With the cricket season now in full swing, the focus is once more on the booming fantasy sports market. But if you’re new to the scene, what should you play, and how do you play it well? To begin with, download a fantasy cricket game like Howzat, and then play enough practice games until you’re confident enough to take on the experts. Here are a few tips to help you get there.
Know the history
Before you play any game, be aware of how the teams have performed against each other in the past. This includes players’ records against the opponents. Some thrive against certain teams, but struggle against others.
Be informed about the conditions
The composition of your bowling attack depends on the pitch and weather conditions. Hot, sunny and dry usually means more spinners in the XI, while cloudy conditions and a green-tinged pitch mean more scope for pace.
Pick a balanced team
Don’t overload your side with only batters or only bowlers. Ultimately, as in real cricket, you need both runs and wickets to come out on top.
Prioritize top-order batters
In T20 cricket in particular, those batting below No.4 rarely get chances to make a huge impact. Top teams get the bulk of their runs from the openers and the next two in the batting order. Make sure your selection reflects that.
Pick wicket-taking bowlers
An economical spell is great in any format, but wickets break open a game. Instead of picking the steady 0-20 bowler, you’ll get far bigger rewards by taking a chance on the one more likely to take 3-30.
Choose a top-order wicketkeeper
The wicketkeeper you choose needs to take catches, but it also helps massively if they double up as a fast-scoring top-order batter.
Choose your captain and vice captain wisely
Your captain and vice captain score you 2x and 1.5x points, respectively, for the same performance as other players. Choose carefully, keeping in mind players’ overall consistency and current form.
Identify wildcards
These players may not yet be household names, but the rich vein of form that they’re enjoying means you should pick them before others think of it. In games with very small margins, it’s the ability to identify the fringe players in form that separates the winners from the also-rans.
Practise more
Fantasy apps like Howzat allow you to play unlimited practice games for free before you decide to take on cricket experts for big cash prizes. There’s no better way to fine-tune your strategy than to play a lot of practice games.
Challenge cricket legends
Howzat allows you to take on veteran players like Yuvraj Singh, Irfan Pathan, Suresh Raina, Kieron Pollard and Kumar Sangakkara. Pit your wits against these legendary players, and you will only learn more about the game, team selection and develop an eye to spot new talent.
None of this is rocket science, and it won’t be long before you’re up to speed. So download the Howzat fantasy app, play plenty of practice games and test your knowledge and skill in the quest for the big prizes. One thing’s for sure, your crick
