CLT20 2014: Fantasy Guru unveils the minnow-trick
I wouldn’t judge you if you have a look at the squads of Cape Cobras, Barbados Tridents and Dolphins and think how they managed to earn a qualification to what is billed as the clash of the best Twenty20 clubs around the world.
Put in a bit more research, and you would find out how. The Cobras have lost out on Sunil Narine and Jacques Kallis, both to Kolkata Knight Riders, and JP Duminy and Beuran Hendricks, who succumbed to injuries. The Tridents are missing out on Dwayne Smith, Kieron Pollard and Shoaib Malik, to Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians and Hobart Hurricanes, respectively. The case of Dolphins ain’t this bad; they enter the tournament without the services of only one of their first 11 players: David Miller.
The minnow trick
With these big names missing from the roster, there are really no standout options for fantasy teams from any of these sides. To exacerbate the issues, they are never far away from a no-show, meaning that even their best available players would be deprived of any chances to return points that they are ideally capable of. It is, therefore, advisable to not overload your fantasy teams with players from any of these teams.
Consider a team like Dolphins been set a target of 180. The usually consistent Morne van Wyk is under pressure straightaway coupled with the fall of wickets at the other end and tries to play a game that would bring him out of his comfort zone, resulting in his dismissal. Similarly, when one of these teams bat first and get dismissed for a below-par score, an otherwise effective bowler will be negated with ease. So, you need to be prudent when it comes to picking players from these teams.
Make sure, either way, the players you pick from these three sides stand a decent chance for returns.
Cape Cobras v Northern Knights
Transfers used – 1; Transfers remaining – 39
Suresh Raina out – Dane Vilas in
With the number of substitutions in the qualifiers, we would have been used to picking a bunch of players from Northern Knights. Given how the team performed in the first stage of the tournament, they gave back a lot of points, as well. It shouldn’t be the case anymore, though.
Ideally, I would be content to have one batsman and one bowler from the team. It doesn’t make sense to have more than two players from a team in a 10-team tournament.
I already have Kane Williamson and Trent Boult, part of the unit assembled ahead of the main stage. Picking Williamson ahead of any other Knights’ batsmen is clear as a bell: opens the innings, solid technique, reasonable aggression and is adept at playing spin. Boult will continue to get the nod ahead of Tim Southee match in, match out into my team for three reasons: a 200,000 cushion in budget, which is gold, for the natural angle of a left-armer and for being the more incisive of the two.
While the Cobras have a susceptible batting line-up, a bowling unit consisting of Robin Peterson, Charl Langeveldt, Dane Piedt, Vernon Philander and Justin Kemp and Justin Ontong to complete the 5th bowler quota is no pushover; therefore, expect the likes of Daniel Harris, Anton Devcich and Daniel Flynn, all reasonable picks, to be challenged out in the middle.
And you don’t expect Scott Styris to get you 3 wickets everytime.
When it comes to the Cobras’ batting unit, Hashim Amla is easily the best pick; I have him, too. Given his recent T20 form and that the Cobras play two matches in a 4-match round, getting him in is hard to resist. Ontong and Kemp bat way too down the order, and hence there is no certainty. For all the hitting abilities of Levi, he will have a horror time upfront against quality swing bowling: both in this match and against Hobart Hurricanes in the next fixture. That rules him out, as well. Stiaan Van Zyl is, at best, steady.
It leaves us with Dane Vilas, the wicket-keeper batsman. If not for the rise of Quinton de Kock, the right-hander, who made his international debut, against India, in 2012, would have got a decent run at the highest level, with De Villiers finding it difficult to manage his workload. To average 36.21 in 52 T20 innings and strike at a rate of 123.73 is no mean feat. Since the Schedule Mantra makes a case for him here and that he would bat during the safest of periods, I get him in despite the minnow trick working against him.
Remember, Schedule Mantra > any fantasy trick in the world. For those who are new to the series, read this to know what the mantra is all about.
Captain: Trent Boult