The "Also-Rans" Test Draft

[Fuller Pilch]

The Draft is entitled The "Also Rans" Test Draft which implies the players selected must have played Test cricket (minimum of 1).

Makes sense.

 

[CricAddict]

We now have 13 starters so we will go ahead with that number.

The (revised) rules are:

In Cricket Chat I have posted (or will have posted) the first 5 XIs based on Member's votes in the Batsmen, Pace bowlers, Spinners, All-Rounders and Wicketkeeper/batsmen threads. These 55 players are ineligible for this draft, leaving us with the "Also rans".

The usual draft rules apply with the odd numbered rounds decided by randomiser and the following even numbered rounds the reverse of the preceding odd round.

There will be a 12 hour limit for the first round with subsequent rounds having an 8 hour limit. Draft choices can be left with me if needed.

The ineligible players are: (Sehwag has an unassailable lead for the next spot in the openers voting. Based on the Batting list, Haydn would be next but there is a swing towards either B.Richards or Morris. We will wait until that spot is filled, then I'll post the draw and we can start)

First XI	Second XI	Third XI	Fourth XI	Fifth XI
Hobbs	Gavaskar	Boycott	Simpson	Sehwag
Hutton	Sutcliffe	G.Smith	Greenidge	???
Bradman	Lara	Headley	Sangakarra	Barrington
Tendulkar	S.Smith	G.Chappell	G.Pollock	Miandad
Richards	Hammond	Ponting	Border	S.Waugh
Sobers	Imran Khan	Kallis	Miller	Botham
Gilchrist	Knott	Watling	Ames	S.Pollock
Hadlee	Warne	Wasim Akram	Lindwall	Healy
Marshall	Lillee	Trueman	Holding	Davidson
Muralitharan	Steyn	Donald	Laker	Waqar Younis
McGrath	Ambrose	O'Reilly	Garner	Grimmett

@Magrat Garlick Is it possible for you to update the OP with this list?

 

[CricAddict]

The Draft is entitled The "Also Rans" Test Draft which implies the players selected must have played Test cricket (minimum of 1).

Hi L&L, there are a lot of ATG players who are not in those lists like Barnes or Kapil/Walsh etc. but the real definition of Also Rans (provided below) are people like Vijay Bharadwaj and Kanitkar who did not make it big in test cricket.

also-rans meaning - Google Search

www.google.com

So, what does this draft focus on? The real Also Rans or ATGs excluding those in the list?

 

[ataraxia]

They were also candidates in the lists, hence they are also-rans.

 

[Teuton]

Are Players ineligible for the lists (iirc) eligible for this draft?

Barnes Grace Trumper etc

 

[Himannv]

Totally forgot about those guys. Thanks for reminding me fellas!

 

[CricAddict]

They were also candidates in the lists, hence they are also-rans.

Doesn't make sense to me to term people like Walsh as also-rans but it is a draft and so, let's play and have fun.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

@Magrat Garlick Is it possible for you to update the OP with this list?

Done

 

[Line and Length]

I used the term "Also Rans" loosely. Any player who played Test cricket is better than an 'also-ran' cricketer but in this context they didn't make one of the top five XIs and thus, from that aspect, were 'Also Rans'.

 

[Line and Length]

Are Players ineligible for the lists (iirc) eligible for this draft?

Barnes Grace Trumper etc

Yes

 

[ankitj]

Are Players ineligible for the lists (iirc) eligible for this draft?

Barnes Grace Trumper etc

Thanks.

 

[HookShot]

Barry Richards currently leads Hayden 8-5 in the Openers thread.

So Can we call the final spot for Richards?

He‘s the better batsman anyway

 

[trundler]

No, hopefully common sense will prevail.

 

[Line and Length]

Barry Richards currently leads Hayden 8-5 in the Openers thread.

So Can we call the final spot for Richards?

He‘s the better batsman anyway

There are rarely more than a dozen votes so I'll give it another 12 hours then make the move. Still have to do the new draft order with 17 participants.

 

[Line and Length]

A reminder of who's ineligible. B.Richards a hot favourite to take the final spot.
With 17 competitors, we may need a way to ensure drafting flows reasonably quickly. Two options are (1) Reduce draft time to 6 hours (ii) keep the 8 hour limit but allow the next in line to jump in after 4 hours.
Suggestions?

First XI	Second XI	Third XI	Fourth XI	Fifth XI
Hobbs	Gavaskar	Boycott	Simpson	Sehwag
Hutton	Sutcliffe	G.Smith	Greenidge	???
Bradman	Lara	Headley	Sangakarra	Barrington
Tendulkar	S.Smith	G.Chappell	G.Pollock	Miandad
Richards	Hammond	Ponting	Border	S.Waugh
Sobers	Imran Khan	Kallis	Miller	Botham
Gilchrist	Knott	Watling	Ames	S.Pollock
Hadlee	Warne	Wasim Akram	Lindwall	Healy
Marshall	Lillee	Trueman	Holding	Davidson
Muralitharan	Steyn	Donald	Laker	Waqar Younis
McGrath	Ambrose	O'Reilly	Garner	Grimmett

 

[Teuton]

One way I have tried is to run 2 rounds concurrently. It does require the organiser and enough participants to be very on the ball but did work in my experience.

ie R1 & R2 are run at the same time, so last in R1 is actually up straight away since they will be first in R2. So there are always 2 people up a time with a pause for the round list that finishes first. Sure, one round list will get a bit ahead of the other but it more or less evens out.

 

[honestbharani]

I like the second option.

 

[ankitj]

We can also make each odd round a first come first serve instead of fixing the order. Even rounds can be in the order they picked in the previous round. Would speed up significantly

 

[CricAddict]

There are anyways not too many drafts running. I think this is the first draft after 3 months or so. I am fine to take it slow. Just the normal draft process with 8 hour limit works fine for me.

 

[Line and Length]

There's been no voting in the Opening Batsmen Poll for 18 hours so we can assume Barry Richards gains the final spot in the Fifth XI and is ineligible.
We can now start the draft with slightly modified rules regarding time limits. The first pick in Round 1 has 12 hours but all future Round 1 picks have 8 hours.
Once Round 2 starts, the 8 hour time remains but the next in line can jump in after 4 hours.
I thought about Teuton's idea of running two Rounds at a time but decided against it. Thanks for the idea @Teuton and to all others who contributed ideas.
I will endeavour to post the 5 ineligible teams on each page as well as a list of selections after each Round.

ROUND 1
ataraxia
Red
Himannv
CricAddict
Pothas
Fuller Pilch
AndrewB
trundler
Nikkil99.9
Line & Length
Teuton
mr_mister
Bitmap
Hook Shot
ankitj
honestbharani
JOJOXI

ROUND 2
Reverse of Round 1

Good luck and enjoy. We are underway.