The 606v2 Ultimate Points Chaser Competition for the 70th Ashes Series

First topic message reminder :

With the opening Ashes Test only around a week away I thought we should get an Ashes competition underway – similar to the ones we did way back in 2011 and 2009 on the old BBC site. I thought they were pretty good fun with around 30 people involved at the time.

I'm trying to rekindle that sort of interest.        


Rules:

1.
Pick 2 (two) batsmen and 2 (two) bowlers from both Australia and England who you think will score the most runs and take the most wickets.
You get both batting and bowling points per innings so a bowler who scores runs has both batting and bowling scores added together.

e.g.
Warner, Smith, Starc, Lyon
Cook, Root, Broad, Ali

2.
Pick 1 (one) fielder from each team; excluding wicket keepers for most catches in the Series.
Can be a bowler (for c&b) if you want.

e.g.
Woakes, Handscomb

3.
Select the total number of catches, stumpings and run outs combined by each wicket keeper for each Test.
I will need your 2 (two) selected numbers in 24 hours prior to commencement of each Test match.
If a wicket keeper is injured then the replacement keeper's figures shall be used.

e.g.
Australia 9, England 8. Total dismissals 17

4.
Predict the overall 2017-18 Ashes Series result. Selections must be in before the commencement of each Test.

e.g.
Australia 3 England 2

1st Test: England
2nd Test: Australia
3rd Test: England
4th Test: Australia
5th Test: Australia


Scoring:

1.
1 point for every run scored by your nominated batsmen. Add together for each Test.
Bonus 20 points for 100 runs.
extra 25 points for 150 runs.
extra 40 points for 200 runs.
extra 50 points for 250 runs.
extra 60 bonus points for 300+ runs.

Note: the batting & bowling score bonuses accumulate so;

Batting:
100 runs = 120 points. A player scores 127 + 20 = 147 points.
150 runs = 195 points. A player scores 176 + 20 + 25 = 221 points.
200 runs = 285 points. A player scores 243 + 20 + 25 + 40 = 328 points.
250 runs = 385 points. A player scores 282 + 20 + 25 + 40 + 50 = 417 points
300+ runs = 445 points. A player scores 309 + 20 + 25 + 40 + 50 + 60 = 504 points.

Bowling:
20 points per wicket with a bonus 50 points for a 5-fer.
An extra 35 points for 6-fer, 40 for 7-fer, 45 for 8-fer, 50 for 9-fer.
An extra 100 bonus points for a 10-fer.

5 wickets = 100 + 50 = 150 points
6 wickets = 120 + 50 + 35 = 205 points.
7 wickets = 140 + 50 + 35 + 40 = 265 points
8 wickets = 160 + 50 + 35 + 40 + 45 = 330 points
9 wickets = 180 + 50 + 35 + 40 + 45 + 50 = 400 points
10 wickets = 200 + 50 + 35 + 40 + 45 + 50 + 100 = 520 points

Caught and bowled = 20 points for the wicket + 30 bonus points for the catch = 50 points on top of the bowling points.
An extra 25 points if your bowler gets a run-out in addition to the caught & bowled = 75 points

2.
Fielder catches: your nominated fieldsman earns you 25 points per catch. 25 points for a run out. Add them both for a 50 point "double play".

3.
Wicket keepers: I’ll rank your predictions from the actual scores at the time. Whoever guesses closest to the actual result receives 100 points, then descending down 5 points, so 95 points for the next closest guess, 90 points for the next, etc. If you chose the same scores as another member… then you'll both receive the same points. Next closest then receives 85, 80, 75, 70... depending on how many of us there are. 

4.
50 points earned at each Test in line with your overall Ashes prediction. Keep earning those 50 points until it goes right down to the wire…
If you guess all 5 correctly then a further 100 bonus points = 250 + 100 = 350 points.
Select the winning team for each Test.

*****

I’ll add up everyone’s scores a day or so after each Ashes Test is completed.

You must have your selections in no later than 3 hours before the first ball is bowled in Brisbane on 23 November, a few hours before midnight next Wednesday/Thursday morning your time.

If a selected player gets injured or is dropped from the Test side, then you’ll have the opportunity to select a replacement player – before the next Test commences. This player doesn’t have to be the actual substitute player – it can be somebody already in the team.
However, you don’t receive any of their previous points – you must start accumulating points from scratch with them.

I'm tossing up with the idea that say by the 3rd Test, if someone wants to change a player, then they will have this window of opportunity also available to them.

Let me know if the scoring system is OK or needs to be tweaked or simplified then we can look at it.
I'll keep track on a spreadsheet... so starting thinking about your selections now and maybe start getting them in here by early-middle next week.

Good Luck!

England to win.

Eng 7-5 Aus

Thanks JD. Good luck!

Hi LD,

Ill go : England win (got to keep the faith)

And England = 8, Aussies = 6

OK jimbo thanks and good luck!

LD - I'm sure we'll chat later but I'm not staying up until half 3 in the morning at Guildford Towers to check that Moeen plays.

I'll therefore say now that if he doesn't make the eleven, I'll have Anderson instead. If Mo does play, I'll stick with him as one of my bowlers even if the pundits are saying he won't turn his arm - feel that's only fair.

There was talk at one time of Sayers coming in for this Test. I always thought that unlikely and it doesn't look at all now that it will happen. If it does though and one of my Aussie bowlers gets benched, I'll call up Hazelwood.

Hoping to start watching around 7 am UK time. Mrs Bat will still be in bed, so I'll have to put the kettle on myself. Still haven't seen the cat.

Sorry LD - what do I need to do for the 2nd test?

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Sorry LD - what do I need to do for the 2nd test?

Olly - I guess LD is in the land of kip down under. You need to predict the result of this Test and the number of wicket keeping dismissals by both sides. If you reckon any of your nominated batters or bowlers won't be playing, you should also let him know your replacement.

JDizzle wrote:England to win.

Eng 7-5 Aus

If Moeen is left out due to injury, I will go Broad if that okay LD?

I’m playing with 7 picks after I picked Usman anyway!

Yes, me too JD. What were we thinking!

Guildford and your alternative selections noted should there be any changes to the teams.

i'll go anderson if ali doesn't play

compelling and rich wrote:i'll go anderson if ali doesn't play

ok mate, thanks

I've received 14/20 of your predictions for the 2nd test so far.

Can the following please let me know in next 45 mins? Thanks.

wisden - Overton replacing Ball so do you want to revert back or choose another bowler?
Fernando
Azzy
MfC
Marky
Lions - I've heard you've been sin-binned... can you PM me your picks?
I've got your "Aus 3-1" overall but I need to know your pick for Adelaide.

Draw

Paine - 7
BAitstow - 4

Cheers Olly.

Standings update after Day 2 Adelaide

1358 guildfordbat
1326 compelling and rich
1257 superflyweight
1224 Mad for Chelsea
1214 wisden
1183 Dolphin Ziggler
1148 Gooseberry
1121 Caledonian Craig
1112 The Loaded Dog
1110 Marky
1094 alfie
1093 jimbohammers
1060 Lowlandbrit
1050 Good Golly I'm Olly
1049 JDizzle
1038 Duty281
997 Azzy Mahmood
949 LionsV2
936 Fernando
879 James100

A very successful day for wisden who went from 17th to 5th! He scored a whopping 358 points!  

Next best was guildford (240), jimbo (204) and Dolphin (197)

Standings after Day 3, Adelaide:

1520 guildfordbat
1513 superflyweight
1489 compelling and rich
1471 Mad for Chelsea
1464 Caledonian Craig
1433 Dolphin Ziggler
1429 Gooseberry
1396 Marky
1387 wisden
1343 JDizzle
1333 Duty281
1323 The Loaded Dog
1314 Good Golly I'm Olly
1296 jimbohammers
1285 alfie
1282 Azzy Mahmood
1255 Lowlandbrit
1171 James100
1170 Fernando
1167 LionsV2

average score: 1352

Thanks for all the updates, LD.

I see Superfly is quietly climbing up the wall!

Meanwhile, Moeen being crocked as a bowler is doing me no favours and will probably see me start to slip.

guildfordbat wrote:Thanks for all the updates, LD.

I see Superfly is quietly climbing up the wall!

Meanwhile, Moeen being crocked as a bowler is doing me no favours and will probably see me start to slip.

Yes guildford, superfly is narrowing the gap... compelling not far behind. I think the top and bottom of the table is more compressed now.

Points scored since the 2nd Test commenced:

625 wisden
509 Gooseberry
504 superfly
504 Duty
503 JDizzle
498 Olly
488 Craig
482 Dolphin
481 Marky
471 guildford
451 MfC
447 James
435 Loaded Dog
434 Azzy
428 jimbo
423 Lions
422 Fernando
410 compelling
376 alfie
368 Lowland

Average: 463

Close of play, Day 4, Adelaide standings:

1869 superflyweight
1863 Caledonian Craig
1782 Dolphin Ziggler
1777 Mad for Chelsea
1768 Marky
1754 guildfordbat
1753 Duty281
1736 Gooseberry
1679 compelling & rich
1671 wisden
1670 JDizzle
1639 Azzy Mahmood
1608 Good Golly I'm Olly
1592 alfie
1571 The Loaded Dog
1553 Lowlandbrit
1544 jimbohammers
1540 Fernando
1536 LionsV2
1478 James100

average score: 1669

What a difference a day makes. Major movement up and down the table. Superfly is the new leader!

Cheers for the update LD. Two Scots at the top of the standings!!!

superflyweight wrote:Cheers for the update LD.  Two Scots at the top of the standings!!!

Yes indeed. Scotland now officially rules the rest of the world!

The Loaded Dog wrote:Close of play, Day 4, Adelaide standings:

1869 superflyweight
1863 Caledonian Craig
1782 Dolphin Ziggler
1777 Mad for Chelsea
1768 Marky
1754 guildfordbat
1753 Duty281
1736 Gooseberry
1679 compelling & rich
1671 wisden
1670 JDizzle
1639 Azzy Mahmood
1608 Good Golly I'm Olly
1592 alfie
1571 The Loaded Dog
1553 Lowlandbrit
1544 jimbohammers
1540 Fernando
1536 LionsV2
1478 James100

average score: 1669

What a difference a day makes. Major movement up and down the table. Superfly is the new leader!

It's wickets than win you matches ... and LD's competition!

A combined zilch second dig for Moeen and Broad does for me.

Anderson, Woakes and Root were the big points earners today, Guildford. Anderson especially.

Some of us were standing still whilst others rushed past.
Then they stop... and then you have a bit of a run again - this is how it generally goes during the course of the day's play.

It's just that some of the gains made by our Scottish contingent were far too great for some of us to overhaul with our lesser gains.

Thank heavens for Anderson ...I was looking at the lanterne rouge before his Michelle...

Now if Root can go on to a double ton I might climb a bit further

guildfordbat wrote:

The Loaded Dog wrote:Close of play, Day 4, Adelaide standings:

1869 superflyweight
1863 Caledonian Craig
1782 Dolphin Ziggler
1777 Mad for Chelsea
1768 Marky
1754 guildfordbat
1753 Duty281
1736 Gooseberry
1679 compelling & rich
1671 wisden
1670 JDizzle
1639 Azzy Mahmood
1608 Good Golly I'm Olly
1592 alfie
1571 The Loaded Dog
1553 Lowlandbrit
1544 jimbohammers
1540 Fernando
1536 LionsV2
1478 James100

average score: 1669

What a difference a day makes. Major movement up and down the table. Superfly is the new leader!

It's wickets than win you matches ... and LD's competition!

A combined zilch second dig for Moeen and Broad does for me.

your not on your own guildford, ali broad and hazelwood for me. got root and starc but so has pretty much everyone else

The Loaded Dog wrote:Anderson, Woakes and Root were the big points earners today, Guildford. Anderson especially.

I've got all three of Anderson, Woakes and Root and have fallen back down to the very bottom!

Cheers for the updates.

The bowling quartet of Anderson, Woakes, Lyon, and Starc keeping me in this!

I am thankful that I selected Woakes as wicket-taker (for now) and all my other selections contributed today (Cook aside).

James100 wrote:

The Loaded Dog wrote:Anderson, Woakes and Root were the big points earners today, Guildford. Anderson especially.

I've got all three of Anderson, Woakes and Root and have fallen back down to the very bottom!

I will check your score again James but I think Starc gave everyone a bit of a boost as well.

#justiceforjames

The Loaded Dog wrote:

James100 wrote:

The Loaded Dog wrote:Anderson, Woakes and Root were the big points earners today, Guildford. Anderson especially.

I've got all three of Anderson, Woakes and Root and have fallen back down to the very bottom!

I will check your score again James but I think Starc gave everyone a bit of a boost as well.

I always under-rate Starc because he never bowls well when I'm watching! And Hanscomb can't be getting me too many points...

guildfordbat wrote: #justiceforjames

Standings after 2nd Test, Adelaide:

2178 superflyweight
2124 Caledonian Craig
2093 Dolphin Ziggler
2039 guildfordbat
2033 Duty281
2013 Gooseberry
1995 Mad for Chelsea
1984 Marky
1945 compelling and rich
1887 Lowlandbrit
1882 JDizzle
1870 alfie
1861 Good Golly I'm Olly
1860 wisden
1854 The Loaded Dog
1789 Azzy Mahmood
1772 jimbohammers
1740 Fernando
1738 James100
1722 LionsV2

average score: 1919

James100 and Duty281 came closest to the number of wicket keeping dismissals of 8 (Paine 6; Bairstow 2)

100 James, Duty
95 Dolphin, Goose, Guildford, Craig
90 alfie, Lowland
85 superfly, Olly
80 JDizzle
75 TLD
70 compelling, jimbo

Note:
We have reached a transfer window before the commencement of the 3rd Test at the WACA on Thursday 14th December, 02:30 GMT.

If anyone wants to ditch a batsman or bowler - only one of each from each team; a maximum of 4 players - then let me know sometime before the first ball is hurled down next week.

Not sure if anyone wants to swap their fielder? That probably would be OK in my book. So let me know if you want to change your fielder too.
Seems like there will be some changes to both sides and we will have plenty of time to consider the possible options available.

Your choice of overall winner remains the same and cannot be changed.
Please also post your next winner and total number of keeper catches... had a few missing last time so valuable points were lost by some.

Thanks for participating and good luck!

cheers LD, will have a look and see whats happening with ali but he might be getting the boot

I will have a look at things, but would like to change Warner to Smith in the field

As I tipped England to win series I have to tip England to win the third test. For cstches for wivket keepers I will say Bairstow 7 Paine 6.

compelling and rich wrote:cheers LD, will have a look and see whats happening with ali but he might be getting the boot

Yeah, poor guy. He was struggling out there. He was already walking off as Lyon took that amazing catch.

There may be a temptation to use a part timer in Perth and rely more on the medium-quicks but as Warne keeps saying... year after year... the WACA is a good place for spinners too! Crane or whoever will need to (or should already be) out there now in the nets... getting used to conditions.

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:I will have a look at things, but would like to change Warner to Smith in the field

Noted Flipper.  

How's the old bloke? Not gloating I hope.

I actually felt the nerves during England's comeback-Australia's capitulation. When Anderson fell over and ripped his trousers I was feeling really sorry for him but then he took another wicket.

I wasn't sure if you guys were all asleep... but I had that sinking feeling this could turn out to be a disaster.
I had a post all lined up on the match thread... praising England and admonishing Oz... but I got interrupted and never hit the "send" button.

He's away on work, but I can imagine hes enjoying this more than usual now there's a pom to bash. It'll get back to me soon as he arrives home, make no mistake

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:He's away on work, but I can imagine hes enjoying this more than usual now there's a pom to bash. It'll get back to me soon as he arrives home, make no mistake

You can always ask him "How are the Wallabies travelling these days?" That will take the edge off him.

I would like to change Cook for Bairstow. Thanks.

WK: Australia 3; England 4

And Australia to win (obviously).

Thanks Duty.

I'll also change Cook for Bairstow, and Hanscomb for Warner. I'll change my English fielder from Root to Malan.

James100 wrote:I'll also change Cook for Bairstow, and Hanscomb for Warner. I'll change my English fielder from Root to Malan.

OK James. Thanks.

I see some are already chasing the game.

We didn't need substitutes to win the 1966 World Cup so I'll stay unchanged - assuming Moeen lasts the distance!

guildfordbat wrote:I see some are already chasing the game.

We didn't need substitutes to win the 1966 World Cup so I'll stay unchanged - assuming Moeen lasts the distance!

Noted Guildford.
You had almost the perfect selections there for a while. I can see why not much tweaking is required save for Mooen's index finger fitness.

''Almost'' and ''for a while'' being the key words there, LD.

Anyway, I'll see how Moeen goes - as I said on the other thread, it seems crackers that he's about to play in the two day practice game. Assuming there's nothing seriously wrong, he would benefit far more from some physio, the odd net and rest.

Totally agree, gb. No use flogging a dead horse. Let him rest, recuperate and heal. Why on earth would you want to punish the guy more in our harsh (and getting harsher by the day) outside conditions? Even I get worn down pretty quickly on a hot day walking back from the shops.  

I'd rest him for Perth too and get him back for the last two Tests... although I do realise the desperate situation England are in leading into this "must win" match.

They can't really rest Moeen though . Would mean either an extra batsman ( Ballance ?) and no proper spinner ; or the wet-behind-the-ears Crane coming in and a tail getting a bit longer than wanted...

I say again Dawson was the logical backup spinner and should have been here (not that I think he'd turn the series !)

Maybe Moeen wanted to play ? If he doesn't bowl at least it won't hurt his finger. I don't think a single day fielding will cripple him him with heat exhaustion.

alfie wrote:They can't really rest Moeen though .  Would mean either an extra batsman ( Ballance ?) and no proper spinner ; or the wet-behind-the-ears Crane coming in and a tail getting a bit longer than wanted...

I say again Dawson was the logical backup spinner and should have been here (not that I think he'd turn the series !)

Maybe Moeen wanted to play ?  If he doesn't bowl at least it won't hurt his finger.  I don't think a single day fielding will cripple him him with heat exhaustion.

Well if he does get thirsty there's always Ben Duckett to bring him a drink... pouring included.

I'll swap Khawaja for Smith, Vince for Bairstow.