At a glance
- County Championship Cricket Draft Picks to target before this weekend’s fixtures
- Why bowlers who can bat are dominating fantasy cricket scoring
- Differential picks including Kiran Carlson and Miles Hammond
County Championship fantasy cricket is rapidly becoming the perfect antidote for those suffering from FPL fatigue. While Fantasy Premier League continues to dominate group chats and office conversations nationwide, county cricket fans now have a fantasy platform built specifically for the domestic game thanks to The Cricket Draft.
What makes it even more appealing is the depth. This isn’t just a four-day cricket game. The County Championship, One-Day Cup and Vitality Blast are all covered, meaning committed county followers can stay engaged right through the summer.
We’ll be diving into all formats in future weeks, but ahead of this weekend’s Championship fixtures, there are already some fascinating selection trends developing.
County Championship Cricket Draft Picks to Target this weekend
One of the major talking points emerging from the early weeks of the season, and something discussed on the podcast, is whether fantasy managers should prioritise bowlers capable of chipping in with runs over players officially classified as all-rounders.
The classic example this season has been Sussex.
Ollie Robinson has rediscovered form with the bat in dramatic fashion, smashing a century against Surrey alongside useful contributions elsewhere this season. If a frontline bowler is suddenly adding triple-figure innings to wicket-taking returns, the value becomes enormous.
Then there’s Jack Carson, who continues to quietly rack up fantasy points through lower-order runs. A century and another fifty already this season have made him one of the standout differential picks in the game.
Perhaps the most eye-catching example though is Mason Crane. The Hampshire leg-spinner already has 17 wickets this season, but it’s his batting that has elevated him into genuine fantasy relevance.
Two fifties, 201 runs at an average above 50 and a brutal 99 in the last round show he’s capable of delivering valuable cameos almost every week.
Meanwhile, Michael Booth also fits the mould perfectly. He already has a fifty to his name this season and now faces a Yorkshire side who still look vulnerable. Against potential relegation candidates, Booth could provide excellent value through both disciplines.
Kiran Carlson and Ben Sanderson setting the pace
Two players in particular are currently separating themselves from the pack on The Cricket Draft: Kiran Carlson and Ben Sanderson.
Carlson has been sensational.
The Glamorgan captain has piled up 432 runs at a remarkable average of 72.00, including a century and two fifties in just four matches. His spectacular double hundred against Hampshire showcased exactly why he’s becoming one of the must-have fantasy assets in county cricket.
What makes the pick even more intriguing is his ownership. Despite those numbers, Carlson is currently selected by just 1.8% of players, making him one of the standout differential captaincy options heading into the weekend.
On the bowling side, Sanderson continues to dominate Division One batters. The Northamptonshire seamer leads the wicket charts with 25 scalps at an astonishing average of 15.92, carrying much of the burden for Northamptonshire as they push for promotion from Division Two.
Reliable wicket-takers are gold dust in fantasy cricket and Sanderson is currently the safest bowling pick in the game.
Targeting Kent Could be the Smart Play
Fantasy players also appear to be circling one fixture in particular this weekend: Gloucestershire vs Kent.
Kent have endured a miserable start to the season and at times have struggled to even compete for sessions, let alone matches. Gloucestershire themselves are hardly flying. They sit bottom of the table with one win from four and only two batting points collected so far, but this feels like a genuine opportunity for both sides to produce fantasy value.
Playing at home, Gloucestershire may well find themselves batting twice, which immediately increases the appeal of their top-order options.
Miles Hammond stands out especially strongly. Two fifties and a century in just three games underline his consistency, while the commanding 145 against Derbyshire in the previous round demonstrated the kind of innings-winning form that can generate huge fantasy totals.
If Kent’s struggles continue, Hammond could easily become one of the highest scorers of the round.
And with fantasy county cricket still growing, this is exactly the kind of fixture where sharp managers can steal an edge before the wider player base catches on.
For county cricket fans looking for something to scratch the competitive fantasy itch beyond football, The Cricket Draft is quickly becoming one of the most enjoyable ways to follow the domestic season. Find the app and get involved here.
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