Judging Players by Role
Points follow involvement. Ask of every player: how much will he bat, bowl or keep in this match?
Wicketkeeper
Judge keepers by where they bat. One who opens or bats at three is involved from the first over; one at six or seven may barely bat.
Batters
Openers and the number-three batter face the most balls, especially in T20s. Middle-order batters matter more in ODIs or when the top order is fragile.
All-Rounders
Valuable only if they genuinely do both: batting in the top six and bowling several overs. Check recent matches; some "all-rounders" hardly bowl.
Bowlers
Look for bowlers who bowl their full quota, especially in the powerplay and at the death. On dry pitches, spinners gain; with cloud or grass, seamers gain.
A Quick Rating
| Question | Yes = |
|---|---|
| Sure to play and in a clear role? | +1 |
| Involved in key phases (top order, powerplay, death)? | +1 |
| Conditions suit his type? | +1 |
Three points: build around him. Two: good option. One: only if you need the role.
Balance
Take players from both sides unless the match strongly favours one. Mix batting and bowling so one kind of pitch doesn't sink you. The contest screen sets how many of each role you need.