Composition: the role balance
A balanced XI covers the role types your contest type rewards. The composition matters more than the individual picks; a strong captain on a weak side rarely wins. The composition below is a reasonable default; adjust to your contest type and your read on the match.
| Role | Count | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Wicket-keeper | 1 to 2 | Catches, stumpings plus batting volume. |
| Batter | 3 to 5 | Boundary bonus, strike-rate bonus. |
| All-rounder | 1 to 3 | Dual role; unlocks lineup shapes. |
| Bowler | 3 to 5 | Wickets, dot balls, economy bonus. |
Salary cap math
The salary cap forces trade-offs. A captain-heavy lineup is rarely the right answer in a balanced contest because the captain consumes budget that could otherwise fund a deeper batting lineup. The math of the cap is straightforward: sum the credits of your eleven picks, leave two or three credits unspent as a buffer for late swaps, and respect the role minimums your operator imposes.
Choosing a captain
Pick a player whose role is locked, who has high ceiling against the specific opposition and whose batting position or bowling overs are guaranteed. The captain's points are multiplied by two, so role security matters more than recent points. Read the captaincy guide for the full framework.
A worked fictional lineup
The example below is fictional. It uses a fictional match, fictional player names and a fictional credit budget. The picks do not represent a recommendation; the example is intended to walk through the team-building decisions, not to identify winners.
| Slot | Fictional role | Fictional cost | Captain / VC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wicket-keeper-batter (opener) | 10.5 | Vice-captain |
| 2 | Top-order anchor | 10.0 | Captain |
| 3 | Middle-order accelerator | 9.5 | |
| 4 | Spin all-rounder | 10.0 | |
| 5 | Middle-order batter | 8.5 | |
| 6 | Wicket-keeper-batter | 8.0 | |
| 7 | Death-overs pace | 9.5 | |
| 8 | New-ball pace | 8.5 | |
| 9 | Death-overs pace | 9.0 | |
| 10 | Spin bowler | 8.5 | |
| 11 | Spinner | 7.5 | |
| Total spent | 99.5 of 100 | ||
The captain pick is the top-order anchor because the role is locked and the floor is high; the vice-captain is the wicket-keeper-batter opener because the ceiling is high and the budget frees up the differential picks lower in the order.
Pre-lock checklist
Run through the checklist below before locking your lineup.
Common swaps after the toss
If the toss changes the chase dynamic, consider swapping a death-overs-only bowler for an extra spinner; if dew is heavy, consider upgrading your batting depth. The impact-player announcement can also force a swap if the announced player was in your shortlist.
Confidence label: editorial inference. The worked example is fictional; refine with your own reads.