
Luis Reece; allrounder; 106k
Luis Reece has earned himself the status of a popular and necessary buy on the draft after 6 not out in Derbyshire’s second innings as well as 2-53 against Durham including the wicket of Ben Raine. Despite Derbyshire losing by an innings, he top scored in the first innings with 56. He has 228 points and a form rating of 8.0.
Peter Handscomb; batter; 128k
His 95 versus Glamorgan in Leicestershire’s second innings and 114 in their surprise victory over Yorkshire have ensured that the Australian is one of the players to watch in the early stages of division 2. He has 518 points and a form rating of 7.2 - especially impressive given Leicestershire’s struggles last season, too.
Bargain Buys
Colin Ackermann; batter/wicketkeeper; 103k
Against Derbyshire in the reverse fixture, Ackermann scored a 176-ball 114 with 20 fours to help preserve Leicestershire’s unbeaten start. He also scored 67 and 72 against Yorkshire to contribute to that victory. Ackermann has 497 points and a form rating of 7.3. He’ll be looking to strike again, this time at the Incora County Ground.
Wayne Madsen; batter; 111k
Madsen, in an ailing Derbyshire team, is performing well. Highlights include a 75 vs Leicestershire in Derbyshire’s first innings. He has 380 points and a form rating of 7.1. Derbyshire fans will be hoping that he can drag their side out of the mire. As for players of the Cricket draft, he’s worth a buy.
Injury list
Josh Hll
The standings in The Cricketer's league after gameweek 4
The Cricketer's Star Drafts
Cheteshwar Pujara; batter; 157k
Pujara continues to perform in the County Championship and is spearheading Sussex’s revival after their troubles last season. His 151 in the first inning versus Worcestershire helped to earn Sussex a draw and keep their good start to the season going. He has 495 point and a form rating of 7.4. He’s one to include ahead of this game week and probably remains the more reliable pick over headline-maker Steve Smith.
Joe Leach; bowler; 124k
After getting 4-49 in the first innings against Gloucestershire, Leach is definitely once to include. In a game dominated by Tom Price’s hundred and 4-58, Leach earned Worcestershire a draw as they compete in the upper echelons of the Division 2 table. He has 319 points and a form rating of 7.1. Maybe this will be the Pears’ year and Leach looks to already be a key player for them.
Bargain Buys
Josh Tongue; bowler; 106k
For only 106k, you can have Josh Tongue, a man that picked up 3-37 versus Gloucestershire. Tongue has 148 points and a form rating of 7.2.
Injury list
Brett D’Oliveria (injured hand, doubtful), Charles Morris
The Cricketer's Star Drafts
Ben Coad; bowler; 127k
In a Yorkshire side that has struggled so far this season, Ben Coad has shone - especially against Sussex where he picked up 5-54 in the first innings and also chipped in with 45. Useful. He has 398 points and a form rating of 7.8.
Chris Cooke; batter/wicketkeeper; 105k
Chris Cooke had an excellent day against Leicestershire scoring 132 and taking five catches in the second innings. Glamorgan currently sit 5th and if Cooke continues to score runs, then they could position themselves for a surge. He has 392 points and a form rating of 7.1
Bargain Buys
Finlay Bean; batter; 61k
Perhaps the definition of a bargain buy. Having already scored 118 against Leicestershire, he backed that up with 49 versus Sussex and is proving himself despite being very young. He is a much-needed ray of light for a club that has ailed of late, with 286 points and a form score rating of 7.1.
Timm van der Gutgen; all-rounder; 100k
Timm van der Gutgen seriously impressed against Leicestershire last week, taking 5-68 including the wicket of Rehan Ahmed and Colin Ackermann. He has 551 points and a form score rating of 7.9.
Injury list
Matt Milnes (stress fracture)
It's not too late to join The Cricketer's league, to pit your selections against our writers and readers - head to www.thecricketdraft.com and join our public league now
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