What is the ideal balance/make up of your team?

[galvatron]

What balance/make up do you strive for in your team?

I always like to go for 5 batsmen, a keeper (who can hopefully bat in the top 6) 2 all rounders (if possible) and three specialist bowlers.

With the bowling attack I like to have at least one of them as a left arm bowler. I currently have a SLW but then I have 4 RMF or RFM and I'd prefer a fast in there.

The battling line up I'd like more left handers but there aren't many out there for me to buy.

[Lynx54321]

Very bog standard for me.

The best 6 batsman (ideally one of these is a keeper, if not then 1 less batsmen).

The best 4 bowlers (if any of these are all rounders then it's a bonus). Ratio of seam to spin dependant on conditions.

1 all rounder (as above can be more if they fit either of the above criteria).

[jazzyfizzle0]

If we're talking about test matches/FC then I think if you have a decent spinner then it's feasible to go with purely your 7 best batsmen, and 4 bowlers. In my CC19 Afghan save once Nabi regressed after a year or two, there wasn't really any good all-rounders as replacements, so I simply went 2 seamers & 2 spinners (Rashid & Mujeeb), and used this strategy for many years with good success.

[ICClover]

Always:

1 - Opener
2 - Aggressive opener or if none available than a quick scoring middle order batsman
3 - Batter
4 - Batter
5 - Batter
6 - WK
7 - Spinning all rounder
8 - Spinner
9 - seam bowler with stamina
10 - Seamer
11 - seamer

[galvatron]

If we're talking about test matches/FC then I think if you have a decent spinner then it's feasible to go with purely your 7 best batsmen, and 4 bowlers. In my CC19 Afghan save once Nabi regressed after a year or two, there wasn't really any good all-rounders as replacements, so I simply went 2 seamers & 2 spinners (Rashid & Mujeeb), and used this strategy for many years with good success.

This tactic doesn't work in 50 or 20 overs though. What do you do then?

[jazzyfizzle0]

This tactic doesn't work in 50 or 20 overs though. What do you do then?

ODI's I have to do with one of the weak all-rounders. Rashid would probably be ok to bat 7, but my other 3 main bowlers are all genuine no.11's, so the batting becomes too weak if I went that direction. It's not an ideal situation to be honest! Nabi was perfect for a while, but I've struggled in limited overs since.

[benj_2904]

Ideally limited overs I have 5 bat 1keep 2ar 3 bowlers but that depends heavily on what all rounders i have - if I don’t have good AR and slightly frail batting I’d rather go 4 best bowlers plus a couple of part timers or a batting ar, as I don’t like too long a tail

[Zoda]

First class:

1 - Opener
2 - Aggressive opener or Keeper opener
3 - Opener or middle order or open in List A perfect to bat at 3 in first class
4 - middle order(My best batsman)
5 - middle order
6 - all rounder (spinner or seamer)
7 - Keeper or Aggressive middle order
8 - all rounder or bowler that can bad (spinner or seamer)
9 - LMF Bowler
10 - RMF Bowler
11 - RF Bowler

[Isura]

I love to play 1-2 all-rounders if there they are good enough. Against top bowling attacks I will often opt for 6 specialist batsmen so it's less likely I get bowled out very cheaply. I pick all-rounders when especially playing in Australia since the pitches tend to be flat.

[Jamesy1984]

In an ideal world:

Test/County - 6 batters (if any can bowl then great), wicket keeper, 1 spinner, 3 seamers (again if any bowlers can also bat then great)

OD/T20 - 5 Batsmen, Wicket Keeper, 2 All Rounders, 3 Bowlers

[SK71]

I like to go with 6 batsman (one of them as Keeper) and 5 bowlers (usually one or two of them is all-rounde),, I always go with atleast 3 seamers, sometimes 4

[estmsm]

Tests:

1. Batsman
2. Batsman
3. Batsman
4. Batsman
5.Batsman
6. All-rounder
7. WK
8. Spin All-rounder (if not available, then a specialist spinner)
9. Fast bowling all-rounder ( if not available, then a specialist fast bowler)
10. fast bowler
11. fast bowler

Limited overs cricket:

1. Batsman
2. Batsman
3. Batsman
4. Batsman
5. All-rounder
6. All-rounder
7. WK
8. Spin All-rounder (if not available, then a specialist spinner)
9. Fast bowling all-rounder ( if not available, then a specialist fast bowler)
10. fast bowler
11. fast bowler

[cde]

I've had some good success with this FC/test line up:

Aggressive opener
Defensive / average opener
Very aggressive opener
Average / defensive batsman
Aggressive batsman
Very aggressive batsman (usually wicket keeper / all rounder)
Defensive / average batsman (usually wicket keeper / all rounder)
4 Bowlers

I usually look to field a speciallist fast, fast-medium, medium-fast and spinner with the all-rounder usually a FM or MF bowler. If it's a spinning all-rounder then they have to be almost as good as a speciallist. I find a good spread of speeds helps in getting batsmen out.

The defensive opener tends to hang around and seldom get out really quickly, while the aggressive opener is more likely to get out in the first few overs and with a second opener you can essentially start again. If it goes well the defensive opener can get out for 40+ while both aggressive batsmen are both out having already put 80-90 on the board. If it goes really well for the opening pair I push nos 4&5 up, then if a wicket falls just before the new ball is taken I introduce the no3 - an opening batsmen for the new ball who can then take the game away.

I find and average batsman can the hold up one end while scoring quickly enough in the middle order while the 5 and 6 look to put runs on the board. I like a defensive - or even very defensive 7 to hang around so that if 5 or 6 are about then can put on the runs with one end secure or if it all goes pear shaped they can hang about and keep the tail hanging around.

[cde]

How about the bowlers? I like to work out who will bowl together to get as balanced attack as possible. All bowlers would ideally for an average below 28 otherwise I keep looking for a replacement.

In an ideal world I look for at least one of the quicks as a strike bowler, so would be looking for as low an average in the no higher than 25 with a strike rate around 35-39.

Next I look for another quick to open the bowling with him. Now I look for an economy rate below 2.8 and as low an average as possible. I open the bowling with this pair.

Next it depends on the all-rounder. If they are a quick then I look at their economy and strike rate and seek to pair them with a bowler who conplements them in the same way as the opening bowlers.

Because I mostly play in England I usually prioritise economy over strike rate for my 1st choice spinner.

When the pitch is going to take spin my 2nd spinner needs to both turn the ball the other way to my 1st choice and I look for as low a srike rate as possible. I have someone to hold up an end if need be so they are there for wicket taking and usually replace the quick with the worst economy rate.

Anybody else have an ideal set up?

[AkhtarPlays]

For me the best t20 line up consist of
5 batsmans including a keeper who can bat
3 alrounder with 2 bowling alrounders and 1 batting alrounder like stokesy
3 specialist bowlers
so I can have 6 bowling options with no more than 1 spinner cuz in t20 you need to have an extra bowling option cuz one of your bowler can have a bad day
and as i said no more than 1 spinner cuz in t20 they go for a mile u can play 2 if the conditions demand it but i will still prefer 1