T20 struggles

[cde]

From some of the replies it seems people are still being very rigid with tactics around the number of bars of aggression they have their batters on, e.g. always start with X bars of aggression until a certain point then move up etc. I've posted about it before, but it seems to me in this edition this new E.RPO number is more important than the number of bars you set and so I'm basing my tactics around that. For T20s so far, I've put batters on however many bars are needed for the E.RPO number to be around 7 at first, and then move the aggression around each over in line with that number and reacting to the match situation. I'm sure this method isn't foolproof but I definitely feel way more in control of (and more successful with) limited-overs batting in this edition playing like this, and I'd say it's definitely worth trying if you're finding the old method of sticking constantly to a certain number of bars of aggression isn't working.

It's still early days in this edition for me, but so far in T20 matches I've got a win rate of over 60%, whereas in previous editions most seasons it was below 40% as I struggled so much with the format. So far in this edition the only times I've failed to make over 150 have been when I've been chasing a total that's lower than that, and that most definitely was not the case for me in previous editions.

One of the great things about the game is that there are multiple ways to play and win - just like in real life.

Well, just one way - to score more runs but you know what I mean!

Sounds like a good method. I'm very prescriptive but as I've mentioned before I'm lazy and get bored of the T20s quite quickly. As long as my method reliably gets me to the knock out stage I can't be doing with anything that slows it down too much. However once I get to the knockout stages I'm giving your method a try.

Who is that success rate with? International or domestic side and how many years in? Just interested

[DaveK93]

Some people reading this thread and imagining that I'm sitting on the same bars all of the time with each player for every game...

I'm into 2031... I've played a few games gents.

If you look at Dave K's list of T20 scores there's not one score over 200 and only 5 over 170, that to me seems low. I think ODI is more realistic.

For the 20th time: Savio and I are arguing that it's much more difficult for batters to come in near the end and hit quick runs compared to the previous game. We're not saying it's impossible as I've obviously had people smack 30 from 12 balls...

I think this is unrealistic compared to the previous incarnations of the game and compared to real life...

Ok, let's not try and misuse the information to suit your end there.

All my home games were on spinning tracks - realistically, that costs you 20 runs.

In addition, my batting style is such that I don't necessarily try and smash it. If I've got a settled batsman at the end of my innings, I'd rather leave him on a lower aggression than up it, get him out and have to rebuild.

Your whole argument centres around the fact that you can't come in and smash it. No-one, I repeat NO-ONE, can come in and start smashing 6s from ball one REGULARLY. Sometimes it comes off, sometimes it doesn't. It is wholly unrealistic to expect someone to come in on a used pitch and immediately smash it ball one - speaking very much from experience.

T20 is all about adaptation and being reactive to the situation. I can arguably do that better - if I can work out how to do so, I probably up my average total to 190.

[adil]

I think it is tough for the devs to satisfy everyone. You have keep in mind that there are only about 30-40 people who regularly post on the forum. I would imagine at least around 2000-10000 would be playing across platforms.
So the devs wont really make a change if a couple of people think the match engine is not good enough. ( Sorry if it sounds harsh)

[galvatron]

Some people reading this thread and imagining that I'm sitting on the same bars all of the time with each player for every game...

I'm into 2031... I've played a few games gents.

If you look at Dave K's list of T20 scores there's not one score over 200 and only 5 over 170, that to me seems low. I think ODI is more realistic.

For the 20th time: Savio and I are arguing that it's much more difficult for batters to come in near the end and hit quick runs compared to the previous game. We're not saying it's impossible as I've obviously had people smack 30 from 12 balls...

I think this is unrealistic compared to the previous incarnations of the game and compared to real life...

[cde]

I've started a new save as Glamorgan and while the T20s were a washout - call-ups, injuries, bad form and quite frankly players not up to it meant that while my bowling was OK I was fielding batsmen I would never touch with a barge pole for a T20 match.

So while I was failing to reach 150 most matches I was using two defensive openers and players who average less than 20 in the 2nd XI. I still managed 157 and 164 in those matches.

Just finished the OD competition and I won it outright, mostly based on bowling teams out for low totals. My top three consisted of two regens (one signed at start of season) and Joe Cooke, none of whom had played a single List A match. They were backed up by Carlson (average of 22), Root (star batsman at 44), Horton as wicket keeper with no List A experience, Nesser (22), Weighell (9), Hogan (17), Sisodiya and a regen (No experience).

I batted 3 full innings and totalled 213, 290-4, 244-5, 286-9 and with a semi final place already booked a hilarious 79 All out against Yorkshire. The lowest I chased down was 197, the highest 245.

The quality of the bowling is obviously weaker but then I was missing my best LO players too. The scores aren't too far off the OD scores Glamorgan are getting in real life.

[Jobi1K]

From some of the replies it seems people are still being very rigid with tactics around the number of bars of aggression they have their batters on, e.g. always start with X bars of aggression until a certain point then move up etc. I've posted about it before, but it seems to me in this edition this new E.RPO number is more important than the number of bars you set and so I'm basing my tactics around that. For T20s so far, I've put batters on however many bars are needed for the E.RPO number to be around 7 at first, and then move the aggression around each over in line with that number and reacting to the match situation. I'm sure this method isn't foolproof but I definitely feel way more in control of (and more successful with) limited-overs batting in this edition playing like this, and I'd say it's definitely worth trying if you're finding the old method of sticking constantly to a certain number of bars of aggression isn't working.

It's still early days in this edition for me, but so far in T20 matches I've got a win rate of over 60%, whereas in previous editions most seasons it was below 40% as I struggled so much with the format. So far in this edition the only times I've failed to make over 150 have been when I've been chasing a total that's lower than that, and that most definitely was not the case for me in previous editions.

[Lynx54321]

Massively disagree that players can't come in and score big from ball 1. I've had great success sending in my lads one off top aggression and watching them go big.

A couple examples below with Tom Abell who is a decent t20 batter but hardly a slogmeister supreme. Doesn't come off all the time but then neither should it. You've got to read the pitch, the opposition and sometimes just back your players. Also Lewis Gregory coming in and going big early doors, his first 5 balls went for 18 runs.

[DaveK93]

Reference for the OD games

Notts 332-7, Worcs 151
Notts 259-9, Sussex 182
Notts 221-8, Glamorgan 222-6
Surrey 216, Notts 218-3
Notts 300-5, Northants 184
Notts 301-4, Leics 277
Notts 300-7,Derbys 217
Notts 329-8, Somerset 274
Yorks 247-8, Notts 249-3 (SF)
Notts 267-8, Surrey 217 (F)

Once again, take into account lower totals are because I've lost wickets early, and rather than smash a quick 10-15 with the tail, I've conserved and got an extra 40-50.

Going aggressive in the powerplay, conserving between 11-27/28 and then pushing on from there is usually pretty successful

[cde]

As for batting in the OD matches the above tactics for the T20s stand but I start at 5 bar and only move above 6 when I have to chase hard or I have wickets in hand in the last 6 overs, in which case I got to 7 then 8 in the last two.

[cde]

As for the OD matches, selection is much the same bit far far harder thanks to the Hundred.

You will not have your best players until the final stages in the domestic game because they will be with the evil competition so until you are very successful and have money to spare your OD team will be the players you have left over, maybe FC specialists or young unproven players.

It is impossible to give guidelines because I just pick what I can and hope for the best. Eventually, when I have the money I sign promising youngsters or older pros who are missing out on the 100 on a year contract specifically for the OD matches. If they are no good, get picked up by the 100 or I need to tighten my belt I can just let them go.

You also have no idea if the players returning from the 100 for the last stages are decent OD players because T20 ability doesn't always translate to OD matches and young players have little to no OD experience because they are playing in the Hundred.

This applies to England internationals too. A few years down the line you have no idea which young players are good OD players because you have nothing to go on.

[DaveK93]

As a reference point, this is all the scores from my most recent T20 group stage. About what I'd expect to see

Notts 198-9, Worcs 178-6
Warwicks 76, Notts 80-6
Notts 178-9, Northants 177
Notts 169-8, Durham 138
Notts 154-8, Derbys 127-9
Notts 168-5, Lancs 168-8
Worcs 154-8, Notts 155-7
Derbys 149-8, Notts 153-3
Notts 180-4, Lancs 51
Notts 154-6, Leics 140
Warwicks 133-8,Notts 136-6
Notts 168, Yorks 105
Notts 132-6, 119-9
Durham 77, Notts 78-3

More often that not, the lower scores are attributed to turning or slower pitches - IRL you also see lower scores on these types of pitches.

[cde]

When you start off your T20 squad is going to have weak spots, often even at international level. The best way to build T20 success is to invest. Identify where you are weak and prioritise this when it cones to signings because the T20s are the best rewarded competitions and therefore the quickest way to build overall success.

[cde]

Experiment and know your players, pay attention to how and when they score.

Get to recognise the batsman who averages 30 by scoring between 28-32 every match and the one who averages 30 by following up 76 off 35 balls with four scores under 10.

There are the openers who actually do better at three and the batsmen who start small before going big and the batsmen who have an average of just 15 but a very strong strike rate.

If you put that slow starting batsman in the lower order you are not going to pile on the runs in the last overs but if they open and are out before they get going do you have the fire power lower down the order to make up for it? Too many 50-or-nothing players and you could be 180 or 130, too many steady players and you'll struggle to get over 150. The batting stats will tell you a lot.

Lastly if it isn't working after two games mix it up. The line-up I outlined generally works but move players around. The guide given in the player profile just tells you where they last played, not their best position. I've had big hitting players with fairly low averages floundering at 6 but thriving at 4 and openers struggling at the top of the order but excelling at 6.

[cde]

Form is the next biggest factor. In Glamorgan terms at would be better opening with David Lloyd at 75% form than if I had Warner on the books and his form was 25%. It is very very hard to turn form around in the T20s, unless he is an opener your batsman has to be able to smack it out of the park from the start and there is no space for turning it around. You know that if you bring in a weaker player they might smash a couple of good scores but can't keep it up but if you drop you star batsman into the 2nd XI for that time it might be enough to turn them around.

Have a look you players recent batting. They may be at 60% but is that because they made 146 three matches ago and not got over 25 since? That form might be on it's way down so be prepared to hook them from the team.

Be ruthless on form. There are a few players who struggle through the FC games but build form in the T20s but those are generally easy to spot from their 2nd XI scores anyway - poor 3 day but strong LO averages.

[cde]

The biggest factors are selection based on form and line up.

You are looking at average and strike rate and where you want to apply the two. As in all forms of cricket you have to start well, you can't be sure of winning a match with a strong start but it's a hell of a lot easier. In that regard I will make sure that if my overseas player isn't a T20 opener then I will sign two in my T20 slots.

I always play three openers at 1-3. One of my openers I would prioritise the strike rate and the other the average. For the opener at 3 I would look to their strike rate.

If I have a batsman with a high average but slightly lower strike rate they will come in at 4, otherwise I am looking for the nest combination of the two for batting at 4 and 5.

6 is the space for as high a strike rate as possible. This guy is my finisher and may be moved about the squad.

I then always look for two all-rounder but if I have four pie-hot bowlers it can make up for having only one. I always sign a genuine all-rounder as a T20 signing and there is more often than not a decent enough home-grown all-rounder. by genuine all rounder I am talking about someone with a batting average above 20 and a bowling average as low as possible, never over 28.

The last three spaces are taken up by the bowlers.