Eleven to One: an ODI RNG Draft

[Aislabie]

Too late to join? @Aislabie

Nope, not too late at all

 

[Aislabie]

@Aislabie


Frankly, my fortune at the start of this draft has been borderline unreasonable. Ben Stokes comes into my team, and he will bat at five.


1. David Boon (R2)
5. Ben Stokes (R3)
6. Shakib Al Hasan (R1)

- - - - -

@Supreme General


Rassie van der Dussen and his stonking batting average come in at number four - the backbone of what could be a very strong middle order.


1. Aaron Finch (R1)
4. Rassie van der Dussen (R3)
5. Glenn Maxwell (R2)

- - - - -

@Ed Smith


Aiden Markram comes in here as a solid opening batter; he might also prove to be a handy fifth or sixth bowler in a pinch.


2. Aiden Markram (R3)
5. Ken Rutherford (R1)
11. Jasprit Bumrah (R2)

- - - - -

@ddrap14


This is an absolutely enormous pool of players, and Ddrap's XI now has an all-time great opening bowler.


1. Herschelle Gibbs (R1)
5. Arjuna Ranatunga (R2)
8. Malcolm Marshall (R3)

- - - - -

@VC the slogger


Morne Morkel is a strong pick, even with Eoin Morgan and Danny Morrison also on the table. Daniel Morgan absolutely robbed.


2. Sourav Ganguly (R1)
8. Romario Shepherd (R2)
11. Morne Morkel (R3)

- - - - -

@Aravind.


This is a bonkers pool with both Desmond Haynes and Josh Hazlewood, but ultimately the player to emerge is Matthew Hayden.


1. Matthew Hayden (R3)
2. Aamer Sohail (R1)
7. David Willey (R2)

- - - - -

@ahmedleo414


He wouldn't have been my pick here, but Ahmedleo fancies the raw pace of Monde Zondeki for his team.


8. Ravichandran Ashwin (R1)
10. Monde Zondeki (R3)
11. Courtney Walsh (R2)

- - - - -

@Umair7


Out of an interesting pool of players, Umair chose Ashley Mallett's off-spin. A very interesting pick indeed.


2. Phil Salt (R2)
4. Jacques Kallis (R1)
10. Ashley Mallett (R3)

- - - - -

@Disharies


Despite the availability of such luminaries as Ian Healy and Tom Heggelman, Disharies has gone for the fast-scoring Travis Head at the top of the order.


1. Travis Head (R3)
2. Gary Kirsten (R1)
6. Cameron White (R2)

- - - - -

@pillowprocter


Despite the presence of two Kenyan wicket-keepers (I personally would have gone for Kennedy Otieno to cover that base), Procter has put his trust in "strong domestic seamer" Michael Owens.


3. Zubayr Hamza (R2)
8. Dunith Wellalage (R1)
10. Michael Owens (R3)

- - - - -

@Verified Enigma


The very reliable Andy Balbirnie gets the nod to bat at number three; also a shout out to Malinga Bandara, who was one of my favourite bowlers growing up.


6. Rishabh Pant (R1)
11. Ishant Sharma (R2)

- - - - -

@Till Valhalla


In most other pools, someone like Khurram Khan would pick himself. Not this one though:


1. Usman Khawaja (R3)
3. Rahul Dravid (R1)
11. Winston Davis (R2)

- - - - -

@mohsin7827


Tim Southee has a World Cup seven-for, not to mention the ability to biff sixes late in the innings.


8. Sam Curran (R1)
9. Tim Southee (R3)
10. Andre Nel (R2)

- - - - -

@Neo 7


The in-form Bangladeshi seamer Taskin Ahmed gets the nod for Neo's team; he's likely to be one of the fastest bowlers on any team.


4. Jos Buttler (R1)
9. Alex Wharf (R2)
10. Taskin Ahmed (R3)

- - - - -

@Neptune


UAE opener Rohan Mustafa gets the nod here, but he'll be moved out of his usual position and down to number seven in the batting order.


5. Andrew Symonds (R2)
7. Rohan Mustafa (R3)
9. Wahab Riaz (R1)

- - - - -

@Na Maloom Afraad


Here we have an easy pick: Faf du Plessis, batting at number three.


3. Faf du Plessis (R3)
6. Paras Khadka (R2)
10. Ajantha Mendis (R1)

- - - - -

@CerealKiller
A late arrival, CerealKiller had three pools to pick from:

1:


2:


3:


He asked me to make sure to mention that he's an Islamabad United fan.


6. Shadab Khan (R3)
7. Luke Ronchi (R1)
9. Kagiso Rabada (R2)

- - - - -

Everyone's Round Four pools will be coming shortly, from which you will again have 48 hours to make your picks.

 

[ddrap14]

This is an absolutely enormous pool of players

I only counted 9, same as everyone else

 

[CerealKiller]

He asked me to make sure to mention that he's an Islamabad United fan.

@Na Maloom Afraad puked while reading this

 

[Neptune]

@ddrap14

The 7th choice player in this pool is better than the one I got

 

[Na Maloom Afraad]

@Na Maloom Afraad puked while reading this

In my defense, ISLU fans are really insufferable

 

[Aislabie]

@Aislabie


Well, out of a pretty modest pool of players I had to pick the Northants man. Johann Louw was pretty sharp when he bent his back, and could also biff a very long ball. He hit three sixes from the seven balls he faced in ODIs.


1. David Boon (R2)
5. Ben Stokes (R3)
6. Shakib Al Hasan (R1)
8. Johann Louw (R4)

- - - - -

@Supreme General


He might not have conquered Test cricket, but Abdur Razzak was a force to be reckoned with with the white ball. Great pick.


1. Aaron Finch (R1)
4. Rassie van der Dussen (R3)
5. Glenn Maxwell (R2)
9. Abdur Razzak (R4)

- - - - -

@Ed Smith


A big unit who's perfectly capable of dominating with the new ball - a very good pick, even if his career is still very young.


2. Aiden Markram (R3)
5. Ken Rutherford (R1)
10. Kyle Jamieson (R4)
11. Jasprit Bumrah (R2)

- - - - -

@ddrap14


Not a fast scorer by any means, but if for some reason your team got into a fight then Kepler Wessels was your man. I do mean a literal fight, although he was good in cricketing fights too.


1. Herschelle Gibbs (R1)
2. Kepler Wessels (R4)
5. Arjuna Ranatunga (R2)
8. Malcolm Marshall (R3)

- - - - -

@VC the slogger


One of his country's best ever cricketers, Ed Joyce is a natural fit at number three.


2. Sourav Ganguly (R1)
3. Ed Joyce (R4)
8. Romario Shepherd (R2)
11. Morne Morkel (R3)

- - - - -

@Aravind.


Who else was it going to be?


1. Matthew Hayden (R3)
2. Aamer Sohail (R1)
7. David Willey (R2)
11. Allan Donald (R4)

- - - - -

@ahmedleo414


James Foster is locked in as a top-quality gloveman, but by slotting him in at number nine Ahmedleo guarantees that everyone else who comes along now has to bat in his top seven.


8. Ravichandran Ashwin (R1)
9. James Foster (R4)
10. Monde Zondeki (R3)
11. Courtney Walsh (R2)

- - - - -

@Umair7


Manjural Islam Rana tragically died aged just 22. Had he lived, he would have been one of his country's best ever players: he could bat, bowl and field as well as anyone else going around.


2. Phil Salt (R2)
4. Jacques Kallis (R1)
9. Manjural Islam Rana (R4)
10. Ashley Mallett (R3)

- - - - -

@Disharies


When faced with a player pool like this one, why not roll the dice on a left-arm wrist spinner?


1. Travis Head (R3)
2. Gary Kirsten (R1)
6. Cameron White (R2)
9. Zahir Khan (R4)

- - - - -

@pillowprocter


Well that's a bit more like it.


3. Zubayr Hamza (R2)
8. Dunith Wellalage (R1)
9. Shane Bond (R4)
10. Michael Owens (R3)

- - - - -

@Verified Enigma


Gerrie Erasmus is put up at the lofty heights of number four, and is expected also to be used in a bowling role. Big stuff for an associate player.


3. Andy Balbirnie (R3)
4. Gerrie Erasmus (R4)
6. Rishabh Pant (R1)
11. Ishant Sharma (R2)

- - - - -

@Till Valhalla


It looks like Rahul Dravid will be able to focus on his batting, assuming that Parthiv is indeed preferred to keep wicket.


1. Usman Khawaja (R3)
2. Parthiv Patel (R4)
3. Rahul Dravid (R1)
11. Winston Davis (R2)

- - - - -

@mohsin7827


Another New Zealand World Cup hero - Grant Elliott really did take to ODI cricket like a duck to water.


5. Grant Elliott (R4)
8. Sam Curran (R1)
9. Tim Southee (R3)
10. Andre Nel (R2)

- - - - -

@Neo 7


The beard that so many opening bowlers feared.


1. Hashim Amla (R4)
4. Jos Buttler (R1)
9. Alex Wharf (R2)
10. Taskin Ahmed (R3)

- - - - -

@Neptune


The fact that Michael Kasprowicz only played 43 games in a ten-year career shows how unreasonably good the Australian team was at the time. Top quality bowler.


5. Andrew Symonds (R2)
7. Rohan Mustafa (R3)
9. Wahab Riaz (R1)
10. Michael Kasprowicz (R4)

- - - - -

@Na Maloom Afraad


Ten overs, eight maidens, three runs for four wickets. The wickets weren't bad either - Asif Mujtaba, Aamer Sohail, Saleem Malik and Javed Miandad. Mind-blowing that he only ever got four Test wickets.


2. Phil Simmons (R4)
3. Faf du Plessis (R3)
6. Paras Khadka (R2)
10. Ajantha Mendis (R1)

- - - - -

@CerealKiller


If you were picking an all-time Pakistan ODI XI, surely Fakhar has to open the batting alongside Saeed Anwar? (Then Babar, Zaheer, Miandad and Imran round off the top six)


1. Fakhar Zaman (R4)
6. Shadab Khan (R3)
7. Luke Ronchi (R1)
9. Kagiso Rabada (R2)

- - - - -

Everyone's Round Five pools will be coming shortly, from which you will again have 48 hours to make your picks.

 

[ddrap14]

Another New Zealand World Cup hero - Grant Elliott really did take to ODI cricket like a duck to water.

I have fond memories of 2015, and as much as I was directly rooting against the Kiwis, this guy kinda captured my imagination (his last time in Australia was when I was 3, and I didn't really understand what was going on on the TV - so it felt like some nobody coming in and absolutely biffing the ball consistently)

 

[Till Valhalla]

10. Kyle Jamieson (R4)

A bit low?

 

[Aislabie]

@Aislabie


Now seems like a good time to get a keeper into my ranks, and in Wesley Barresi we have one who is also a strong batter with big-match temperament.


1. David Boon (R2)
3. Wesley Barresi (R5)
5. Ben Stokes (R3)
6. Shakib Al Hasan (R1)
8. Johann Louw (R4)

- - - - -

@Supreme General


Allan Lamb at number three seemed like the obvious pick here, especially once Supreme General emphasised that he was "not the New Zealand selectors".


1. Aaron Finch (R1)
3. Allan Lamb (R5)
4. Rassie van der Dussen (R3)
5. Glenn Maxwell (R2)
9. Abdur Razzak (R4)

- - - - -

@Ed Smith


Watch out for bats on the ceiling, because the superstitious Neil McKenzie is due to come in at number four.


2. Aiden Markram (R3)
4. Neil McKenzie (R5)
5. Ken Rutherford (R1)
10. Kyle Jamieson (R4)
11. Jasprit Bumrah (R2)

- - - - -

@ddrap14


Well this is quite the new ball pairing. The makings of quite a scary team here.


1. Herschelle Gibbs (R1)
2. Kepler Wessels (R4)
5. Arjuna Ranatunga (R2)
8. Malcolm Marshall (R3)
11. Makhaya Ntini (R5)

- - - - -

@VC the slogger


I really rate Upul Tharanga as someone who enabled those around him to bat at their very best; interestingly, VC doesn't particularly agree despite picking him.


1. Upul Tharanga (R5)
2. Sourav Ganguly (R1)
3. Ed Joyce (R4)
8. Romario Shepherd (R2)
11. Morne Morkel (R3)

- - - - -

@Aravind.


This pick genuinely surprised me; Nathan Lyon gets the nod in his weakest format.


1. Matthew Hayden (R3)
2. Aamer Sohail (R1)
7. David Willey (R2)
10. Nathan Lyon (R5)
11. Allan Donald (R4)

- - - - -

@ahmedleo414


Ahmed is getting absolutely cruel RNG in this draft. He has to take Dale Benkenstein out of this bunch, a domestic giant who never kicked on in international cricket.


7. Dale Benkenstein (R5)
8. Ravichandran Ashwin (R1)
9. James Foster (R4)
10. Monde Zondeki (R3)
11. Courtney Walsh (R2)

- - - - -

@Umair7


Another of my slightly weird favourite cricketers gets picked here: Jahurul Islam gets picked to (probably) keep wickets and bat at number seven.


2. Phil Salt (R2)
4. Jacques Kallis (R1)
7. Jahurul Islam (R5)
9. Manjural Islam Rana (R4)
10. Ashley Mallett (R3)

- - - - -

@Disharies


In the wise words of Disharies after I sent him this pool, "Bro, what is this lol?" Ravindra Pushpakumara comes out of this pretty much by default.


1. Travis Head (R3)
2. Gary Kirsten (R1)
6. Cameron White (R2)
8. Ravindra Pushpakumara (R5)
9. Zahir Khan (R4)

- - - - -

@pillowprocter


I still can't quite believe that Pat Cummins misses out here, but Cullinan to strengthen the batting does also have some logic behind it.


3. Zubayr Hamza (R2)
4. Daryll Cullinan (R5)
8. Dunith Wellalage (R1)
9. Shane Bond (R4)
10. Michael Owens (R3)

- - - - -

@Verified Enigma


With his preferred number three and four already occupied, Greg Chappell gets pushed up to open the batting, which should make the most of his undeniable skill.


2. Greg Chappell (R5)
3. Andy Balbirnie (R3)
4. Gerrie Erasmus (R4)
6. Rishabh Pant (R1)
11. Ishant Sharma (R2)

- - - - -

@Till Valhalla


Not only does Brad Hogg provide exciting wrist-spin and punchy batting, but he also provides unlimited excitement in the dressing room.


1. Usman Khawaja (R3)
2. Parthiv Patel (R4)
3. Rahul Dravid (R1)
8. Brad Hogg (R5)
11. Winston Davis (R2)

- - - - -

@mohsin7827


Paul Stirling contributes 13 ODI centuries, but he also contributes a healthy dose of Irish stereotype. A very


2. Paul Stirling (R5)
5. Grant Elliott (R4)
8. Sam Curran (R1)
9. Tim Southee (R3)
10. Andre Nel (R2)

- - - - -

@Neo 7


One of the most complete players to debut in international cricket in the last decade, Devon Conway perfectly complements Hashim Amla at the top of the order.


1. Hashim Amla (R4)
2. Devon Conway (R5)
4. Jos Buttler (R1)
9. Alex Wharf (R2)
10. Taskin Ahmed (R3)

- - - - -

@Neptune


Chris Cairns comes into this powerhouse middle-order, and might also complete the seam bowling attack for Neptune. Happily, his health is also holding up pretty well lately, which is frankly miraculous given the last few years he's had.


5. Andrew Symonds (R2)
6. Chris Cairns (R5)
7. Rohan Mustafa (R3)
9. Wahab Riaz (R1)
10. Michael Kasprowicz (R4)

- - - - -

@Na Maloom Afraad


The obvious outstanding pick from this pool of players, Lahiru Thirimanne will open the batting alongside Phil Simmons; a perfectly functional pairing.


1. :sri Lahiru Thirimanne (R5)
2. Phil Simmons (R4)
3. Faf du Plessis (R3)
6. Paras Khadka (R2)
10. Ajantha Mendis (R1)

- - - - -

@CerealKiller


This is a truly excellent new ball pairing - Josh Hazlewood is such a relentless bowler, and has experienced a renaissance since he switched focus to white-ball cricket.


1. Fakhar Zaman (R4)
6. Shadab Khan (R3)
7. Luke Ronchi (R1)
9. Kagiso Rabada (R2)
10. Josh Hazlewood (R5)

- - - - -

Everyone's Round Six pools will be coming shortly, from which you will again have 48 hours to make your picks.

 

[Fenil]

Missed the bus. Looks like a fun league

 

[Aislabie]

Missed the bus. Looks like a fun league

I can absolutely include you - it's not too late to join

 

[Fenil]

I can absolutely include you - it's not too late to join

Lets do it then!

 

[Aislabie]

@Aislabie


Looks like I'll be going with Norman Vanua. I don't feel comfortable putting him in the top seven though, so he slots in below Johann Louw.


1. David Boon (R2)
3. Wesley Barresi (R5)
5. Ben Stokes (R3)
6. Shakib Al Hasan (R1)
8. Johann Louw (R4)
9. Norman Vanua (R6)

- - - - -

@Supreme General


I fully thought Aravinda was the one to go here, but with no seamer in his team yet it was Sujeewa who went instead.


1. Aaron Finch (R1)
3. Allan Lamb (R5)
4. Rassie van der Dussen (R3)
5. Glenn Maxwell (R2)
9. Abdur Razzak (R4)
11. Sujeewa de Silva (R6)

- - - - -

@Ed Smith


Ayyyy another Northants player.


2. Aiden Markram (R3)
4. Neil McKenzie (R5)
5. Ken Rutherford (R1)
7. Elton Chigumbura (R6)
10. Kyle Jamieson (R4)
11. Jasprit Bumrah (R2)

- - - - -

@ddrap14


And another fast bowler; this really is shaping up well.


1. Herschelle Gibbs (R1)
2. Kepler Wessels (R4)
5. Arjuna Ranatunga (R2)
8. Malcolm Marshall (R3)
10. Gladstone Small (R6)
11. Makhaya Ntini (R5)

- - - - -

@VC the slogger


The big-hitting Ken Wadsworth is a phenomenal pick. He tragically died far too soon, from skin cancer. I would have put him up at six, but seven does leave space for more batters.


1. Upul Tharanga (R5)
2. Sourav Ganguly (R1)
3. Ed Joyce (R4)
7. Ken Wadsworth (R6)
8. Romario Shepherd (R2)
11. Morne Morkel (R3)

- - - - -

@Aravind.


This was a straightforward decision.


1. Matthew Hayden (R3)
2. Aamer Sohail (R1)
7. David Willey (R2)
9. Ian Bishop (R6)
10. Nathan Lyon (R5)
11. Allan Donald (R4)

- - - - -

@ahmedleo414


Finally an opening batter - and a saving on the helmet budget, because good grief that is some hair.


1. Qasim Umar (R6)
7. Dale Benkenstein (R5)
8. Ravichandran Ashwin (R1)
9. James Foster (R4)
10. Monde Zondeki (R3)
11. Courtney Walsh (R2)

- - - - -

@Umair7


And here comes the right player in the wrong position: Lonwabo Tsotsobe is at number eight, despite number eleven being available for him.


2. Phil Salt (R2)
4. Jacques Kallis (R1)
7. Jahurul Islam (R5)
8. Lonwabo Tsotsobe (R6)
9. Manjural Islam Rana (R4)
10. Ashley Mallett (R3)

- - - - -

@Disharies


This is a really good time for a wicket-keeper to come up. Disharies snaps him up.


1. Travis Head (R3)
2. Gary Kirsten (R1)
5. Aasif Sheikh (R6)
6. Cameron White (R2)
8. Ravindra Pushpakumara (R5)
9. Zahir Khan (R4)

- - - - -

@pillowprocter


He might be a tiny bit high up the order at number seven, but Courtney Browne is a capable wicket-keeper with big match temperament. He also continues the streak of players you've picked who I wouldn't have done: so far we only agree on Shane Bond.


3. Zubayr Hamza (R2)
4. Daryll Cullinan (R5)
7. Courtney Browne (R6)
8. Dunith Wellalage (R1)
9. Shane Bond (R4)
10. Michael Owens (R3)

- - - - -

@Verified Enigma


Nothing says successful draft like the words "all-Indian seam attack", but in fairness this one is coming along rather well.


2. Greg Chappell (R5)
3. Andy Balbirnie (R3)
4. Gerrie Erasmus (R4)
6. Rishabh Pant (R1)
10. Javagal Srinath (R6)
11. Ishant Sharma (R2)

- - - - -

@Till Valhalla


Despite the presence of the big-hitting Shafiqullah Shinwari, the winning player from this pool is a Bangladeshi "fast" bowler from the late 1990s.


1. Usman Khawaja (R3)
2. Parthiv Patel (R4)
3. Rahul Dravid (R1)
8. Brad Hogg (R5)
10. Shafiuddin Ahmed (R6)
11. Winston Davis (R2)

- - - - -

@mohsin7827


Steve Tikolo, Kenya's greatest cricketer, comes in to bat at number five. Hashan Tillakaratne might have been useful to have as a keeping option though.


2. Paul Stirling (R5)
4. Steve Tikolo (R6)
5. Grant Elliott (R4)
8. Sam Curran (R1)
9. Tim Southee (R3)
10. Andre Nel (R2)

- - - - -

@Neo 7


Not choosing Max Walker was really weird here, but Malcolm Waller could prove to be a handy utility player.


1. Hashim Amla (R4)
2. Devon Conway (R5)
4. Jos Buttler (R1)
7. Malcolm Waller (R6)
9. Alex Wharf (R2)
10. Taskin Ahmed (R3)

- - - - -

@Neptune


This is one of the easiest picks in the entire draft: ODI pioneer Dean Jones.


3. Dean Jones (R6)
5. Andrew Symonds (R2)
6. Chris Cairns (R5)
7. Rohan Mustafa (R3)
9. Wahab Riaz (R1)
10. Michael Kasprowicz (R4)

- - - - -

@Na Maloom Afraad


His ODI numbers are kinda grim at the minute, but surely they can't stay that way for long.


1. Lahiru Thirimanne (R5)
2. Phil Simmons (R4)
3. Faf du Plessis (R3)
5. Suryakumar Yadav (R6)
6. Paras Khadka (R2)
10. Ajantha Mendis (R1)

- - - - -

@CerealKiller


Along with Shadab Khan, this latest pick makes for a fantastic spin pairing.


1. Fakhar Zaman (R4)
6. Shadab Khan (R3)
7. Luke Ronchi (R1)
8. Graeme Swann (R6)
9. Kagiso Rabada (R2)
10. Josh Hazlewood (R5)

- - - - -

@Fenil
There were six rounds of picks to catch up with, and here's how that went:

1:


2:


3:


4:


5:


6:


I think you'll be able to guess most of the picks to have come out of these pools. Sadly no Clive Rice, so here's how it went.




1. Adam Gilchrist (R4)
4. Rameez Shahzad (R3)
7. Jan Frylinck (R6)
9. Paul Reiffel (R2)
10. Zaheer Khan (R1)
11. Nathan Bracken (R5)

- - - - -

Everyone's Round Seven pools will be coming shortly, from which you will again have 48 hours to make your picks.

 

[Fenil]

Darn! I missed Clive Rice but Reiffel isn't shabby. Experienced proven pacer and a handy lower order bat.